Who’s this kid? Surprise leader at U.S. Open

In this digital day and age, it’s often argued that the most effective way to get people connecting with one another is, simply, to disconnect. For too many in Detroit, though, that has never been a problem. And, that is precisely the problem. Hard to imagine, perhaps, but more than 250,000 of Detroit’s most financially-strapped residents continue to live without basic internet service and/or the technology to even make connectivity a possibility. With most every action, education and piece of information reliant in some way on the internet these days, that’s a commodity virtually impossible to effectively live without. Ranked as the least-connected major city in the United States, nearly 40 percent of all Detroit households struggle with little-to-no web options. Additional statistics paint an even more disturbing picture. Currently, 40 percent of Detroit families have no cellular data plan, 30 percent have no access to the internet at home, and the only way 22 percent of Detroit families can get internet access is through a cell phone. In an effort to help eliminate Detroit’s digital divide, the Rocket Mortgage Classic continues its multi-year commitment to its Changing the Course initiative. To help bring it to fruition, the City of Detroit, along with private and non-profit organizations, established the initiative’s main funding mechanism, the Connect 313 Fund. In 2020, the Rocket Mortgage Classic raised $2.4 million for Changing the Course, the bulk of which went directly to the Connect 313 Fund. The Connect 313 Fund’s four-part strategy begins with collecting neighborhood-level data on technology and internet access. In other words, it’s to understand the size and scope of what’s at stake. From there, they coordinate fundraising and advocacy for systemic change with regard to digital inclusion, support neighborhood technology hubs to grow tech resources and empower residents to become digital literacy ambassadors. The Connect 313 Fund was developed in advance of last year’s tournament by the Rocket Mortgage Classic in partnership with the City of Detroit and the United Way for Southeastern Michigan – with additional engagement from community, philanthropic and business stakeholders. “I am encouraged that proceeds from the Rocket Mortgage Classic will help create connectivity hubs across the city of Detroit,” said Dr. Darienne Hudson, president and CEO of the United Way for Southeastern Michigan. “The ‘Connect 313 Fund’ is a collaborative effort that is vitally important for every family, business and organization – making technology more accessible to children, families and communities. This has the potential to serve as a role model for what can be done by public/private partnerships in other areas where technology access gaps exist.” “The Connect 313 Fund will allow us to realize the dream – laid out by our ‘Connect 313’ program – of making Detroit a national model for digital inclusion,” said Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. “By striving to provide all Detroiters with access to the digital world, technology and digital literacy, we can ensure they will also have access to the opportunity it brings.” In addition to coordinating a city-wide, data-driven digital inclusion strategy, the Connect 313 Fund will make investments into Detroit-based non-profit partners to increase access to technology, internet and related resources. Proceeds from the 2021 Rocket Mortgage Classic will be used to financially support the Connect 313 Fund, in support of the tournament’s Changing the Course initiative. “While the COVID-19 pandemic certainly magnified the digital divide, the reality is that one in nearly three Detroit families have lacked access to internet and digital resources for decades. It’s important to our entire organization, and our founder and chairman Dan Gilbert, that the Rocket Mortgage Classic serves as a driver of lasting change,” said Jay Farner, CEO of Rocket Mortgage. “The Connect 313 Fund, alongside other primary beneficiaries, will allow us to address long-lasting gaps in access to healthcare, education and employment, which are a consequence of the underlying lack of digital connectivity.” In addition, Emergency Broadband Benefit 313 (EBB 313), which grew out of the Connect 313 Fund, is a federal program designed to assist with the cost of internet and technological devices for eligible households. What that translates to is a monthly $50 discount for internet access and a one-time $100 subsidy toward a desktop, laptop or tablet for eligible residents. As somewhat of a case-in-point, the application process requires internet access. That stymies many of those most in need of these services. Rather than