Sergio Garcia on joining the LIV series: ‘This, for me, was a good decision’

FORT WORTH, TEXAS – The historic PGA TOUR tournament held annually at the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, has been renamed the Charles Schwab Challenge. On April 12 this year, Charles Schwab was announced as the title sponsor for the event, in a four-year agreement beginning in 2019. Traditionally hosted over Memorial Day weekend, the Charles Schwab Challenge has been held at the Colonial Country Club since 1946 making it the PGA TOUR’s longest-tenured tournament at a single venue. The dates for the 2019 Charles Schwab Challenge will be confirmed when the PGA TOUR announces the 2018-19 schedule.  “Greatness is achieved through challenge. Colonial has challenged the world’s greatest golfers for over three quarters of a century. The tournament title — Charles Schwab Challenge — certainly celebrates our long history of great competition,” said Rob Hood, Charles Schwab Challenge tournament chairman. “As a tournament that is known to be a shot-maker’s course and one that has challenged the best players in the game for over 70 years, we wanted to pay homage to the tradition of the event as a challenger’s competition,â€� said Jonathan Craig, senior executive vice president, Charles Schwab & Co, Inc. “We’re a company that has challenged the status quo for investors since day one so being a part of this inspiring tournament gives us great pride.â€� The Charles Schwab Challenge is among the PGA TOUR leaders in charitable giving, including generating a record $13 million awarded to charities in 2018. The tournament has generated $100 million for more than 150 charitable organizations over the past two decades. Many of the game’s biggest names, representing a wide range of styles of play, have won the tournament since its inaugural playing in 1946, from golf greats like Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson to modern-day stars such as Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Jordan Spieth and Justin Rose, who won the 2018 title by three strokes over Brooks Koepka.

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PALM HARBOR, Fla. – Paul Casey was on the verge of building a comfortable lead Saturday until a bogey on the final hole for a 3-under 68 that cut his lead to one shot over Dustin Johnson in the Valspar Championship. Johnson had some say in the margin going into the final round at Innisbrook. From a narrow bunker right of the 18th fairway to an elevated green with a front pin, Johnson blasted 9-iron to 10-foot birdie and a 67. Casey was at 8-under 205. Jason Kokrak had a hole-in-one on the 15th hole and shot 30 on the back nine for a 66 that left him three shots behind. Casey is trying to becoming the first back-to-back winner in the 19-year history at the Valspar Championship.

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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – The PGA TOUR announced today that Will Zalatoris has been named the 2021 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year as voted by the TOUR’s membership for the 2020-21 season. Zalatoris, 25, is competing in this week’s Fortinet Championship to open his first full season as a member of the PGA TOUR. Zalatoris, who will receive the Arnold Palmer Award for winning PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year, was selected for the honor over Garrick Higgo. “On behalf of the PGA TOUR, my congratulations to Will Zalatoris on being voted the 2021 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year by the TOUR’s membership,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “Will’s success despite not having PGA TOUR membership status at the outset of the 2020-21 season is a testament to not only his ability but also his hard work and attitude.” Zalatoris joined the PGA TOUR as a Special Temporary Member in November and collected 1,296 non-member FedExCup points to earn full-time membership for the 2021-22 season. He recorded eight top-10s and made 21 cuts in 25 starts, highlighted by a runner-up at the 2021 Masters Tournament. The last Special Temporary Member to win PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year was Charles Howell III in 2001. Zalatoris also made 16 starts on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2020 and recorded 10 top-10s, highlighted by a win at the TPC Colorado Championship at Heron Lakes and a runner-up at the Evans Scholars Invitational. He earned a spot in the 2020 U.S. Open via his play on the Korn Ferry Tour after changes to the tournament’s eligibility criteria and finished in a tie for sixth in his first start of the PGA TOUR season. Following the U.S. Open, Zalatoris finished in the top 10 in two of his next three starts (T8/Corales Puntacana Championship, T5/Shriners Children’s Open) and crossed the threshold for Special Temporary Membership with another top-25 result at the Bermuda Championship. Throughout the 2021 portion of the season, Zalatoris went on to play in THE PLAYERS Championship, all four major championships and three World Golf Championships events, with top-10s in three of those eight appearances. His best result of his season came at the 2021 Masters Tournament, where he finished solo-second and was the only player in the field to record four under-par scores. PGA TOUR members who played at least 15 official FedExCup events during the 2020-21 season were eligible to vote.

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