Tiger to headline PGA’s first Japan event

LA QUINTA, Calif. – Rickie Fowler came to The American Express for the first time in six years to prepare for the next two weeks at Torrey Pines and TPC Scottsdale. He’s ahead of schedule, shooting an 8-under 64 on Friday at PGA West’s Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course for a share of the second-round lead with Scottie Scheffler. Related: Leaderboard | Amateur with one arm makes hole-in-one | How Phil became a social media star  In position to make the trip over the hill to San Diego and Torrey Pines with his sixth PGA TOUR title and first since Phoenix a year ago, Fowler set up shop last week at the nearby Madison Club after tying for fifth at Kapalua in the Sentry Tournament of Champions. “It was nice to get a little work in, get some good practice and play out here in the desert to get used to being back in the desert,” said Fowler, who grew up about an hour away in Murrieta. “It’s been very beneficial. I looked at that as something that was going to be the best opportunity for me to go into this West Coast swing to get the game where I want to and to play well.” He opened with a 65 on Thursday at La Quinta Country Club. “These courses are scorable, but I feel like it’s a fine line between playing well out here and kind of scraping by,” Fowler said. “If you drive it well and hit good approach shots, you can make a lot of birdies, but if you’re a little off you’re kind of scrambling for par. I feel like I’ve done a good job of just kind of picking my way around the two golf courses so far.” He played his final nine in 6-under 30, making a 6-foot eagle putt on the par-5 fourth, four birdies and two big par saves on Nos. 6 and 7. “It’s always nice when you don’t give shots back, especially in a tournament like this where typically the scores are going to be on the lower side,” Fowler said. “Bogey almost feels like you’re giving two shots back.” At 15-under 129, he had the lowest 36-hole score of his PGA TOUR career. Playing in the same third of the field as Fowler in the pro-am event, Scheffler also opened with rounds of 65 and 64. He birdied the first four holes and six of the first seven Friday, then rebounded from a double bogey on the par-4 18th with an eagle and two birdies in his second nine. “Wish the double wasn’t in there, but it was still a very good score,” Scheffler said. “I feel like I’ve been playing pretty well, just doing a good job managing my game, giving myself a lot of looks. I got off to a pretty hot start today and kept playing pretty solid, even after that double on 18, just staying in a good place mentally and was able to hit some good shots.” The 23-year-old former University of Texas star is in his first season on the PGA TOUR after winning twice and topping the Korn Ferry Tour Finals and overall points lists. Fowler and Scheffler will play PGA West’s Stadium Course — also the site of the final round — on Saturday. Tournament host Phil Mickelson needed a low round Saturday at the Stadium Course to make the cut after rounds of 70 and 72 in his first start of the year. Andrew Landry was a stroke out of the lead after a 64 at La Quinta. Tony Finau, made a big move with a 62 on the Nicklaus layout. Playing alongside Mickelson, Finau was two strokes back at 13 under after the best round of the first two days. He played his finakl nine in 7-under 29. “The putter got hot for me on that back nine,” Finau said. “I hit it really nicely yesterday. I didn’t feel like I got what I wanted out of the round and I wanted to change that today. I hit it well again and I was able to make some putts and just get some momentum.” Defending champion Adam Long was 5 under after a 70 on the Nicklaus Course.

