Who’s feeling confident at Conway Farms

The deepest field in golf will be challenged by the longest track in major championship history this week at The Ocean Course at Kiawah to decide the 103rd PGA Championship. Kiawah Island, South Carolina, will host 99 of the top 100 players in the world and they will be challenged by arguably Pete and Alice Dye’s toughest test. Stretching to 7,876 yards (Par-72), the Ocean Course at Kiawah overtakes Erin Hills as the longest major championship set-up in history. RELATED: Power Rankings | Expert Picks The PGA Championship was hosted here in 2012 and became the first major championship contested on Seashore Paspalum grass from tee thru green. The putting surfaces average 6,000 square feet and will run at tournament speed and there are 28 acres of fairway to swing at off the tee. Conversely there are 30 acres of sandy areas running along, behind and in front of most holes. The rough is Bermuda but will be over-seeded with ryegrass (up to three inches) to thicken and green it up. The 2021 edition will play 200 yards longer and in the month of May, not August like 2012. Springtime in the Carolinas will bring cooler temperatures and more consistent breezes to add to this already difficult Dye challenge. When the wind blows, the fairways and greens will shrink so controlling the golf ball in the breeze is required. While there will be spectators, there won’t be any grandstands to obstruct views or knock down errant shots. Closely mown areas around the sandy areas greenside will provide more decisions to be made to get it close. Getting up and down to grind out pars will be paramount. For more on the course design and history read THIS from our Sean Martin. As with any major championship examination mental toughness will also factor this week. While not many races have been run on Kiawah Island, there are many Pete Dye examples to examine, especially Whistling Straits, host of three previous PGA Championships. Those who have embraced the Dye designs and have found past successes on these layouts will feel they have a leg up on the rest of the field. The field of 156 players was completed with KH Lee after his win last week at AT&T Byron Nelson. Also, 20 PGA Professionals are entered this week along with any former champions. The purse for the event in 2020 was $11 million with $1.98 million plus 600 FedExCup points and a five year exemption on TOUR to the winner. Recent Event Winners Stats Recent Winners and Notables Recent Winner and Notables 2012: Rory McIlroy (-13, 275) Fired a bogey-free 66 to win his second major championship. … Set the PGA Championship record for margin of victory as he won by eight shots. … Only needed 24 putts in the final round. … Carded 67 in Round 3 to lead by three after 54 holes. … Signed for 75 in Round 2, three shots better than the average that day, to sit two back after 36 holes (-2). … Opened with 67, one of four players one off the lead. … One of three players to card less than 10 total bogeys. … Second major win and second by eight shots. … First top 10 in a major since his 2011 U.S. Open triumph. … Hits the podium for the third time in four starts (Win-T40-T3-T3) at the PGA Championship. … 2012 majors finishes: T40 (Masters), MC (US Open defense) and T60 (Royal Lytham & St Annes). … Played the week before (T5) WGC-FESJC (WGC-Bridgestone at the time), his seventh top five of the season. … Won Honda in March. Notables Entered This Week: Defending champion Keegan Bradley (T3) was playing in just his second PGA Championship. … Ian Poulter (T3) picked up his best PGA Championship check to this day. … Justin Rose (T3) led the field in GIR and was T2 Birdies (18). … Steve Stricker (T7) was one of nine players who played both weekend rounds in the red. … Adam Scott (T11) ranked T2 Putting. … Bubba Watson (T11) made nothing but was T8 GIR. … Louis Oosthuizen (T21) also circled 18 birdies (T2). … McIlroy and Rose both posted 66 on Sunday, one off the best round of the week. … Perfect weather in Round 1 saw 44 players break par. … Round 2 scoring average was 78.1 and only four golfers broke par (49-year old Vijay Singh 69, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Ian Poulter, 71). … Cut was +6 and only 10 players were under par after 36 holes. … Round 3 had eight