U.S. Women's Open: No push cart for Lindsey Weaver with fiancé Zach Wright on the bag

ORLANDO, Fla. – Tiger Woods was named the next U.S. Presidents Cup Captain on Tuesday, just two days after his best PGA TOUR finish in nearly five years. The timing raises an obvious question. Has he thought about bringing his clubs to Royal Melbourne? It was the first inquiry he fielded from the media. Woods chuckled before giving a straightforward answer. “Yes, I have.� Next question. Woods’ quick success in this latest comeback at least makes the idea feasible. A lot could change over the next 639 days, but Woods has proven he’s capable of winning when he’s healthy. The 2019 Presidents Cup will be played in Australia on Dec. 12-15. He showed glimpses of his old self at last week’s Valspar Championship, where he finished one shot behind Paul Casey. Woods, 42, will be the youngest Captain in the Presidents Cup’s history and he’s shown that he can keep up with the kids on TOUR, ranking second in clubhead speed this season. The Captain’s role involves much more than making picks and setting lineups. Juggling those myriad duties while properly preparing to play an international competition is no easy task, but the improved infrastructure of the U.S. side could help Woods handle the dual roles. Woods could lean on experienced Captain’s Assistants like Fred Couples, Steve Stricker, Jim Furyk and Davis Love III to lighten his load. “There’s a few people who carry enough weight and could focus enough, like Jack (Nicklaus) or Arnold (Palmer). I think Tiger is definitely in that group,� said two-time Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III. “If Davis Love is a playing Captain, guys would worry. If Tiger’s playing, they’re excited that we have him on our side. He’s going to win points and be a leader. “I think it will be the best thing ever for the Presidents Cup.� Like many good ideas, a Woods captaincy was first floated on a group text. This one was between recent U.S. captains. They told Woods that he would be on the short list for the next Presidents Cup captaincy. After some thought, Woods called PGA TOUR Commissioner Monahan to express his interest and asked if it would be possible to also play at Royal Melbourne. Monahan gave the only reasonable answer. “Yes.� Woods has played eight Presidents Cups. He’s holed the clinching putt three times (2009, ’11 and ’13). He has a 24-15-1 record. Only Phil Mickelson has won more matches. He has an affinity for Royal Melbourne, which was designed by the same man, Dr. Alister Mackenzie, who laid out his beloved Augusta National. Woods played the two previous Presidents Cups at Royal Melbourne. He went 2-3 both times, but won his singles match each year. The entire U.S. Team struggled at Royal Melbourne in 1998 as the Internationals scored their lone Presidents Cup victory. Thirteen years later, Woods holed the winning putt there. Woods would likely have to qualify for his own team. A format change for 2019 will make that task tougher, though. The top eight in the U.S. Team standings after the 2019 TOUR Championship will earn spots on the team. That’s two fewer spots than previous years. The number of automatic berths was reduced because of the lengthy interval between the TOUR Championship and Presidents Cup in mid-December. Woods will have four Captain’s Picks. He has the resume to support a selection, but he seemed hesitant to lobby himself for a pick. “I would like to get to a point where I wouldn’t have to make that decision, to where I’m playing well enough where I could make the team on points,� Woods said. A playing Captain is rare, but not unprecedented. Hale Irwin played both roles in 1994. He compiled a 2-1 record in the United States’ 20-12 victory at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Prince William County, Virginia. Irwin beat Robert Allenby, 1 up, in the first singles match of the final day. The inaugural Presidents Cup was announced on April 13, 1994, just five months before the competition. Irwin won the RBC Heritage that same week. He was 48 and it was his first PGA TOUR win in four years. He was named the U.S. Captain a few weeks later. He bumped Jay Haas from the final automatic spot on the team with a 10th-place finish at the last event of the qualifying period, the World Series of Golf at Firestone Country Club. Irwin used his two Captain’s Picks on Haas and Phil Mickelson. It was Mickelson’s first time representing the United States as a professional. He hasn’t missed a Presidents Cup or Ryder Cup since. Arnold Palmer was the last playing captain in Ryder Cup history. Palmer, then 34, led the U.S. to the second-largest winning margin in Ryder Cup history. He went 4-2 in his team’s 23-9 victory at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. The qualifying period for the 2019 Presidents Cup began at last year’s BMW Championship. Woods is 44th in the standings for his team. It’s too early to tell if he’ll be wearing two hats in Australia, though.  “That’s a bridge that’s a long way away from now to be crossing, but if it does come to that point, it won’t just be my decision,� Woods said. “It will be a collaborative effort, what is best for the team.� If Woods is playing well, there’s few things that could be better for the U.S. side.

