Spieth ends up 6 shots behind for a different reason at Sony

NAPA, Calif. — Chez Reavie opened with a 65 on Thursday to lead the Fortinet Championship. Cameron Tringale and Adam Hadwin were a stroke back. Six others were two off the pace. Masters winner Hideki Matsuyama was at 69, and Phil Mickelson shot 70. RELATED: Leaderboard | Jon Rahm says he’s recovering after stomach ailment Jon Rahm is motivated, even if he’s not feeling well. The top-ranked Spanish star had two birdies and two bogeys in an even-par 72, leaving him well back of the leaders at Silverado Resort and Spa. “I was having a hard time focusing given the fact that I haven’t had a solid meal since Tuesday morning,” Rahm said. “My best guess is just a little run down from the season. Maybe having a little bit too much good, rich food Monday and Tuesday just did it for my stomach.” Rahm began feeling ill earlier this week and pulled out of the pro-am Wednesday to rest. He said he felt worse than when he tested positive for COVID-19 in June. “Way, way worse,” Rahm said. “That Saturday I couldn’t have given you any more diagnosis than maybe a light cold based on what I was feeling that day. I would have never guessed it was COVID. So yeah, I feel way worse right now than I did.” Reavie worked his way to the top of the leaderboard after a bogey on his fifth hole. He picked up birdies on 16 and 17 to get back under par, then stormed through the front nine, closing with three consecutive birdies including an 18-foot putt that got the string started. “It was kind of a slow start but I told myself to stay patient,” Reavie said. “I was able to hit some fairways on the back and give myself some good looks.” Mickelson got off to a good start but fell back with two bogeys over a five-hole stretch on the back nine. “I stopped hitting fairways,” said Mickelson, who has never finished higher than third at this event. “I’m making a few changes and my miss has gone from left to right, and it’s a little bit different to adjust to. I thought that it went pretty well with that in mind.”

Click here to read the full article…

Two weeks after losing a two-shot lead, Mel Reid finished strong Sunday to win the ShopRite LPGA Classic for her first LPGA Tour title.

Click here to read the full article…

HAMILTON, Ontario – As Rory McIlroy was coming up to the 18th green Saturday at the RBC Canadian Open, the crowd interspersed “Let’s Go Roryâ€� chants in with “Let’s Go Raptors.â€� It’s been that kind of week for McIlroy, with the crowd support being firmly behind the Ulsterman – and the local basketball team. “It’s probably the best atmosphere I’ve played in a long time,â€� said McIlroy. “I think what they’ve been able to do here is like right on the limit of fun but still in keeping with the traditions of the game, so I think it’s been awesome. I’ve really enjoyed my time here. “I seem to get pretty good support most places I go, but for whatever reason here I think there are a lot people with Irish roots who seem to be very vocal out there. It’s great to see. I’m really enjoying myself out there.â€� McIlroy’s enjoyment of his time in Canada shone through Saturday after he shot a 6-under 64 to move into a tie for the lead heading into Sunday. He didn’t make a bogey in the third round, the first time he went bogey-free on the PGA TOUR since THE PLAYERS Championship, which he went on to win. McIlroy missed the cut at the Memorial Championship presented by Nationwide last week, but said he was actually grateful for the opportunity to work on his game more last weekend, especially as he headed to a golf course he had never played before. “I’m much happier than I was Saturday morning last week,â€� McIlroy said with a smile, as his 64 was tied for the low round of the day. “A week can make a big difference.â€� McIlroy said he got his driver going better last weekend and tightened his wedge game as well. He described those two as things that are “definitely neededâ€� around Hamilton Golf and Country Club. McIlroy also spoke with Brad Faxon about Hamilton, as Faxon – who works occasionally with McIlroy on putting – lost in a playoff there in 2003. McIlroy was 4-for-4 in Scrambling on Saturday and was ranked No. 1 in both Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and Strokes Gained: Tee to Green Saturday. he said he was able to put three P’s into practice again Saturday, a complete round thanks to patience, persistence, and perspective. “They’ve done me well to this point. They’re things I have to keep reminding myself of,â€� he said. “You know, whether I hit a good shot or bad shot or in a good spot or not, if I just keep preaching that to myself it just makes things — it eases the tension and makes things a bit simpler.â€� Although he said he started the week doing some preparatory work for Pebble Beach, that’s gone out the window as he looks to win on the PGA TOUR for the second time this season. “You’re here to try to win a golf tournament. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want to give it my all and try to compete,â€� he said. “I think the best preparation for tournaments ahead is to get yourself into contention and feel the heat of battle, and going down the stretch hitting the shots when you need to.â€� If McIlroy did go on and win Sunday, it would be his sixth national open title from around the world (Irish, Hong Kong, The Open, the U.S. Open, and the Australian Open are the others). “They’re very important,â€� McIlroy said of national opens. “They’re the oldest championships in our game for the most part. “If I were able to win tomorrow, that would be my sixth, and that would be something I would be very proud of.â€� Through three days, the fans have been cheering McIlroy on as one of their own, so not only would he be proud to win the RBC Canadian Open, the fans would be thrilled to have him as their winner. “I’ve had a wonderful reception from everyone,â€� he said, “and I’m just excited to get to play in front of them again tomorrow.â€�

Click here to read the full article…