rounds in the 60s as a thunderstorm halted play in the afternoon. … Round 4 had 18 rounds in the 60s. … 74.6 scoring average for the week. Of 72 players making the cut, 24 hit 71 percent or better Fairways. … Rose was one of only seven players to hit 50 or more GIR. … There were only six Americans in the top 17. … Others playing in 2021: T18 John Daly (1991 winner) T18 Padraig Harrington (2007, 2008 winner) T21 Jimmy Walker (2016 winner) T27 Jason Dufner (2013 winner, 2011 runner up) T27 Marc Leishman T36 Rich Beem (2002 winner) T36 Phil Mickelson (2005 winner) T36 Vijay Singh (1998, 2004 winner) T36 YE Yang (2009 winner) T42 Martin Laird (led the field in Total Driving) T42 Gary Woodland T48 Dustin Johnson T54 Francesco Molinari T59 Charl Schwartzel T62 Chez Reavie T66 Alex Noren 70 Zach Johnson 72 Cameron Tringale Missed Cut: George Coetzee Sergio Garcia Webb Simpson Bernd Wiesberger Stewart Cink Jason Day Lee Westwood Branden Grace Rickie Fowler Matt Kuchar Shaun Micheel (2003 winner) Charley Hoffman Ryan Palmer Martin Kaymer (2010 winner) Paul Case Kevin Na (DQ) Key stat leaders Top golfers in each statistic on the 2020-2021 PGA TOUR are listed only if they are scheduled to compete this week. Horses for Courses

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A round of golf is full of strategic decisions. Should I aim for this flag or go for this par-5 in two? Is the wind helping or hurting? Playing on the PGA TOUR and the LPGA Tour is about more than just hitting shots. Professional golfers must assess the data, calculate the risks and use insights in real-time, skills that take time to master. That's why Aon created the Risk Reward Challenge, to honor those players who are consistently able to make informed decisions and execute the desired shot on the holes that require adept decision-making. This season-long challenge showcases how the world's best players analyze risk and utilize data-driven insights when it matters most. The Aon Risk Reward Challenge mirrors the work that Aon does with its clients. Just like a caddie uses data to help his player make the right decision, Aon uses proprietary data and analytics to advise and deliver insights that drive outcomes for its clients. This will be the Aon Risk Reward Challenge's third season on PGA TOUR. Nick Taylor won last year's competition. "It was a huge honor to win the 2019-20 Aon Risk Reward Challenge, and I feel very fortunate to have pulled it off. Strategizing on each Challenge hole throughout the year added an extra element – it felt like a tournament within a tournament. I'm glad our strategy and risks paid off. It's an accomplishment I'm really proud of, and I'm looking forward to competing for the trophy again this season." On the LPGA Tour, Aon honored players' request to use the $1 million prize to fund a new tournament, the Drive On Championship. That event provided valuable playing opportunities for LPGA members after many events were cancelled by the pandemic. With Aon committed to providing equal pay to the best men and women in the world, the $1 million first prize will once again be presented to the Aon Risk Reward Challenge winner on each tour. The season-long competition is based on players' performance on a selected hole each week. The holes that comprise the Aon Risk Reward Challenge highlight the most decisive and strategic shot selections from around the world of golf. On the PGA TOUR, this includes the 18th hole on Torrey Pines' South Course, a reachable par-5 that is guarded by water; the drivable par-4 17th at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, the scenic par-5 finishing hole at Pebble Beach and Riviera Country Club's classic par-4 10th hole, which players can reach off the tee but they must be wary of the deep bunkers that guard this tiny green. This program authentically builds on the process a player undergoes when determining and executing a strategy and has successfully engaged players, caddies and fans by providing an in-depth look at the designated holes and asking them to consider how much risk they want to undertake in their pursuit of the $1 million prize. Enjoy following along as the world's best players showcase the importance of strategic decision-making. To learn more about the Aon Risk Reward Challenge, click here.