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We know that you miss the competition on the PGA TOUR. So, together as we move forward through this hiatus, we will be taking a moment every week to recognize the tournaments that have been postponed or canceled, albeit in the familiar format of the Power Rankings. If you’ve lost track of where we are on the schedule – no matter your devotion as a fan, it’s a reasonable possibility – the Valero Texas Open was scheduled to be contested this week. With 89 editions in the books going back to the Warren Harding administration in 1922, suffice it to say that we’ve launched our special series with as large a database as the state in which the tournament has been held. The commitment is to rank only 10 golfers with honorable mentions who cannot go overlooked. It’s often not easy to limit a traditional Power Rankings to the usual 15, so there could be some solid debate generated when reviewing the entirety of a tournament’s history. As always, you are encouraged to engage in the conversation beneath the file. No doubt many of you are ready to reconnect in that space. I miss it, too. Only tournament success is considered for this version of the Power Rankings. Customary variables such as site and recency bias also do not carry as much influence. Rather, it takes into account era-dependent dominance and consistently strong form over time, but it doesn’t compare eras, project head-to-head considerations or adjust for quality of talent and field depth in any edition. As one example of history made at the Valero Texas Open, Tommy Armour III owns the tournament’s low aggregate of 26-under 254 in 2003. It also was a PGA TOUR record until Justin Thomas went one lower at the 2017 Sony Open in Hawaii, but it’s TA3’s only top-10 finish at the VTO in 21 appearances. It was a momentous week to be certain, but he didn’t come close to cracking the Power Rankings. Enjoy! ALL-TIME POWER RANKINGS: VALERO TEXAS OPEN 10. Loren Roberts Twenty-one years after debuting with a T22 in 1981, he prevailed as a 47-year-old in 2002, and then placed T2 in his title defense. Five top fives and two T9s baked into his 15-for-19 record. 9. Ben Hogan After three consecutive runner-up finishes through 1942 and a 27-month stint in the Army during World War II, he returned to Willow Springs Golf Club with victory in 1946. 8. Bill Mehlhorn Nicknamed Wild Bill and often wearing a cowboy hat, his wins in 1928 and 1929 punctuated a run of five straight top-five finishes, but he didn’t place worse than T16 in eight appearances. 7. Ben Crenshaw Won the first of his 19 PGA TOUR titles at Woodlake Golf Club in 1973. Added another victory in this event in 1986. Overall, he went 18-for-22 with six top fives and another two top 10s. 6. Jay Haas Totaled 23 starts and connected for two victories (1982, 1993), two seconds (1996, 1998), two T5s (1983, 1999) and another pair of top 10s. 5. Byron Nelson In eight starts from 1934-1946, he went T2-3rd-Win-T4-T8-T2-2nd-3rd. If there’s an upset, it occurred in 1945 when he won 18 times. His runner-up here was one of seven that season. 4. Sam Snead In five appearances comprising of at least one round on three different courses, he went 3rd-3rd-Win-2nd-Win and scored 86-under. Closed out his latter title in 1950 with a pair of 8-under 63s. 3. Arnold Palmer Six top 10s in just seven appearances, but he won three consecutive editions through 1962, the first year that Oak Hills Country Club hosted. 2. Justin Leonard Three wins, two seconds, a T5, a T10 and two T11s, all in 11 appearances at LaCantera Golf Club’s Resort Course from 1995-2009. His scoring average in 42 rounds on the par 70 was 67.48. 1. Charley Hoffman No. 1 in all-time earnings with a win (2016), two seconds and a third at TPC San Antonio. Two top 10s and a T11 at LaCantera. All told, he’s 14-for-14 with 11 top-15 finishes. HONORABLE MENTIONS • Mike Souchak … Recorded only three top 10s in 13 tries, but he established the 72-hole scoring record in 1955 at 27-under 257 at Brackenridge Park Golf Club. It was a mark that stood for 46 years, but the previous year, also at Brackenridge, Chandler Harper matched the then-record aggregate of 259 first set by Byron Nelson at the 1945 Seattle Open, one of Lord Byron’s 18 victories that season. • Bob Estes … The native Texan made 26 appearances, the first 25 consecutively from 1989-2013. His first TOUR title at Oak Hills in 1994 was one of seven top 10s and 14 top 25s in the event. • Lee Trevino … Because comparing actual dollars won is unfair over time, it’s notable that he reached six figures in tournament earnings with his last payday (T9) in 1983. His five top fives included a $45,000 victory in 1980. • Corey Pavin … Cashed in 16 of 19 appearances with an 11-start peak from 1988-2000 during which he recorded all eight of his top-15 finishes. It included a win (1988) among five top 10s. • Duffy Waldorf … Captured two wins at LaCantera (1995, 1999) among seven top 10s from 1989-2003.

