The First Look: Dell Technologies Championship

Phil Mickelson has already performed one miracle this year, but he could be on the way to helping with another if his message helps Josh Allen deliver the Buffalo Bills their first Super Bowl championship. The Bills quarterback dressed as Mickelson for Halloween as he arrived for their Sunday clash with the Miami Dolphins, a nod to the relationship struck up between the pair. It seemed simply a cute social media play, with the obligatory nod to Mickelson’s shapely calves, until the Bills signal caller orchestrated a second-half revival to beat the Dolphins 26-11 after the teams were locked 3-3 at the half. In the first half, Allen and his team looked anything but the group who now leads the AFC East with a 5-2 record, but in the second half they transformed into the team some say could finally bring upstate New York the title they’ve craved since the 1964 and 1965 teams won AFL titles in the pre-Super Bowl era. Allen helped the Bills to score on their last four possessions in a scrappy, yet crucial win, and arrived at his postgame press conference once again dressed as Mickelson. But it was more than theatre. Turns out Mickelson has given the Bills offensive star a mindset boost. He was used as a motivational speaker of sorts for the team in the pre-season after becoming the oldest player to win a major championship at 50 years, 11 months. “It was right after he won the PGA and he was right there with his trophy and the golf cart. He was on the golf course, and he took about 30 minutes to talk to the team and it was really cool,” Allen revealed after. “He talked about finding, kind of like your Zen, finding where you’re calm and early on, I’ve known this for a long time, I don’t play good when I’m pissed off and frustrated. (And) I think that was maybe kind of causing some issues early on and to that second half just trying to find that inner peace where I can just kind of go out there and relax and that’s what we did.” Mickelson has been a late but impressive taker to the social media scene. But for all his playfulness and fun – he clearly was able to convey a serious message to the golf mad Allen. “I think it’s just self-knowledge, understanding who you are,” Allen added. “I know I don’t play well when I’m frustrated, and again, hearing that from a Hall of Fame golfer, one of the best of all time, to say that type of thing, that resonated well with me, because that’s exactly kind of how I feel, too. It helped me today and hopefully it’ll help me in the future, too.” If it helps the Bills to Super Bowl glory you might just see Mickelson at the victory parade.

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With a smiley-faced golf ball, smileytheball.org is raising money and awareness for children with cleft lip, cleft palate, and other craniofacial conditions. In support of the cause, a number of PGA TOUR players are getting involved. According to Dave McCracken, founder of smileytheball.org, there were about 100 players with Smiley the Ball hanging from their staff bags at the 2019 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open this fall in Las Vegas. In additions, players on other tours, including PGA TOUR Champions, have adopted Smiley the Ball on their bags. Proceeds from the golf balls, which come in various product options on the website, go directly to Shriners Hospitals for Children, according to McCracken. “We’ve got over 200 players now that are supporting the program,� McCracken told PGATOUR.COM. “A portion of the proceeds go directly to the Shriners Hospitals, and it goes directly to the cleft lip and cleft palate unit. So it’s a ball with a smile that’s benefitting children’s smiles.� McCracken says that he has two acquaintances who have children born with cleft lip, and that 1-in-600 children are born with cleft lip or cleft palate. In support of these children, McCracken started smileytheball.org about two years ago. “It’s one of those things when you look at the ball, you realize you did something that’s going to help a child out,� McCracken said. “It just doesn’t change [the child’s] life; cleft lip and palette is pretty serious. “When these surgeries are done for the children, it not only changes their life, but it also changes the lives of their families, friends, and extended beyond that. It’s something we’re very proud of.� Peter Malnati is one of the many players supporting the cause, and Shriners Hospitals holds a special place in his heart. “I’ve got Smiley the Ball with me this year, which is cool because I’m all about raising awareness and getting some attention for Shriners Hospitals,� Malnati said. “All the events on TOUR are pretty amazing … but this event is special to me because I have an older sister, who’s one of my best friends in the whole world and someone I really look up to a lot. When she was born, she had a clubbed foot. She was treated at the Shriners hospital in Greenville, South Carolina. One foot is a size and a half smaller than the other, but that didn’t stop her. She was a varsity letter winner at Duke University on the track team. Actually, I think she set a school record for the high jump at one point. “The treatment she had the Shriners played a big part in her life and the life that she lives. Shriners played a big part in that, so this event will always have a special place for me.� Each July is Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness Month, and so earlier this year, Shriners Hospitals for Children told the story of then nine-month-old Max, who had been treated by doctors in Boston after being diagnosed with a cleft. After a couple of surgeries, Max is happy and active, according to the website. “We loved his initial smile,� said one of his parents, “but Shriners gave us a whole new smile to fall in love with.� With the holiday season approaching, July doesn’t need to be the only time to think about children born with these conditions. Thanks to Smiley the Ball, golfers can make it a year-round awareness. For more information about cleft lip and cleft palate, click here.

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RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico — Ryan Brehm closed birdie-eagle for a 5-under 67 and the second-round lead Friday in the Puerto Rico Open. Brehm is making his final start on a minor medical extension and needs to win or finish second alone to retain status. He is the only player in the field bogey-free through 36 holes. “It would be wrong to say you don’t think about it, but realistically, since the beginning of this year we’ve just been trying to improve every day, every week,” Brehm said. “As long as we can do that, if we can take something away from each round, each situation, put some pressure on myself, we’re going to learn from it. Just enjoy the process of doing that really and we’re doing that.” Brehm birdied the par-4 17th and made a 30-footer for eagle on the par-5 18th to get to 11-under 133 at Grand Reserve. “It was kind of boring until the end,” said Brehm, winless on the PGA TOUR. “I feel like I had to scramble quite a bit, had some difficult up-and-downs, got them up-and-down, made a few good putts for par, kept the momentum going and finished birdie-eagle, Made a bomb on the last hole. You add it up, it’s pretty good.” Max McGreevy (64), Satoshi Kodaira (66) and Michael Kim (69) were a stroke back. Callum Tarren (65) was 9 under. Kim shared the first-round lead after a 65. Since winning the John Deere Classic in 2018, he has made only 15 cuts in 75 starts on the PGA TOUR, including one stretch of 25 consecutive events without making it to the weekend. He was No. 75 in the world when he won and now is at No. 1,030. “Obviously, it wasn’t as clean as yesterday, but got a few birdies to drop on the front nine,” Kim said. “Overall, satisfied with the round.” University of Oklahoma senior Chris Gotterup was 8 under after his second straight 68. Making his PGA TOUR debut, he won the Puerto Rico Classic collegiate event two weeks ago at Grand Reserve. “I’m just very comfortable on this course,” Gotterup said. “The par 5s are perfect for me and I can take advantage of it when I can. And when I’m out of position, I just try to keep it in play.” Puerto Rico native Rafa Campos shot a 68 to get to 6 under. “Overall, really happy with the round today,” Campos said. “Didn’t really hit the ball that well, but I’m really happy with how the ball rolled on the greens.” The event is being played opposite the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard in Orlando, Florida. The winner will receive a two-year exemption and gets in the PGA Championship.

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