Sean O’Hair off to strong start after ‘really hard recovery’

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. - The PGA TOUR and FanDuel Sportsbook agreed today on a multi-year content and marketing relationship designating FanDuel an Official Betting Operator of the PGA TOUR. By joining the TOUR's Official Betting Operator program, FanDuel will have rights in the United States to use PGA TOUR marks, rights to advertise within TOUR media and TOUR partner platforms, plus content and video rights allowing FanDuel to create pre-game and post-game betting programming, as well as distribution of highlights to users who have placed bets. Additionally, the PGA TOUR and FanDuel will collaborate to deliver odds-based content to fans via TOUR Digital Platforms like PGATOUR.COM and the PGA TOUR app. "We have long admired FanDuel's brand, product and marketing strategies as well as the leadership position it has taken since the legalization of sports betting in 2018," said Norb Gambuzza, SVP, Media and Gaming at the PGA TOUR. "We are excited to bring FanDuel into the PGA TOUR's Official Betting Operator program as we continue to engage new fans in this rapidly growing space." FanDuel Sportsbook has seen substantial growth in golf gaming: • Golf has recorded the highest single event handle on FanDuel Sportsbook over nine of the last 12 Sundays. • FanDuel Sportsbook's total golf handle in New Jersey in 2020 already has surpassed the total golf handle from 2019, even without [13] weeks of PGA TOUR competitions during the shutdown. "Golf interest is up on FanDuel, so we are excited to deepen our relationship with the PGA TOUR," said Mike Raffensperger, CMO FanDuel Group. "We will now be able to offer unique gaming experiences on our platform, special TOUR related promotions for our customers and an enhanced content experience across the TOUR's properties to really prove to bettors across the nation that there are More Ways to Win at FanDuel." Following the Supreme Court's decision that overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018, the TOUR instituted an integrity program in collaboration with Genius Sports to protect its competitions from betting-related corruption. Later that year, the TOUR announced a global partnership with IMG ARENA to license its official, live scoring data to betting operators all over the world. The PGA TOUR is a Platinum Member of the National Council on Problem Gambling, committed to industry-leading responsible gaming practices

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Koepka the man to beat at the U.S. Open

