Wannasaen opens up 3-stroke lead at Dana Open

Q: You have been wearing apparel from Levelwear for the last couple of years on the PGA TOUR. How did you get connected with the brand? A: I got connected with Levelwear in early 2017. I was without an apparel partner at the time. The very first day I wore their stuff in a tournament I went out and shot a 59. Needless to say, we got off on the right foot. Q: How does Levelwear fit your personal style on the course? A: Without sacrificing comfort, Levelwear provides me with understated style that truly represents what I look for in performance golf apparel. I love the fit and cut of both their tops and bottoms, and can’t say enough about the endless variety of colors offered in their shirts. Q: How does the technology built into Levelwear’s apparel help you to perform your best on the course? A: Golf is a sport where comfort is one of the keys to performance and ultimately, success. I can’t speak intelligently to the details of the technology behind Levelwear’s apparel, but I do know that their product feels great and provides me with unparalleled comfort. Q: Being a Canadian, how important is it for you to be affiliated with a Canadian sportswear brand like Levelwear? A: When evaluating new partnerships, I always look at synergies between myself and a given company. Connecting the dots as to why the partnership makes sense.  Being a proud Canadian is part of my identity, part of my personal brand so to speak. So the opportunity to team up with a Canadian company like Levelwear gives the partnership an authentic feel, and I think makes the endorsement far more credible. But most importantly, I find that aligning with Canadian brands just feels right. Q: What are your favorite pieces in Levelwear’s collection? A: Without question, my favourite piece in the Levelwear collection is a shirt called The Sway. It’s a lightweight heathered yarn die fabric with moisture wicking properties, and it comes in a wide variety of colours. Q: What style tips do you have for amateur golfers? A: Replace your khakis with grey pants. Don’t sacrifice comfort, and less is more, so try to keep it simple.

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DUBLIN, Ohio — Collin Morikawa didn’t get rattled by his first missed cut as a pro or his first time playing Muirfield Village. Morikawa finally had a forced weekend off two weeks ago after 22 consecutive cuts to start his PGA TOUR career, three short of the standard set by Tiger Woods. He bounced back Thursday in the Workday Charity Open with a 7-under 65 for a one-shot lead over Adam Hadwin. RELATED: Full leaderboard | Canadian duo starts strong | How to give Muirfield a second identity It was a quiet day of work, typical for the PGA TOUR with no spectators allowed in the return from the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown. It was never more evident at Muirfield Village, which typically has enough fans to frame just about every hole. Morikawa goes about his work quietly in any circumstances, and he was dialed in from the start of a relatively calm and steamy afternoon on the course Jack Nicklaus built. His shot into the par-5 fifth settled 3 feet away for eagle. All but one of his birdie putts was inside 12 feet. The only setback was a bogey from the fairway on the 18th. “It’s a beautiful track. It’s a very tough course, obviously, but you just have to map your way around it,” Morikawa said. “You’ve got to be really smart. If you’re not in the fairway, you’ve got to make sure you play smart. I was playing smart but I felt good with my irons, so I was able to attack some pins when they were accessible.” He liked it so much that Morikawa is even more excited about spending two weeks at Muirfield Village. For the first time in 63 years, the PGA TOUR will have tournaments on the same course in consecutive weeks. The Workday Charity Open fills a void this year for the John Deere Classic, which decided to cancel earlier this year and will return in 2021. The second week at Muirfield Village — the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide — was supposed to be the first with fans since the PGA TOUR returned June 11. That plan was scrapped at the last minute and it was clear how much work went into it. There were signs for spectator parking along the streets outside the club. Concession and hospitality tents were a few days away from being completed. There was no point taking them down, because sound travels when no one is around. Rory Sabbatini found out the hard way. He was at the top of his swing for his opening tee shot when a volunteer some 80 yards away laughed in conversation. Sabbatini flinched, sent his drive well to the right and he stood looking at the volunteer, too far away to realize what had happened. Jon Rahm was in a perilous spot in juicy rough left of the 14th green, facing a downhill chip toward the water. He took a full swing for a flop shot, it came out softly and raced down the green and into the cup for a birdie. That hole — that shot — is best known for when Tiger Woods chipped in for par on his way to victory in 1999. Rahm was a 4-year-old in Spain at the time, but apparently he has seen enough video of the shot that as he stood to the side of the green, he smiled and said of the empty theater, “Just like when Tiger did it.” Phil Mickelson made plenty of noise, at least for nine holes. Lefty was 4 under at the turn and narrowly missed a 10-foot birdie chance on the 11th. He made bogey from the bunker. He missed a 5-foot par. He needed two chips from 25 feet to get on the 14th green. He hit in the water for double bogey on the 16th. He shot 41 on the back for a 73. Brooks Koepka played for the first time since withdrawing from the Travelers Championship two weeks ago after his caddie tested positive for the coronavirus. He used PGA TOUR winner Marc Turnesa as a caddie for this week, which might be a short week. Koepka opened with a 74. Most of the good scoring came in the morning. Hadwin had five birdies over his last eight holes for a 66. Nick Taylor, a new father who chose to stay home in Canada for an extra month after the tour resumed, had an eagle at No. 11 and kept bogeys off his card for a 67. He was joined by past Muirfield Village winner Hideki Matsuyama. Keegan Bradley had a 69 and was among 35 players who shot in the 60s. One shot summed up the environment at PGA TOUR events at the moment. He hit a 6-iron on the par-3 fourth hole for an ace, and didn’t even know it. “There was probably five or six people up by the green, and no one did anything,” Bradley said. “We walked up to the green, I fixed my ball mark. I’m looking all over the green for it. And someone just goes, `It’s in the hole,’ like really casually. It was just bizarre.” And it will be that way for two weeks.

