Tiger to write memoir on ups, downs of career

Ian Poulter … This 41-year-old presents similarly to how fellow 41-year-old Zach Johnson profiled for last week’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. Both are proven, world-class talents outside the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking as they populate this page, which is one of my criteria to appear. At 63rd, Poulter has earned the most points in 2017 of all golfers outside the top 50 without the benefit of a victory. His co-runner-up at THE PLAYERS highlights three top 10s among six top 15s worldwide. That set includes each of his last three starts from Scotland to England to Canada. In a nod to his heyday, he’s currently atop the PGA TOUR in both scrambling and strokes gained: around-the-green. He’s also fourth in bogey avoidance. And despite ranking outside the top 100 in distance of all drives, greens in regulation and strokes gained: putting, he’s 17th in adjusted scoring. For a pro’s pro who loves the pressure, he’s thriving on it. (Incidentally, ZJ placed second at Firestone to climb to 40th in the OWGR.) Brendan Steele … A popular endorsement in my preview material all year, he will surprise no one if he contends this week. The winner of the season-opening Safeway Open has four top 10s among 10 top 25s and ranks 15th in the FedExCup standings. He arrives fresh off a T24 at Firestone, his career-best finish in any World Golf Championship. Already has four top 20s in 12 starts in majors, including a pair in the PGA Championship and a T13 at Erin Hills in June. Overall at Quail Hollow, he’s 5-for-6 with a T9 in 2015 and T14 in 2016. Sits 16th on TOUR in strokes gained: tee-to-green, second in GIR when going for the green and 35th in adjusted scoring. Hao Tong Li … In just his second career start in a major, he made history at The Open Championship with a third-place finish, best ever for a golfer from China. Yet, he turned 22 years of age just last Thursday, Aug. 3. The podium finish at Royal Birkdale was his fourth top five in official competition in eight-and-a-half-months. Plenty long off the tee, the rangy right-hander also cleans up nicely, evidenced by sitting 16th on the European Tour in putts per GIR and 15th in three-putt avoidance. Currently 12th in the Race to Dubai standings. Luke List … This opportunity if beyond overdue for the 32-year-old. It’s been 10 years since he last qualified for a major (he missed the cut at the 2007 U.S. Open), but he reenters the action as a legitimate threat at Quail Hollow. Known best as one of the longest hitters on the PGA TOUR, he pays off the muscle with precision on approach at 18th in greens in regulation and second in GIR from off the fairway. He leads the circuit in GIR when going for the green and slots 15th in strokes gained: tee-to-green, third in par-5 scoring and first in eagles. Tied for 16th in his Wells Fargo Championship debut in 2013. Bud Cauley … It’s hard enough for an established touring professional to sit out for an extended time with a serious injury, but when you’re just settling in on what promises to be a long career and major surgery is required, it has to feel like a restart. This was his reality just three years ago when recovery and rehabilitation from surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder sidelined him for nine months, but dedication to his physical fitness and long-term planning has paid off handsomely. After securing his card as one of the last in history via earnings for 2016-17, the now-27-year-old is 62nd in the FedExCup standings with five top 10s. He placed T12 in his last start at the John Deere Classic. Currently 30th on TOUR in strokes gained: tee-to-green and 45th in adjusted scoring. Also not a stranger to Quail Hollow where he’s logged 10 competitive rounds.