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Twenty-five high school graduates have been selected to the First Tee College Scholarship Program. This is the largest class to date and a significant milestone as the youth development organization celebrates 25 years of helping young people build their strength of character through golf. The Scholars Class of 2022 includes aspiring physicians, computer scientists and lawyers, all of whom will be attending stand-out colleges and universities, including Harvard University, New York University and Columbia University. Selected from a national pool of First Tee teens, the diverse group of Scholars – 15 young women and 10 young men – are from both urban and rural communities across the United States. Nine of the Scholars will play on their college’s golf team; several are heading into STEM, business, and medical fields; and many already have impressive plans for careers that will support underrepresented and underserved populations. “I offer congratulations and a warm welcome to our Class of 2022 First Tee Scholars,” said Greg McLaughlin, CEO of First Tee. “With the support of our donors, we’re able to provide this ongoing support as they matriculate through college and prepare for future careers. These outstanding young leaders have bright futures ahead, and we believe the skills and values developed through First Tee will empower them throughout their collegiate journey and beyond.” First Tee College Scholarship Program extends its impact to alumni by providing support throughout their post-graduate careers. Each of the Scholars is paired with a dedicated, trained adult mentor who will help encourage and guide them throughout their college experience, including virtual and in-person meetups. The program also provides professional development workshops held in-person throughout the year, and up to $5,000 per year toward tuition. The program, which re-launched in 2020, is an evolution from the First Tee Scholars Program established in 2003. The program began after participant Steven Outlaw gave a moving speech in 2001 at the age of 16 and was provided an impromptu scholarship from a generous donor. Two years later, Outlaw graduated high school and was part of the inaugural First Tee Scholars Class. Since 2003, First Tee headquarters and its chapter network have awarded more than $15 million in college scholarships to alumni. Applications for the Class of 2022 were received from participants across the First Tee network. Following an online application process, finalists were selected by a committee for one-on-one interviews. In addition to academic performance, applicants were considered based on financial need, chapter involvement, volunteerism, and other criteria. First Tee College Scholarship Program is made possible by donors and corporate partners who stand behind the program and First Tee’s mission, including 3M, A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, Astros Golf Foundation, Brendan and Shay Cavanagh, Charles Schwab, Chevron Corporation, David and Geri Epstein Private Foundation, Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Fund, Edward and Lisa Vaughan, Jon Clay, Nelson and Michele Carbonell Family Foundation, Paul and Ruth Flowers, Peter A. Bonanni Scholarship Fund, PURE Insurance, Timothy W. Finchem Scholarship Fund, TruGreen, USSGA Memorial Fund, and Zotec Foundation. First Tee College Scholarship Class of 2022: Average GPA: 4.1 on a 4.0 scale Average SAT score: 1,470 out of 1,600 Average ACT score: 31 out of 36 Breonna Boyd, First Tee — Tennessee University of Michigan; Major: Business Administration Breonna plans to start a nonprofit that will provide natural hair care products to African American girls who need them. Nicholas Canales, First Tee — Greater Houston University of Nebraska; Major: Political Science and History Nicholas is a first-generation college student and will play on the men’s golf team. Antonio DelCastillo, First Tee — Orange County University of Alabama; Major: Pre-Med Pursuing a career as either a neuro-orthopedic surgeon or anesthesiologist. Srishti Dhurandhar, First Tee — Metropolitan New York New York University; Major: Electrical and Computer Engineering Srishti will play on the women’s golf team under the leadership of her former First Tee coach and NYU head coach, Katie Rudolph. Vivian D’Orazi, First Tee — Metropolitan New York York College of Pennsylvania; Major: Marketing; Minor: Hospitality