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SAN DIEGO – Tiger Woods was unaware of the tragic passing of friend and NBA legend Kobe Bryant as he was trying to set a new mark for all-time wins on the PGA TOUR at the Farmers Insurance Open.  RELATED: Golf world reacts to passing of NBA legend Kobe Bryant The news of Bryant and his daughter being on board a downed helicopter that took several lives in Los Angeles filtered across Torrey Pines midway through Woods’ final round, but his caddie Joe LaCava decided not to pass it on until the round was over.  As more and more fans caught up with the news, an eerie quiet filled the vast course, something Woods assumed was more about his inability to make a serious charge towards victory, rather than anything else. Even with spectators calling out for him to “Do it for Mamba,â€� a nod to Bryant’s nickname, Woods remained unaware of the tragedy.  When he walked from the course, LaCava finally broke the news, and Woods was clearly shaken.  “It’s unbelievable, the reality that he’s no longer here,â€� Woods told reporters. “I just can’t imagine what their entire family’s going through right now. It’s just shocking. “LeBron breaks his record and he passes today. I grew up a die‑hard Laker fan, always have been my entire life. That’s all I remember, and he was part of the most historic franchise in all of the NBA.â€� Woods and Bryant became close having started their professional careers around a similar time frame. They often worked out together and would engage each other in discussion on what it took to be at the top of their chosen athletic endeavors.  “When he retired we’d work out at Equinox together. I was always getting up early, he’d get up early, we’d work out,â€� Woods said. “We really connected on more the mental side of it, the prep, how much it takes to be prepared. “For me, I don’t have to react like he does in my sport, we can take our time, but you’ve still got to pay attention to the details and that’s what he did better than probably any other player in NBA history. He paid attention to the details, the little things.   “The amount of hours that he spent in the gym in the offseason and during the summers to work on shots and do all the different things, it looked like it came natural to him on the court during game time, but he spent more hours looking at film and trying to figure out what’s the best way to become better. That’s where he and I really connected, because we’re very similar.â€� Along with the work ethic, Woods also revered Bryant’s toughness both mentally and physically, another trait he tried to share with the five-time NBA Champion.  “What made him so impressive is that he was dominant on the offensive side … we know that, but he would lock up on (defense). He played their best guard and shut ’em down for all 48 minutes. That’s what made him so special, he played both ends of the court,â€� Woods continued.  “There are maybe two guys, three guys in the entire NBA history that you can say that, that would do that. He was up for that challenge. And one of the more impressive things that I’ve ever witnessed is when he ruptured his Achilles and he went to the foul line, made his shots. “Ultimate toughness, ultimate competitor, and one of the most shocking, tragic days that I’ve ever been a part of in a very quick span here … Life is very fragile as we all know. You can be gone at any given time and we have to appreciate the moments that we have.â€� On the course Woods’ chase for an 83rd PGA TOUR win and ninth win at Torrey Pines started in crazy fashion. Starting five back of the lead Woods looked to be in huge trouble early when he made a sloppy bogey from the fairway on the first hole.  But on the second he took dead aim from 141 yards and after two hops his ball disappeared into the cup for what would’ve been an insane eagle. Incredibly though, despite going all the way to the bottom of the cup the ball hopped back out and settled next to the pin. Woods had to settle for a tap in birdie.  Three pars followed before Woods gave himself a great look at eagle on the par-5 sixth from 18 feet, but the putt slipped under the cup. Birdie there had him just three off the lead at the time. Woods, who has seven Farmers Insurance Open titles and a U.S. Open win at Torrey Pines, would not get any closer. He had great looks at birdie on the par-4 seventh and the par-3 eighth but failed to connect and failed to birdie the par-5 ninth.  A bogey at the 10th made thoughts of a win extremely distant and despite birdies on the final two par 5s he would settle for a T9 finish, his 13th Farmers Insurance Open top-10 from 19 starts.  Woods is currently tied with Sam Snead with 82 PGA TOUR wins, the most of all time and will next be seen at the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club on Feb. 13.

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SILVIS, Ill. – It’s been nearly two years since Jhonattan Vegas became the first Venezuelan to play in the Presidents Cup, unleashing fiery fist pumps and providing one of the few highlights for the International Team with a singles victory over Jordan Spieth at Liberty National.  He desperately wants to get back for the 2019 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne, Dec. 12-15, and while he came into the John Deere Classic at 26th in the International standings, he stands to make a big move in the right direction. Vegas shot a second-round 62 that left him with a three-shot lead after the morning wave at TPC Deere Run on Friday.  “I had such a tremendous time there playing in that Presidents Cup that I definitely want to play in this one,â€� said Vegas, who hit nine of 14 fairways, and 16 greens in regulation. “Especially playing for Ernie, such a big guy for us Internationals, and it would be amazing to be a part of it. I’ve got to step it up these next few weeks and hopefully give myself a chance.â€� Vegas’ career-best FedExCup finish is 23rd, in 2017, so at 70th in this year’s standings, it isn’t as if he’s fallen off the map. You might recall he made one of the most amazing putts of the year, a double-breaking, coast-to-coast job on the iconic 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass, as he finished T3 at THE PLAYERS Championship. He finished T8 at the Wells Fargo Championship.  No, it’s just that Vegas, 34, has felt slightly off with his ball-striking all year and couldn’t figure out what was wrong. That is, until he was on the range after his opening round here and made a slight adjustment in his posture over the ball. Something clicked. Related: Tee times | Wolff back to work after win | Projected FedExCup standings He brought it to the course Friday, and it continued to work like magic.  “Probably the best I’ve felt all year, to be honest,â€� he said after taking just 26 putts for nine birdies and no bogeys. “I mean, I hit the ball extremely well, kind of what I’ve been struggling with a little bit the past few months. … I’m glad that stuff is back.â€� Vegas made over 117 feet of putts and was first in Strokes Gained: Putting. His 62 was two shy of his career low, a second-round 60 at the 2016 Barbasol Championship. Not bad, considering he hasn’t played the Deere since 2015 (T44). He tied for third at TPC Deere Run in 2014.  The Deere is the last chance for those not yet in the field at The Open Championship next week, and as it stands now Vegas would nab the final spot on offer. With two more good rounds, he would also solidify his position in the race for the FedExCup, which will take on added significance this year. Vegas’ wife, Hildegard, is due with the couple’s second child, a son, during the week of The Northern Trust, the first event of the Playoffs. “I told Ru (Ruben Yorio), my caddie, that it’s been a long time since I’ve felt this good,â€� Vegas said. “I’ve been working really hard the whole year to kind of feel good with my ball-striking, and found something yesterday on the range, and it was so good to carry it through to today, and it paid off, so hopefully we can continue that the next two days.â€�

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