USGA: U.S. Open eligibility on case-by-case basis

ATLANTA - What are the odds? The odds that Rory McIlroy's second shot would find that little lake, the one that so many golf balls fly easily over during the TOUR Championship. I'm glad you asked. RELATED: Full leaderboard | Leaders struggle, set up FedExCup sprint | JT thrives in pursuer role It turns out that just 1.2% of second shots on East Lake's 18th hole (formerly the ninth) are hit into the water. The hole has been played 1,947 times in the ShotLink era (since 2004). McIlroy's was just the 23rd second shot to find the water. McIlroy topped his second shot. It traveled less than 30 yards before nose-diving into the water. So, what happend? We'll let McIlroy take it from here. He was gracious enough to speak to the media after making that mistake on his final hole of the day. Here's what he had to say: "The lie was sort of iffy. My biggest concern was trying to carry the first bunker on the right there, and I knew I needed to hit it really hard and I swung hard at it, and I got it maybe like right in the middle of the ball. ... I felt like if I tried to sweep it, it would be better, and I just sort of came up on it a little bit. "Probably in hindsight trying to take on a little bit too much. So yeah, and then it would have been nice to get away with a par. It wasn’t to be." McIlroy made bogey on 18, as did playing partner Justin Thomas. There has been just one other bogey on that reachable par-5 this week. McIlroy shot 71 on Saturday after signing for Friday's low round, a 6-under 64. He will start the third round five shots behind leader Dustin Johnson. McIlroy is trying to become the first player to successfully defend the FedExCup and first player to win it three times.

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Bubba Watson completes the 20-player field for the 2020 PNC Championship taking place at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club Orlando, Grande Lakes, Dec. 17-20. A two-time Masters winner, Watson is making his debut alongside his father-in-law, Wayne Ball, in this unique PGA TOUR event where Major winners compete as a team alongside a family member. With a career-high ranking of World No. 2 in 2015, Watson is among a line-up that reads like a "who's who" of world golf at the recently re-named 2020 PNC Championship. Fellow competitors making their debut include Tiger Woods, Justin Thomas and Mark Calcavecchia. They join a field that boasts 66 Major titles and more than 1,000 international professional victories. Watson commented, "I am very excited to be playing in this tournament for the first time. I love the family connection with this event. My father-in-law, Baller (Wayne), might get a little nervous, especially if we have a chance to win the Willie Park Trophy belt, but I think that will make it all the more fun. My son Caleb is also making the trip with us, which will make this a three-generation experience. I am pretty sure Caleb thinks it's a scouting trip for the future when he will be old enough to play in the tournament." While this year's tournament will take place without spectators due to COVID-19-related restrictions, fans still will be able to enjoy watching these A-list golfers and their partners. An extensive broadcast schedule is planned to air on NBC, GOLF Channel and Peacock (click here for times.) There also will be enhanced social media coverage across all PNC Championship channels to ensure fans don't miss out on what continues to be the largest and most impressive gathering of golf's all-time legends each year. The confirmed field currently is: • Mark Calcavecchia & son • John Daly & son • David Duval & son • Jim Furyk & son • Padraig Harrington & son • Lee Janzen & son • Tom Kite & son • Matt Kuchar & son • Bernhard Langer & son • Tom Lehman & son • Greg Norman & son • Mark O'Meara & son • Gary Player & grandson • Nick Price & son • Vijay Singh & son • Annika Sorenstam & father • Justin Thomas & father • Lee Trevino & son • Bubba Watson and father-in-law • Tiger Woods & son Since the inaugural tournament in 1995, when ten major winners gathered with their sons, the PNC Championship has continued to evolve and develop. It now features 20 major champions and their relatives competing for the total purse of $1,085,000 in a two-day, 36-hole scramble for the Willie Park Trophy. The 2019 edition was won by two-time major champion Bernhard Langer and his son, Jason. Over the years, the tournament has featured a multitude of family member combinations including father/son, father/daughter, father/grandson, son/father and more recently, daughter/father when Annika Sorenstam paired with her father Tom Sorenstam. The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. has been the title sponsor of the tournament since 2012. To qualify for the PNC Championship, players must have won a major championship or THE PLAYERS Championship. Their partner must not hold a PGA TOUR card.

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