Management Vivian will play on the women’s golf team and aspires to work in the golf industry post-graduation. Dylan Ebs, First Tee — Greater Austin George Washington University; Major: Journalism Dylan plans to pursue his goal of becoming a political reporter in Washington, D.C. Esther Etherington, First Tee — Indiana Franklin College; Major: Elementary Education Esther will play on the women’s golf team and plans to later receive a Master’s degree in Special Education. Maleyna Gregorio, First Tee — Coachella Valley University of California Riverside; Major: Business Maleyna will play on the women’s golf team and aspires to work in the golf industry. Raiyan Johnson, First Tee — Savannah Georgia Institute of Technology; Major: Astrophysics Raiyan will pursue her goal to become an astrophysicist and ultimately an astronaut. Lea Han, First Tee — Greater Sacramento Harvard University; Major: History Lea plans to become either an immigration or civil rights lawyer and pursue her passion for social justice. Zara Karim, First Tee — Greater Washington, D.C. George Washington University; Major: Computer Science Graduating with 4.5 GPA, Zara aspires to become a computer scientist or software engineer. Nelia Leong, First Tee — Upstate South Carolina University of Florida; Major: Public Health Nelia will be pursuing the pre-dentistry track with plans to use her degree to have her own pediatric dentistry practice. Myles Manor, First Tee — Greater Washington, D.C. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University; Major: Chemistry Myles has a desire to bring interest and awareness to STEM careers in his community. Abigale Morris, First Tee — Phoenix Biola University; Major: Cinematography Abigale will play on the women’s golf team. She aspires to own a film company that provides film and media for nonprofits. Hannah Newell, First Tee — Greater Houston LeTourneau University; Major: Chemical Engineering Hannah will play on the women’s golf team while working toward her goal of building a career in chemical engineering. Sabrina Poole, First Tee — Greater Seattle St. Martin’s University; Major: Psychology Sabrina will play on the women’s golf team. Her future aspirations include helping high school and college student-athletes with mental and psychological struggles or crises as a clinical psychologist. Nancy Rivera, First Tee — Silicon Valley Middleburg College Vermont; Major: Pre-Med Nancy wants to be the voice for Latinx families who have had limited representation in the medical field. She plans on becoming an OB-GYN. Ahmad Raoul, First Tee — Greater Chicago Winston-Salem State University; Major: Computer Science While playing on the men’s golf team and majoring in computer science, Ahmad plans to leverage his STEM knowledge to further his passion for golf and improve his golf performance. Daniel Sears, First Tee — Massachusetts Franciscan University of Steubenville; Major: Philosophy and Finance Daniel plans on a career in either real estate or law. Connor Shooks, First Tee — Benton Harbor Loyola University Chicago; Major: Sports Management Connor aspires to either be an athletic trainer or physical therapist. Kenneth Treece, First Tee — Pine Mountain University of Alabama; Major: Aerospace Engineering and Political Science Obtaining a 35 out of 36 on the ACT, Kenneth has plans to become a public defense attorney. Alexa Vela, First Tee — Greater Houston Rice University; Major: Psychology and Pre-Law Alexa aspires to become a lawyer to grant the underrepresented the opportunity to recognize their constitutional rights and the powers granted to them by their government. Jaylon Wilson, First Tee — Metro Atlanta North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University; Major: Finance With plans to become a financial advisor, Jaylon aspires to serve the African American community through providing financial literacy, specifically to athletes and musicians. Iris Xue, First Tee — Greater Washington, D.C. Columbia University; Major: Computer Science and Engineering Iris hopes to one day build artificial intelligence models that tackle healthcare challenges, such as disease modeling and disease prevention. Jacob Zakaria, First Tee — Central Coast University of California Berkeley; Major: Biology Inspired by his father’s family being raised in a war-struck refugee camp in Lebanon without access to healthcare, Jacob plans on becoming a medical doctor.

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