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Here is a look at the four players who Monday qualified for the Farmers Insurance Open in Murrieta, California. The last two spots were decided in a five-man playoff. QUALIFIERS Andres Gonzales (69) Age: 37 College: UNLV Turned pro: 2006 PGA TOUR starts: 128 PGA TOUR earnings: $2.5 Million Twitter: @Andres_Gonzales Notes: This is his second straight successful Monday qualifier after getting through at the Sony Open, where he missed the cut despite a second-round 67. ... Is currently 148th in Korn Ferry Tour points and has made nine of 21 cuts so far in the extended '20-21 season. Tain Lee (69) Age: 30 College: Claremont McKenna College Turned pro: 2012 PGA TOUR starts: 0 PGA TOUR earnings: 0 Twitter: N/A Notes: Made an eight-foot putt on the last hole at the pre-qualifier to get through to the Monday qualifier on the number ... Has four top-10s in 33 career starts on the Mackenzie Tour PGA TOUR CANADA. Jared du Toit (70) Age: 25 College: Arizona State University Turned Pro: 2017 PGA TOUR starts: 3 PGA TOUR earnings: N/A (made one cut as an amateur) Twitter: @jareddutoit Notes: Made a 12-foot putt on the 17th hole, then chipped in on 18 to get into playoff ... Birdied the first playoff hole to get through ... All of his other three PGA TOUR starts came at the RBC Canadian Open. Cameron Young (70) Age: 23 College: Wake Forest Turned Pro: 2019 PGA TOUR starts: 0 PGA TOUR earnings: N/A Twitter: N/A Notes: Monday qualified for the Pinnacle Bank Championship presented by Aetna and finished T11 ... That finish got him into the WinCo Foods Portland Open presented by KraftHeinz, where he finished T6 ... That got him into the Albertsons Boise Open presented by Kraft Nabisco, where he finished T6 ... He then finished T2 at the Nationwide Children's Hospital Championship. Q & A with Patrick Flavin PGATOUR.COM spoke with Korn Ferry Tour member Flavin, who was in qualifying position before play was suspended Monday night. He would later be eliminated in the five-for-two playoff Tuesday. PGATOUR.COM: Today was tough, weather wise, and scoring was high. When you turned in a score of 70, did you think you had a chance? Flavin: The weather was nuts. We had hail, wind, rain, sun, we basically had it all. Then, knowing that with so many players that it wasn't going to finish 'til Tuesday, it was just an unusual Monday qualifier. When I finished at two under, I didn't think I really had any chance. That said, I've gotten through a couple of Monday qualifiers and in both cases last year I didn't think I was going to make it. You really never know what to expect. So, I was literally just sitting in my car watching scores come in. PGATOUR.COM: It's always a little hectic when a Monday does not finish to arrange a hotel, especially when you're right on edge of being in or out. What did you arrange for tonight? Flavin: Fortunately, I have a friend back in Scottsdale whose parents live about 45 minutes away from the course. So, I called them, and they were nice enough to let me stay for the night. It is really nice of them, and awesome to have a place to stay. I'll hopefully get some sleep and then pack up and head back to the course early tomorrow morning. PGATOUR.COM: Do you mentally prepare yourself for a playoff, or do you now tell yourself your score will not hold up in order to take away some of the disappointment if it doesn't? Flavin: I always think it's better to go in thinking and preparing that you are going to play. Especially in this case, I would absolutely love to have a chance to get into a playoff. I think there is no cooler, more exciting feeling than a Monday qualifier playoff. It's so pressure-packed because it's either get in or go home. I would love the opportunity. ... Assuming I am going to play gives me the chance to mentally prepare for that moment. That can also be tough if I don't make it, but I have to think what's best for me. PGATOUR.COM: There is no live scoring at Monday qualifiers, and there are a lot of players left on the course. Did you ask friends still out there about whether anyone was playing well? Flavin: The only guy I talked to was Nick Hardy, one of my best friends. He texted me and said it was playing really tough and he'd be surprised if anyone beat two under. There are guys that have seven or so holes left, so you never know. In general, I try to stay away from that stuff; when I see scores posted, I'll know. I'll just wait and see. Hanging out in the car all day just watching scores come in isn't the most fun thing in the world, but it's better than not having any chance at all. PGATOUR.COM: What is the plan tomorrow morning? Are you going to watch scores come in from where you are staying, or get to the course and watch them come in live? Flavin: I am going to get to the course pretty early. I will get there and talk to the guys running the event and see what they are thinking as far as timing of the playoff, if there is one. I just like to be at the course and be prepared. Last year at the Waste Management Monday they told me a playoff would be in 30 minutes and 10 minutes later they were calling us to the tee. It was a good lesson to be ready. PGATOUR.COM: Are you going to get any sleep tonight? Flavin: Yeah, I am really tired. Today was a grind with the weather, so I think I'll sleep really good. Notes NOTABLE MISSES: Davis Riley 71, Sahith Theegala 72, Ricky Barnes 73, Josh Teater 75 COURSE INFO Bear Creek Golf Club, Par 72, 7,065 yards, 75.3 rating, 143 slope 2020-2021 SEASON MONDAY QUALIFIER STATS Average Medalist score: 64.2 Average last qualifying spot score: 66.5 Total number of cuts made: 13 of 35 (37.1%) Most recent results (Sony Open): Nick Hardy T14, Andres Gonzales MC, In-hoi Hur MC, MJ Daffue MC Money earned: $453,368 Best Finish: MJ Daffue T12, Sanderson Farms NEXT MONDAY QUALIFIER Feb. 1: Waste Management Phoenix Open, McCormick Ranch Golf Club NOTES FROM OTHER TOURS: The Korn Ferry Tour season starts at the Lecom Suncoast Classic, Feb. 18. Click here for the link to the full schedule.

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