WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play match previews Day 3

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Harris English has made 14 birdies and an eagle in reaching 13 under par through two rounds at the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational. And he’s done it while looking at rainbows and gold ribbons. English, who has been a passionate supporter of the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital since winning in Memphis for the first time in 2013, is using a white, lightweight carry bag this week that was built by his sponsor, Ping, and features the rainbows-and-ribbons artwork of former St. Jude patient Bridget Korn. Korn was diagnosed in 2019 with bone cancer in her right foot/leg area, resulting in a below-the-knee amputation, but today she is cancer free and doing well. Her mother worked for Ping at the time of the diagnosis and remains close with the staff at the Phoenix-based clubmaker. “It’s really easy for me to get onboard with that,” said English, who pledged to donate $1,000 per birdie this week to St. Jude. “St. Jude has been big for me, going to the hospital after I first won here, getting to know some of the patients. It’s an incredible organization and I’ll always support it. For Ping to get behind it and do something like this is great. “For me it shows there’s more to golf than the birdies and bogeys,” English continued. “There’s a hospital 12 miles from here, and there are kids in there who are struggling and trying to fight every day to live. It’s cool to be part of the awareness, and making people understand that St. Jude is a wonderful thing to give to and try to get rid of cancer.” English is having perhaps his best season at fifth in the FedExCup thanks largely to victories at the Sentry Tournament of Champions and the recent Travelers Championship. He’s a four-time PGA TOUR winner whose first victory, at TPC Southwind eight years ago, was unforgettable in more ways than one. “It is tough,” he said. “It’s hard to see these kids. Like, why them? Why are they sick and I’m happy and playing the sport I love? I hate it. It makes you want to do everything you can do.”

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1 – Massachusetts amateur Thorbjornsen, a 20-year-old amateur from Wellesley, Massachusetts, got into the Travelers Championship as a sponsor exemption and shot 68-65 to easily make the cut. With three birdies in his first eight holes Saturday, he was suddenly just four shots behind 36-hole leader Xander Schauffele. 2 – College Cardinal He recently finished his sophomore year at Stanford, where his best result was a runner-up at the Cabo Collegiate. He was named second-team All-American and tied for 32nd at the NCAA Championship, which he called a disappointment. 3 – Homegrown U.S. Open For the last few years he had circled the U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, about 15 minutes from where he grew up, and survived an 8-for-3 playoff to make the field. “It feels like a home event,” he said. Alas, the winner of the 2021 Massachusetts Amateur shot 77-69 to miss the cut by three. 4 – Beware the injured golfer Although he is playing well, he’s not entirely healthy. “I’m kind of struggling with some wrist injuries right now,” Thorbjornsen said last week. “Going to the physio lab there helps a lot. I’ve been in there every single day. Maybe been in there longer than I have been on the course practicing.” 5 – Junior Presidents Cup experience He played in the 2019 Junior Presidents Cup in Melbourne, and his mother, Sandra, played golf for Ursuline College in Pepper Pike, Ohio.

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