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The Florida Swing is in full effect and Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club and Lodge is the next challenge, the second of four consecutive weeks in the Sunshine State. An invitational field of 123 will try to tame The King’s Par-72, 7,466 yard playground as Bay Hill hosts for the 43rd time. RELATED: Power Rankings | Expert Picks | The First Look Dick Wilson laid out the original in 1961 but Palmer started the major renovations in 2009 and regrassed all of the greens with TifEagle Bermuda in 2015. Those massive greens average 7,500 square feet, 1,500 square feet larger than last week at The Concession. Prepped to run 12 feet, the flat stick will definitely have a say in who takes home the biggest prize. Big targets off the tee and into the green reward those who find the short grass. Missing those large targets will come with large penalties, including 84 bunkers and water in play on half of the course. Keeping it off the beach and out of the drink isn’t as easy as it sounds with three inches of over-seeded Bermuda rough. The invitational field, similarly to Genesis, will enjoy an elevated prize pool of $9.3 million with the winner taking home $1.674 million and 550 FedExCup points plus a three year exemption. Even though the field is reduced, the top 65 and ties will need to qualify to play the weekend. The weather forecast this week is a mixed bag, especially on the weekend. Keep an eye on it moving forward because if the wind is up, this place will show all of its teeth! Recent Event Winners Stats 2020: Tyrrell Hatton (-4, 284) Picked up his first TOUR win in his 60th start as he won by one. … Didn’t break 73 on the weekend but won by a shot. … Led by two after Saturday, his first 54-hole lead on TOUR. … Shared the 36-hole lead for the first time on TOUR. … Entered the week leading the TOUR in Strokes-Gained: Approach the Green. … Becomes the fifth consecutive international champion. … Of the last 15 victors, nine are internationals. … Fifth consecutive winner T4 or better Par-3 scoring. … First Englishman to win. … First on TOUR since Geoff Ogilvy (2006 U.S. Open) to play BOTH rounds on the weekend over-par and win. … Won in his fourth attempt. … T6 in his previous start on TOUR (WGC-Mexico Championship). … Picked up T4 in his debut here in 2017. Notables: 2107 champ Marc Leishman (2nd) beat Hatton by a shot on Sunday. … Sungjae Im (3rd) winner the previous week at Honda bettered his 2019 debut (T3). … Bryson DeChambeau (4th) was the only other player under-par for the week. … Joel Dahmen (T5) MC in perfect weather in 2019. … Danny Lee (T5) cashed his best finish in his eighth start. … 2018 winner Rory McIlroy (T5) began the final round just two back but signed for 76. … Keith Mitchell (T5) cashed his second consecutive T6 paycheck. … 2019 runner-up Matthew Fitzpatrick (T9) was the only player on THE WEEKEND to post a number in the 60s (69). … Sung Kang (T9) shared the 36 hole lead before 78-74 on the weekend. … Harris English (T9) cashed his best payday in his ninth start. … Only 10 rounds under par on Sunday. … 2016 winner Jason Day (WD) is one of two players (Fred Couples) to go wire-to-wire. … The last champion to defend, Matt Every 2014-15, opened with 65 to lead after Round 1 but shot 83 (MC) in Round 2. … Hardest course on TOUR in 2020, including majors, as it played 2.106 shots over par. … Saturday played 3.913 shots over par. … Wind gusts played havoc all week, just four bogey-free rounds. 2019: Francesco Molinari (-12, 276) Closed with bogey-free 64 to win by two. … Sat five back after 54 holes. … Posted the low round of the week in Round 4. … Won in his seventh attempt. … Never MC in seven tries. … Led the field Strokes-Gained: Off the Tee. … 51-under lifetime at Bay Hill. … Made an ace in Round 1. … Only made two bogeys on the weekend. … Picked up his third win in last 12 TOUR starts. Notables: Matthew Fitzpatrick (2nd) led by one after 54 holes and was the first round leader in 2017. … Tommy Fleetwood (T3) was the 36-hole co-leader by four. … Sungjae Im (T3) posted all four rounds under-par on debut. … Sung Kang (T6) picked up his first of two consecutive top 10 finishes. … Rory McIlroy (T6) began Round 4 just one back. … Keith Mitchell (T6) won The Honda Classic the previous week and led the field in birdies with 21. … Englishman Matt Wallace (T6) posted all four rounds in the red on debut. … Byeong Hun-An (T10) improved on T14 from 2018. … Luke List (T10) backed up his T7 from 2018. … Adam Long (T10) played the weekend 69-67 on debut. … Cut was 1-over 145. … Wind didn’t factor. … Only nine bogey free rounds. 2018: Rory McIlroy (-18, 270) Started the two year trend of posting bogey-free 64 on Sunday. … Won by three for his 14th TOUR victory. … Began the final round two back. … Posted his career best Strokes-Gained: Putting. … Only needed 100 putts. … 54 from 54 inside seven feet. … Won in his fourth attempt. … Best US result entering the week was T20. … MC week prior at Valspar. … On a Bay Hill run of T6 or better in his last four visits. Notables: Bryson DeChambeau (2nd) shared the 36-hole lead and played in the final group. … Justin Rose (3rd) led the field with 24 birdies. … Orlando resident Henrik Stenson (4th) led or co-led after 18, 36 and 54 holes. … 2017 winner Marc Leishman (T7) closed with 67 in his defense. … Patrick Reed (T7) posted 22 birdies, T2 behind Rose. … Patrick Rodgers (T7) closed 68-69. … Played the easiest of the three years at 72.023. … 14 bogey free rounds. … Talor Gooch (T26) and Aaron Wise (T41) both opened with 65 on their debuts. … Last first-timer to win here was Matt Every in 2014. … Cut was 1-over 145. Key stat leaders Top golfers in each statistic on the 2019-2020 PGA TOUR are listed only if they are scheduled to compete this week. * – Top 10 finish here since 2016 Horses for Courses