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As evidenced by the range of weather at the BMW Championship, Mother Nature can be a bit moody this time of year. Hot and humid one minute; cool, windy and light rain the next. Being able to adapt to the unpredictable conditions is the difference between an enjoyable stroll around the course and a good walk spoiled. Having a reliable ‘go-to’ layering piece that provides protection in a variety of conditions is the key to comfort and performance. Recognizing this, adidas Golf has released the new Go-To Adapt Jacket for fall. Constructed from a mix of polyester and fleece, the Go-To Adapt was created to give players a grab-and-go option when heading to the course. The polyester on the upper chest, back, and shoulders allows heat to escape as temperatures rise while the fleece-lined fabric over the midsection keeps the core warm for those early morning tee times. “Golfers are used to having apparel that works for the two temperature extremes,� said Christine Cowen, global director of apparel, adidas Golf. “But there are days when you need to be able to transition, for example, from a cooler morning to a warmer afternoon. That’s why we created the Go-To Adapt Jacket; to be the ideal mid-weight option that provides optimal stretch where you need it as well as enhanced breathability. It’s that reliable and perfect piece that can take you through your day, on course and off.� The Go-To Adapt Jacket is loaded with performance and comfort features. One of the more unique aspects is the telescope cuff. Having the ability to roll up the sleeves of a pullover or jacket is a must on the course. Too often this leads to stretched out sleeves that are a distraction during the swing. The telescope cuffs on the Go-To Adapt are designed to stretch in a way that allows them to be rolled up and down throughout the day without losing their shape. Articulation is also built into the sleeves in the elbow area to offer freedom of movement during the swing. “It’s heavy enough that if it’s a little bit cool it keeps you nice and warm. It doesn’t restrict you when you are swinging,� said Sergio Garcia. Combined with the fleece-lined shell is a water-resistant fabric which helps to ward off light showers. For heavier rains, the Go-To Adapt can effortlessly be worn under a waterproof jacket for an extra layer of warmth. A droptail hem provides extra coverage against wind and rain. Plus, front-zip pockets make for an easy place to store a scorecard or hand warmers on a chilly day and internal headphone pockets allow for tunes to be taken on the go. The Go-To Adapt Jacket is available in a range of classic and fashion colorways. The traditional grey, navy blue, white, and black colorways are as versatile as the jacket itself. For those looking to punch up their looks, a spicy Aero Red and an energetic Bright Blue make stylish statements. A women’s version with a more feminine cut and thumbholes on the telescope cuff is also available in four colorways.

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