Weekly 18: Kisner feeling presidential, Player wants recount

Scott Stallings (+600 for a Top 20) … After securing his spot as one of the 13 automatic entrants via Final Qualifying in Dallas on May 23, he shared on Twitter that “This one means a little bit more.” Going back to his college days at Tennessee Tech, he’s been associated primarily with The Volunteer State for various reasons, but he was born in Worchester, Massachusetts, which is within an hour from The Country Club and in an area where much of his family current resides. Setting aside for a moment those influences that only he can feel, the 37-year-old has popped enough this season to warrant this prop. In fact, it was just three weeks ago and immediately on the heels of earning this berth when he finished T4 at Colonial in conditions that were decidedly not consistent with north Texas in late May. It was further evidence that he’s risen commensurately with the level of the challenge, and that was before the boost of this week’s conflation of positive forces. Seamus Power (+260 for a Top 20) … The Irishman didn’t start playing majors until he turned 35 in March, but he’s already proven that he’s built for them. He debuted with a T27 at the Masters, and then chased it with a T9 at the PGA Championship. Zoom out and it’s clear that they’re just natural paces in his upward trend of the last 14 months. This season alone, he’s 13-for-21 with five top 10s among 10 top 20s. Currently ninth on the PGA TOUR in greens in regulation and 17th in scrambling. That potent combo has him fourth in bogey avoidance. So, despite success elsewhere, he matches up best with the U.S. Open. Victor Perez (+650 for a Top 20) … Since the pandemic triggered a special, invitation-only field of 144 at Winged Foot in 2020, the USGA has eschewed the old sectional qualifier in England in favor of a series of DP WORLD Tour events to determine 10 exemptions. This year, the 29-year-old from France led and end-loaded the four-event sprint with a win at the Dutch Open and a T3 at the European Open. He’s no stranger to competing as a professional in the United States where he also played collegiately at the University of New Mexico and cites former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady as one of his favorite athletes. Harry Hall (+1200 for a Top 20) … The talented Brit last captured attention in this space at the Shriners Hospitals Open in October and promptly delivered a T8. He sharpened his teeth as an amateur at UNLV and he had just become engaged, so there were all kinds of proper feels in play. The 24-year-old is navigating his second season on the Korn Ferry Tour and currently sits 12th in points after a recent win north of Chicago and a solo fifth in Raleigh, North Carolina. Putting remains his strength, and the big fella is plenty long off the tee, so a solid performance will be defined by smart decisions and crisp irons. Downshift into top-40 finishes where available. MJ Daffue (+1000 for a Top 20) … It’s been a heavy couple of weeks for the 33-year-old from South Africa, but he’s used to it and he’s stronger as a result of what he’s overcome. After locking up his first PGA TOUR card, he’d go on to co-medal at Final Qualifying at the stacked Springfield, Ohio, site where numerous current TOUR members fell short. Surviving sprints also is one of his calling cards. Avid fans will recall him four-spotting into, count ‘em, five TOUR events during the super season of 2020-21. Now, he merely can enjoy what is his debut in a major. No big deal! Currently second on the Korn Ferry Tour in distance off the tee, third in scoring average and T3 in the all-around. Odds were sourced on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. For live odds, visit BetMGM.

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DUBLIN, Ohio – Jon Rahm’s storied history with the 16th hole at Muirfield Village continued Saturday morning as the defending Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide champion made a stunning ace to surge into the outright lead. The Spanish superstar slotted the ball home on the iconic par-3 with an 8-iron from 183 yards a year after he chipped in from greenside rough on Sunday only to be penalized two shots for being deemed to make his ball move prior to his swing. The penalty in 2020 ended up being inconsequential as he held on for victory over the final two holes although Saturday’s shot still felt like a bit of retribution for the five-time PGA TOUR winner. “I told Adam (caddy), I was walking down after I picked up the ball, I’m, like, well, that is some good karma and payback from last year,” Rahm joked. “It was just one of those good numbers. It helped to see Xander’s shot because I knew if I pulled the 8-iron it would be over the pin, so I just aimed between the pin and the edge of the bunker, hit a straight 8-iron and let the wind do the rest, and it went in. “I did not think any ball landing short of the pin would go in just because it’s coming in with such height from the elevated tee and the greens are soft. But hey, I think you can kind of see my face of surprise, right, early on, because I was pretty sure that ball was going to be past the hole about 15 feet.” Returning to finish the last five holes of his second round thanks to earlier weather delays Rahm had dropped a shot on the par-4 14th and failed to birdie the par-5 15th before the sensational shot. He backed up the ace with a birdie on the 17th and was within a whisker of another on 18 to shoot a 7-under 65 leaving him at 10-under and two shots clear of 2019 champion Patrick Cantlay at 8-under. Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler and Max Homa sit tied third at 6-under. “I wasn’t too happy to have to stop yesterday because I was 5-under through 13 playing unbelievable golf. I was feeling really, really solid. Had you given me a flashlight, I probably would have tried to finish yesterday,” Rahm added. “I’m leading the tournament after 36 so I’m in a good position. I’m comfortable. I’ve been looking forward to it, like I said earlier in the week. I’ve been doing a lot of backdoor top 10s and I’m happy I’m in contention for once.”

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The Ryder Cup’s Four-balls format allows a player to swing with a bit more abandon. His partner is there as something of a safety blanket, lessening the anxiety he may feel while standing over each shot. RELATED: Recaps from Day 1 | How format works Bryson DeChambeau took advantage of that fact to unleash a blast that sent a message to Europe, and the long drivers he will compete against next week. While Jordan Spieth’s incredible pitch from an awkward lie that almost sent him tumbling into Lake Michigan was the shot of the morning session, DeChambeau’s incredible show of strength was the highlight in the afternoon. With Scottie Scheffler safely in the fairway at the 581-yard, par-5 fifth hole, DeChambeau took the, ahem, aggressive line on the serpentine par-5. DeChambeau, who this year broke his own record for single-season driving-distance average (323.7 yards), teed his ball high, waggled and huffed and puffed to prepare his body to exert maximum energy on the unwitting golf ball. His 417-yard blast over a lake and then a sea of sand left him with just 72 yards to the hole (Scheffler, by comparison had 274 yards remaining and Rahm was left with a 253-yard second shot after a 336-yard drive). DeChambeau took advantage of the blast, wedging to 5 feet and making the eagle putt to tie the match. The U.S. pair was tied with Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton at the halfway point of their match.

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