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Though it may have seemed uncertain months ago, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson could both be at this year’s Ryder Cup. Woods’ car accident in February and Mickelson’s poor play made uncertain their status for this year’s edition of the biennial matches between the United States and Europe, which will be held Sept. 24-26 at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin. Mickelson won last week’s PGA Championship, however, and Woods appears to be making progress in his recovery. He was recently photographed in public, appearing on the Instagram feed of a young cancer patient who met Woods at a soccer game. Woods was out of the walking boot he wore in last month’s Instagram post, but he was on crutches and his right leg, which received the worst of the injuries from his February crash, was covered in a compression sock. Woods’ return to play remains uncertain but he has shown a passion for serving at team events in any capacity. That’s true of this year’s Ryder Cup, as well. “He’s all in with us,” U.S. Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker said this week. “He’s all in to help us in any capacity that he can. We’re not sure health-wise where he will be at at that point, but he’s all in. That’s the kind of guy he is. What he means to the players is a great deal and what he can bring to the team is insurmountable, too. Hopefully we can have him be a part of it in some shape or form.” Woods first served as a vice captain at the 2016 Ryder Cup, bringing the same competitiveness to his captaincies as he has shown on the course throughout his career. He also was a vice captain under Stricker at the 2017 Presidents Cup before performing admirably as a playing captain in the 2019 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne. The United States won all three events. “I’d love to have him there,” Stricker said at last week’s PGA Championship. “Who wouldn’t, right? The guys really respect him and he did a great job obviously as a captain, but he was an assistant captain of mine in 2017 of the Presidents Cup and he was unbelievable. He would do anything for you and he’s totally, totally vested in the situation and the process and almost to the point of he’s on it early and so much, it’s like, dude, we’ve still got months to go yet.” After winning the PGA, Mickelson moved from 52nd to 16th on the U.S. points list. He’s still 10 spots outside of automatic qualification but certainly on Stricker’s short list for one of the six captain’s picks. “There was a reason why he was 52nd, right? He wasn’t playing all that great. Well, now there’s a reason why he’s 16th, because he had one great tournament,” Stricker said. “But now I need to see what he’s going to do from this point forward. We still have a lot of play left. I’m rooting for him. He’s a great team player. He’s great in the locker rooms. He’s a great partner. So I’d love to see him continue what he did this last week and keep climbing that point list because I think he’s a huge benefit for our team. Bottom line, I think he does us a lot of good.” Mickelson’s popularity and his victory in the PGA of America’s flagship event will make him a strong candidate. The PGA of America also runs the Ryder Cup. Mickelson’s candidacy is also bolstered by the similarities to Kiawah Island and Whistling Straits. “I told people last week before the PGA started that I was going to watch who plays well there because it’s a Pete Dye course on a body of water and the wind blows,” Stricker said. “There’s a lot of similarities to whistling straits. That’s a feather in his cap if (Phil) needs a pick.” John Daly in 1991 was the last American to win the PGA Championship but fail to qualify for that year’s Ryder Cup (Rich Beem won the 2002 PGA but did not play in that year’s Ryder Cup, which was delayed by 9/11, because the rosters were frozen from 2001). Mickelson’s role should he not make the team remains uncertain. The 2019 Presidents Cup was the first team event since the 1993 Ryder Cup where Mickelson wasn’t on the U.S. roster. Could this year mark Mickelson’s debut as a vice captain, a role that would prepare him for future Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup captains? It remains to be seen, but the possibility of both Woods and Mickelson at the Ryder Cup, in any capacity, is good news.

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