The First Look: Mexico Open at Vidanta

Due to logistical challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship will not be played in Mexico this year, the PGA TOUR announced in a memo released to players. This year's event will be conducted Feb. 25-28 at The Concession Golf Club in the Bradenton-Sarasota area in Southwest Florida. There will be no change to the tournament's eligibility requirements. The tournament will now kick off a four-week Florida Swing that also features the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, THE PLAYERS Championship and The Honda Classic. "The PGA TOUR is grateful for its continued partnership with Grupo Salinas as we navigate the unique challenges created by the pandemic," said Ty Votaw, PGA TOUR Executive Vice President, International. "While we work toward returning to Mexico in 2022, we are appreciative of the collective effort to bring this event to a worthy venue in The Concession Golf Club, which is renowned as one of the top courses in the state of Florida." For the past four years, the PGA TOUR and Grupo Salinas have fulfilled their commitment to grow golf in Mexico and Latin America, introducing the sport to thousands of new fans. In only four years, The First Tee Mexico, a non-profit organization for children and youth development, now has nine chapters throughout the country and will continue to provide educational programs and support based on key societal values such as honesty, integrity and teamwork. With two sold-out editions, the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship has shown to be a world-class event featuring the best players from across the globe. By bringing and hosting the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship, Grupo Salinas has reaffirmed its solid commitment to promote Mexico's compelling attributes and image before the world, reaching nearly one billion households within over 200 countries and territories. Given the one-year relocation from Mexico City, the TOUR is working to secure a title sponsor for the 2021 event. The World Golf Championships' new venue is named for one of the greatest acts of sportsmanship in the game's history. The club was designed by Jack Nicklaus in association with fellow World Golf Hall of Famer Tony Jacklin. Nicklaus conceded a 2-foot putt to Jacklin on the final hole of the 1969 Ryder Cup. The gesture, known as "the concession,” guaranteed the first tie in Ryder Cup history. The United States still retained the Cup with the tie, but it would have won the Cup outright if Jacklin, winner of the 1969 Open Championship, missed the short putt. "I don't believe you would have missed that, but I'd never give you the opportunity in these circumstances," Jacklin recalled Nicklaus telling him. Jacklin also won the 1970 U.S. Open. The Concession was named "Best New Private Course" by Golf Digest when it opened in 2006. Bryson DeChambeau won the individual title in the 2015 NCAA Championship at Concession. "This is a monumental opportunity for The Concession to host an event at the level of a World Golf Championships and showcase the unique layout and rich history of this Club to a global audience," said Bruce Cassidy, President of The Concession Golf Club. "With our past experience hosting high-profile events, we believe this course will provide a stern but memorable test of golf to this collection of the very best players in the world." The World Golf Championships will be staged without general admission ticketed spectators but will have a limited number of club members and invited guests on-site for competition days. It will also include a Wednesday pro-am and honorary observers. "The news of a World Golf Championships event coming to Concession and the Bradenton-Sarasota Area is a testament to the premier golf venues and the other area assets that set the destination apart and solidify its position among the most attractive golf destinations in the country," said Elliott Falcione, Executive Director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. "This event comes on the heels of the Korn Ferry Tour, which kicks off its season the week prior across the street at Lakewood National Golf Club, making this a truly a historic time for golf in the Bradenton-Sarasota area." The World Golf Championships will be the second of back-to-back weeks of professional golf in the Bradenton-Sarasota area. The Korn Ferry Tour's LECOM Suncoast Classic will be played the week prior across the street at Lakewood National Golf Club. "We are thrilled for the opportunity," said Virginia Haley, President of Visit Sarasota County. "With such a wonderful setting and renowned course, we're hopeful that the PGA TOUR's best players will enjoy battling for the title here in the Bradenton-Sarasota area."

Click here to read the full article…

Former champion Adam Scott gave early bird fans at The Honda Classic a thrill when he stripped off his shoes and pulled off a stunning par save from the water at PGA National. Scott's approach shot on the par-4 11th hole - his second of the round - found itself drifting right from his line and came down short and in the water hazard. But with the ball only partially submerged Scott decided to attempt to play it from the wet muddy lie - local alligators be damned! RELATED: Affect of water balls on Florida Swing "I blocked my 7-iron and when I got up there I figured I could play it, but I called in a rules official because incredibly there were some electrical cables in the penalty area around my ball that I needed to move," Scott explained to PGATOUR.com. "I was able to move them, get my shoes and socks off, roll the trousers up, get my waterproof jacket on and get in the water with my lob wedge. From there I just played it like a full bunker explosion shot and got it to about 12-feet." For a split second it looked like the veteran might overbalance on his follow through and go for a swim, but he showed great poise to stay relatively dry. Scott then converted the 11-foot, 10-inch par putt - a critical save given he'd already bogeyed his opening hole. "It took a little bit of time to get the pond mud off me but was certainly nice to make the putt. Easy par right?" he smiled. Scott is familiar with the water around the course having won the trophy in 2016 despite making a quadruple bogey with two water balls in the third round. He also entered this week tied with Hideki Matsuyama having the most water balls (11) of the 2021 Florida swing thus far. Thankfully for the 16-time PGA TOUR winner his 12th wet shot in the last few weeks didn't hurt him on the scorecard and he eventually signed for a steady 1-under 69. "You can survive hitting it in the water once or maybe twice for a tournament," Scott said Tuesday. "The experience of playing these Florida golf courses for 20 years, it’s inevitable you’re going to hit one in the water, especially around here when it’s windy. You’re going to have to accept it and do the best you can to get past that hole and rebuild." Scott wasn't the only player to get his gear off at the 11th on Thursday. Sebastian Cappelen also found himself in a similar predicament and decided to attempt the shot sans shoes and shirt. The bare-chested Dane - who did find the green but was unable to convert his par putt - brought back memories of former FedExCup champion Henrik Stenson playing a shot from the water at Doral in 2009 in his underwear. The greatest water shot on TOUR though surely must be that of Bill Haas in the 2011 TOUR Championship. In a playoff with Hunter Mahan - with $11.4million on the line - Haas got up and down from the hazard on the 17th hole to stay alive and won the FedExCup a hole later.

Click here to read the full article…

NAPLES, Fla. (AP) – NAPLES, Fla. (AP) — Rory Sabbatini and Kevin Tway won the QBE Shootout on Sunday, birdieing the final two holes in best-ball play for a 12-under 60 and a two-stroke victory. Part of a five-way tie for the second-round lead, Sabbatini and Tway finished at 31-under 185 in the three-day event at Tiburon Golf Club. Jason Kokrak and J.T. Poston were second after a 62. Related: Leaderboard Brendon Todd-Billy Horschel and Harold Varner III-Ryan Palmer tied for third at 28 under after 63s. Ian Poulter and Graeme McDowell were 27 under, also after a 63. Lexi Thompson and Sean O’Hair were last in the 12-team field at 8 under after a 70.

Click here to read the full article…