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OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. – News and notes from Thursday’s first round of THE NORTHERN TRUST, the opening event of the FedExCup Playoffs. Russell Henley has the clubhouse lead after an opening 6-under 64. PHIL BEGINS HIS AUDITION Phil Mickelson teed off Thursday with eight rounds to make a good impression on U.S. Presidents Cup Captain Steve Stricker. A 2-over 72, on the surface, doesn’t seem a score he could point to as proof his game is coming around. But Mickelson was happy that he hit 11 of 14 fairways and “hitting iron shots with ease.� His confidence level appeared much different than two weeks ago, when he missed the cut for the first time in 22 starts at the PGA Championship, admitting afterwards he had lost focus. “I’m going to have a good week,� Mickelson insisted Thursday. “I know that it’s not the greatest start, but it’s not bad, either.� He needs a good week. Ranked 18th on the U.S. team list, it’s unlikely Mickelson will move into the top 10 that earn automatic spots after next week’s Dell Technologies Championship. But two good weeks could convince Stricker to make him a captain’s pick and extend his streak of Presidents Cup appearances. He’s played in every one since the event’s debut in 1994. “I would love to be on that team, but I’ve got to bring something to the table,� Mickelson said. “… I’m very optimistic on the way I’m playing, but the scores are not reflecting that yet.� Stricker has indicated he would ask Mickelson for an honest assessment of his game before making the captain’s picks. Mickelson promised he “will be� honest. After missing the cut in the last two majors and posting only one top-10 in his last 11 starts, Mickelson now sees positive signs. “I feel like my game’s coming around,� he said. “I hope it’s in time to make the team.� UNDER THE RADAR Two years ago, Jason Day started the Playoffs ranked No. 2 in points. A year ago, he was No. 1. This week, he starts off 49th. It’s his lowest starting point in the last five seasons. It’s the reason he had no pre-tournament media obligations, and that his tee time was earlier-than-usual on Thursday. He was also a sponsor’s pick for Wednesday’s Pro-Am instead of having one of the spots reserved for players higher up in the FedExCup standings. “I’m like, whoa, what’s going on here?� Day said with a laugh. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been one of those.� Ranked ninth in the world, Day said he’s flying under the radar this week. He doesn’t mind it, and his 1-under 69 on Thursday leaves him well-positioned to make a move in the next three rounds. But he understands why he’s not in heavy demand at Glen Oaks. “It’s humbling being in a position like this because I know I’ve had it good for a long time,� Day said. “Through some poor play this year, I haven’t been in the position that I would like to be, and humbling as in I need to work a lot harder than what I’m doing right now.� BAD TURNS TO GOOD In Russell Henley’s last two starts, he finished T-66 and T-71. Outside of his five missed cuts, those are the worst results he’s had all season. His explanation was a simple one. “My attitude was just bad,� he said. His 12-over performance in his last start at the PGA Championship left him frustrated. He also felt tired, as he’s still trying to figure out the balance between practice and rest. But now the Playoffs are here, and he feels energized. Entering Glen Oaks 19th in points (thanks mostly to his Shell Houston Open win), Henley needs simply to maintain his position through the first three events in order to advance to the TOUR Championship for the second time in his career. Unfamiliar with the course, he took a conservative approach Thursday and it paid off. The 64, which included eight birdies, was just his third round in red numbers in his last 13 rounds on TOUR, and matches his second-lowest score of the year. Will he maintain his conservative play the next three days? He’s not sure. “I don’t know if that’s necessarily the way to do it,� he said. Seems like it was certainly the way to do it Thursday. QUOTE OF THE DAY I don’t think they were quite sure they were going to play No. 1 as a par 4 or 5 yet, so I played it as a par-5 when I came – which I liked a lot better. ODDS AND ENDS Glen Oaks was playing to favorable reviews in its first competitive round as a PGA TOUR course. Superintendent Craig Currier was at the players’ entrance to the clubhouse, seeking opinions and suggestions from the pros. He was hearing lots of good things. Consider this from Patrick Cantlay after his 3-under 67: “I think the golf course is great. It rewards really good shots and penalizes mediocre ones.� … Justin Thomas, in his first round since winning the PGA Championship, was 2 over through his first eight holes and finding it difficult to get focused. He turned to his caddie Jimmy Johnson and said, “I’m having a hard time with this today and I need your help.� A 24-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole – his ninth of the day – got him back on track, as he rallied to shoot a 2-under 68. “I’m more proud of rounds like today than I am when I play really well,� Thomas said. … Thomas’ good friend Jordan Spieth burned several edges with his putts en route to a 1-under 69. “I burned high lip, low lip, left lip, right lip today for most of the round,� Spieth said. “Felt like a 4- or 5-under round.� … After shooting a 4-over 74, FedExCup points leader Hideki Matsuyama spent time on the practice green. He needed 33 putts on his round, connecting on just two putts outside 8 feet.

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