Tough breaks, big shots at the 2024 U.S. Open

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Sam Ryder brought down the house with a hole-in-one on the stadium 16th hole Saturday in the WM Phoenix Open, where newcomer Sahith Theegala topped a leaderboard as crowded as the course. RELATED: Full leaderboard | Get to know Sahith Theegala in 10 stories | Inside Sam Ryder’s epic ace on WM Phoenix Open’s 16th hole Ryder’s wedge shot on the 124-yard hole landed just right and short, bounced a couple of times, spun left and tumbled in. The rowdy fans on the 17,000-seat hole threw drinks in the air in celebration and littered the turf with bottles, cans and cups, leading to about a 15-minute delay. “I don’t know how I could pick a hole over this one,” said Ryder, eight strokes behind Theegala after an even-par 71. “I don’t think there’s any hole that has the electricity that this one has.” Ryder’s first TOUR ace was the 10th at No. 16 since the tournament moved to the course in 1997 and first since Francesco Molinari in the third round in 2015. Tiger Woods did it in 1997 before grandstands ringed the hole. “It just ended up being a perfect 54-degree wedge,” Ryder said. “Everything always plays a little shorter in there, adrenaline or whatever it is.” With around 200,000 fans packing firm and fast TPC Scottsdale on another sunny, 80-degree day in the Valley of the Sun, Theegala overcame a double bogey on the par-4 second to shoot a 69. “What a day,” Theegala said. “So many ups and downs. I mean, it was wild.” Making his event debut on a sponsor exemption, Theegala had a 14-under 199 total for a one-stroke lead over defending champion Brooks Koepka. FedExCup champion Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler and Talor Gooch were another stroke back. “I’m really exhausted right now,” Theegala said. “Probably, I hit it in the desert five times. I got my ball stepped on twice, got my ball picked up twice. Very draining, for sure.” Theegala is trying to become the first player to win on a sponsor exemption since Martin Laird in the 2020 Shriners Children’s Open. The 24-year-old Indian-American grew up in Chino Hills, California, and starred at Pepperdine. In 2020, he swept the three major college player of the year awards. He’s playing for the fifth straight week, with his parents and some family members attending the last four in California and Arizona. “It was hard to see them,” Theegala said. “Just engulfed in the sea of people.” After hitting the lip of a fairway bunker en route to the double bogey on No. 2, Theegala rallied with birdies on Nos, 6, 7 and 8. He dropped a shot on the 11th, birdied the par-5 13th and holed a 15-footer on the par-4 17th. “Obviously, really bad start and proud of the way I fought back there,” Theegala said. “But still trying to take it all in. There’s just is so much going on there, too. Which is a good thing. I really enjoyed the fans out there.” Koepka had a 68. The four-time major champion is the last player to win the event in his first appearance, doing it in 2015. “I’m playing solid, so just go out and go play a good round tomorrow and see what happens,” Koepka said. “Just need to keep putting it the way I did. I feel confident. I like where my game’s at, and we’ll see.” Scheffler flirted with his second 59 before settling for a 62. Seeking his first TOUR victory, he began the day nine strokes behind Theegala. “I think it’s a fun event,” Scheffler said. “I think it would be a little bit draining if it was like this every week, but one week a year is pretty special.” Scheffler played his first nine in 7-under 27, and added two birdies on his second nine. He was the last player on the TOUR to shoot 59, doing it in THE NORTHERN TRUST in 2020. Jim Furyk is the only player to break 60 twice in the PGA TOUR, shooting 58 and 59. The fourth-ranked Cantlay, also making his first start in the event, had a 68. Gooch birdied the last three holes for a 67, making a 40-footer on 18. Schauffele, the leader at 14 under at the turn, shot 69. He made a double bogey after driving into the water on the par-4 11th. Hideki Matsuyama (66) was 11 under with Tom Hoge (67), Max Homa (68), Alex Noren (67) and Adam Hadwin (68). Matsuyama, the Masters champion who won in Scottsdale in 2016 and 2017, is making his first start since winning the Sony Open in Hawaii a month ago. Hoge won at Pebble Beach last week for his first PGA TOUR title.

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(San Juan, Puerto Rico – February 14, 2018) – Puerto Rican golfers Rafael Campos and María Fernanda Torres top the list of 20 professionals who will meet on March 3 at the TPC Dorado Beach to play in the Puerto Rico Open Charity PRO-AM. The event, endorsed by the PGA TOUR, will serve as a platform to raise $500,000 for Puerto Rico charities struggling to recover after hurricane Maria and lay the groundwork for the return of the official tournament in 2019. “For ten years, the Puerto Rico Open has been part of the PGA TOUR’s regular season. In September of 2017, when the tournament’s organizing team was preparing for the 2018 edition, the island suffered the onslaught of María. Four months later, the conditions are not yet adequate to carry out the official tournament, but our commitment to the island is stronger than ever and we will do our part to help Puerto Rico recover,â€� said David H. Chafey, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Puerto Rico Open. After a successful call to professionals of the PGA TOUR and the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), a total of 10 male players –including four past Puerto Rico Open champions– and 10 female players have confirmed their participation in the charity match, to be played at the TPC East Championship Course in Dorado Beach. The following professional players will participate in the event: Rafael Campos (Puerto Rico), George McNeill (USA), Marc Turnesa (USA), Greg Kraft (USA), Brad Fritsch (Canada), Derek Lamley (USA), D.A. Points (USA), Robert Gamez (USA), Andres Romero (Argentina), and Chesson Hadley (USA). The confirmed LPGA players are: María Fernanda Torres (Puerto Rico), Cheyenne Woods (USA), Belén Mozo (Spain), Giulia Molinaro (Italy), Emma Talley (USA), Amanda Blumenherst (USA), Paula Reto (South Africa), Verónica Felibert (Venezuela), Mariajo Uribe (Colombia), and Paola Moreno (Colombia). “It gives me great pride to receive my fellow players, who come to give their time to help Puerto Rico, and show how beautiful my island is to all these visitors. In addition, I look forward to a positive impression of all the efforts that are underway to make our island shine again as before,â€� said Maria Fernanda Torres, who made her LPGA debut this year. Meanwhile, Rafael Campos, who managed to position himself among the top ten players of the last edition of the Puerto Rico Open commented: “Playing in Puerto Rico surrounded by my people is always exciting and makes me feel super proud. This time it’s even more exciting for me to be the host of a tournament that brings so much to the island and that, this year, is more focused than ever on its charitable mission.â€� In addition, a Celebrity AM-AM will be played on Friday, March 2, when a group of entertainment and sports personalities will take to the field in support of the fundraising goal. For more information, visit www.puertoricoopen.golf.

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