Tiger can’t break par barrier in first round again

NEW YORK - Buzzer, a mobile platform for watching short-form live sports personalized for fans and authenticated through existing subscriptions or micropayments, has announced it has signed unique short form live content agreements with the PGA TOUR and for National Hockey League (NHL) games. Buzzer is a direct-to-consumer mobile platform that will provide a seamless user and viewing experience by aggregating sports rights and content and allowing its users to set up customized notifications. With PGA TOUR and NHL content, fans can instantaneously make a secure micropayment to buy only those moments they want to watch. Through this unique and innovative product, Buzzer's technology identifies ‘lightning in a bottle' moments in live sports so fans never again have to miss the sports experiences that matter most to them. The first-of-its-kind agreements focus on providing short-form live sports content that reaches younger generations of fans where and how they are watching sports. Buzzer's iOS and Android apps aim to simplify the discovery and viewing experience on mobile in a short-form live format that aligns with trends in consumption habits. In working with the PGA TOUR, Buzzer will offer live look-ins from Featured Groups and Featured Holes for over 30 tournaments on PGA TOUR LIVE, the TOUR's OTT subscription product, including the FedExCup Playoffs. In addition, Buzzer will deliver live look-ins for every game for the remainder of the NHL regular season, Stanley Cup Playoffs and Stanley Cup Final (local market blackouts apply). The preselected two-minute live look-ins of NHL games will be offered in each regulation period. "In partnering with leagues like PGA TOUR and NHL, we aim to connect younger audiences, namely Gen Z and Millennials, with live sports through improved discovery of and immediate access to their streams," said Bo Han, Buzzer CEO. "Using micropayments and personalized push notifications, Buzzer plans to advance the industry by helping leagues establish relationships with the future generation of mobile-first sports fans. This is just the beginning of our content roadmap, as we are continuing to build products within our platform (such as authentication) that complement all industry players, from networks, vMVPDs, MVPDs, RSNs and OTT platforms." PGA TOUR and NHL games will be available for all Buzzer users on iOS and Android in the United States. Buzzer is currently testing in a closed beta environment. To join the waitlist, sign up on www.buzzer.com.

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AVONDALE, La. – They call it ham and egging when a team cleverly splits their good holes between them. Chez Reavie and Lucas Glover timed it perfectly with six birdies each to send their team to a blistering opening 12-under 60 at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans on Thursday and a share of the lead with Chinese duo Xinjun Zhang and Zecheng Dou. The key? Making a ton of putts after solid communication. While most teams leave each individual to do their own thing in Four-ball play, this pair picked each other’s brains. And it worked. “We read them right early, and that just gave us good feeling for the rest of the day. Chez birdied the first two; we were dead on with both the reads, so we just kept it going,â€� former U.S. Open winner Glover explained. “We changed maybe a ball or two in a direction one way or the other and that was it. We were pretty right on. Luckily we were hitting our lines also.â€� The pair combined last season for a T39 finish and learned plenty from the experience. Joining back together again they’ve taken an analytical approach, as well as putting in plenty of practice. “I think we’re both really good ball strikers. We wanted to strategize properly, and so I would lay back in some of the fairways and let him get more aggressive on the tees,â€� Reavie explained. “We’re just very comfortable helping each other out. If I tell him something and he’s not all in, then he’s going to do what he wants and I’m completely good with it, and vice versa.â€� They expect to keep the roll going in alternate shot on Friday after getting in a solid 27 holes of practice in the format over the past few days. NOTABLES Xinjun Zhang and Zecheng Dou have been struggling a little in their rookie seasons on the PGA TOUR, but the Chinese pioneers had no such issues Thursday. Zhang, who sits 128th in the FedExCup and Dou, who is a distant 215th, came flying home in the final group to join the lead at 12-under 60. Despite being in the culinary town of New Orleans, the pair said they felt at home after finding a Chinese market and buying supplies. Kevin Kisner and Scott Brown are still a little rankled by their playoff loss to Cameron Smith and Jonas Blixt a year ago, so their 10-under 62 to open this year was certainly a step in the right direction for redemption. They sit T3. “Obviously we didn’t finish it off the way we wanted to, so we’re coming back for a little revenge this week,â€� Kisner said. Tony Finau and Daniel Summerhays have been friends a long time. They share the same coach (Daniel’s brother Boyd) and Utah roots. Summerhays opened their round with two birdies and closed it the same way to help them to a 10-under 62 and T3 position. Finau – in his return from an ankle injury had six birdies of his own. “I think it’s really important to get off to a good start in best ball,â€� Summerhays said. “Last year we started alternate shot and you always felt like you were behind the eight ball, because it is a more difficult format. So to come out and really play good golf as a team I think that sets us up really nice for tomorrow.â€� Tommy Fleetwood and Chris Paisley are looking to continue the trend of international winners at the Zurich Classic. The English pair and good mates fired up an impressive 10-under 62 to be T3. Both have won on the European Tour this season and are looking to now notch up a PGA TOUR win. “It’s been kind of the best start to the year I’ve ever had,â€� Paisley said. “It’s been amazing. Hopefully I can just kind of keep it going. Maybe get my card over here. That would be great.â€� Jim Furyk and David Duval turned back the clock with an impressive 7-under 65. Duval, who has played just seven TOUR events in the last three seasons and hasn’t made a cut since 2015, produced four of the seven birdies. “It’s a joy,â€� the former World No. 1 Duval said. “The competition is different. I certainly miss it. I’d like to play a little bit more than I do.â€� Rob Oppenheim created a huge highlight with an albatross on the par-5 7th hole. His hole-out from 262 yards helped his partnership with Nick Lashley open with an 8-under 64 to be T11. Roundup: Jordan Spieth and Ryan Palmer sit T32 after a 6-under 66. Cameron Smith and Jonas Blixt started their title defense with a respectable 7-under 65 to be tied 21st. Patrick Reed, in his first start since winning the Masters is T21 after a 65 with Patrick Cantlay. FedExCup leader Justin Thomas and Bud Cauley struggled to a 2-under 70 to be T77 of 80 teams. QUOTABLES Going to try and look good so we feel good to play good.When you got on so well and you feel comfortable, it makes a big difference out there.He’s the par-3 assassin, so he gets three Par-3s and I get to putt them.Sometimes simplicity is huge in this game. SUPERLATIVES Low Round: 12-under 60 from the Chez Reavie/Lucas Glover and Xinjun Zhang and Zecheng Dou teams. Hardest Hole: Par-4 15th played as the only hole over par at 4.013. It yielded just five birdies. Easiest Hole: The Par-5 7th averaged at 4.238 and had three eagles and 54 birdies. SHOT OF THE DAY

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