miss out on the opportunity, though, residents can visit a non-profit partner for application help on the federal EBB portal and even selecting an internet service provider. Current providing partners include AT&T, Comcast, T-Mobile, Verizon, human-I-T and the Detroit Community Technology Project. “When I’m talking to residents, I hear both concerns and appreciative remarks for the work done thus far,” said Joshua D. Edmonds, Director of Digital Inclusion, City of Detroit, Department of Innovation and Technology. “Historically, we as a nation, have left our communities to fend for themselves when it comes to consumer technology. How internet providers have treated and continue to treat our most vulnerable residents is shameful. “My role illuminates the desire to course-correct that narrative by prioritizing connecting residents to technology (internet, computers, technical support) that works best for them. Through our larger collaborative effort within the Connect 313 Fund, we have a growing list of a few hundred organizations and residents all making the pledge to bridge Detroit’s digital divide. This impact is leading to the cultivation of one of the most important ingredients for this work — trust. If we can continue to cultivate, maintain and bolster trust from the broader community, the digital divide becomes beatable.” One of the most fun and effective ways the Rocket Mortgage Classic raises money for the Connect 313 Fund is via the AREA 313 Challenge on holes 14-16 (pars 5, 3 and 4, respectively). If a player can post a 3-1-3 cumulatively over the course of the four competitive rounds, the Rocket Mortgage Classic will donate $313,000 in that player’s name to Changing the Course. That trifecta isn’t the only way funds are raised through the AREA 313 Challenge. Eagles and birdies at Nos. 14 and 16, respectively, net $5,000, while aces at the par-3 15th are good for $25,000 donations. Last year, thanks to 15 eagles made on the 14th hole and 63 birdies made on No. 16, Rocket Mortgage’s donation in support of Changing the Course totaled $385,000. The digital divides in places like Detroit are, sadly, not uncommon. A lack of means to afford basic tech resources continues to impact a large representation of the U.S. population. Kids fall behind in school, parents cannot seek employment or even get information and access to medicine. Thanks to the support of the Rocket Mortgage Classic each year, that divide in Detroit is growing smaller every day, one connected line at a time. “Our overriding mission has been, and always will be, to use this event as a way to affect positive change in the city of Detroit,” said Jason Langwell, the Rocket Mortgage Classic’s Executive Director. “We’re confident that we will be able to do that for several years to come, thanks to some creative new activations we developed to support the cause. We are looking forward to a terrific tournament week and an impactful one, as well.”

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I hope everyone enjoyed the 18-hour or so offseason! Plenty of time to see the family and just enough time to explain to them how it’s back to work. Roll out the barrel and sunscreen as Johnny Miller’s Silverado Resort and Spa kicks off the 2020-2021 50 event marathon. The North Course in lovely Napa Valley will host for the seventh consecutive season and will serve as the season opening event for the sixth time during that stretch. Wine country is a great place to kick back and relax if there wasn’t the pressure of winning the season’s first event and punching a ticket for most of the big events later this season. That sounds weird to say one day after The TOUR Championship but it’s time to pop the cork and get on with it. The North Course at Silverado plays 7,166 and to Par-72. Those numbers would suggest 30-under and course records somewhere in the 50s. Nope. There’s no way Miller would allow that! One of the toughest tracks on TOUR to hit fairways, the North Course annually hangs around the top five in this category. Bombing and gouging may work but with rough that’s approaching almost four inches it’s hardly guaranteed. Robert Trent Jones’ green complexes of Poa/Bent roll true as a sip of Silver Oak yet aren’t the easiest to read. Only one winner in the last six has finished inside the top 17 in Strokes-Gained: Putting so there will be plenty of noses buried in green books this weekend. The “short”-ness and Par 72 will have players chomping at the bit but patience, navigation and experience doesn’t hurt. In the last three seasons, the leading birdie taker has circled only 23 so this place is anything but a pushover. Chesson Hadley and Ricky Barnes share the course record of 61. Brendan Steele posted a tournament best 270 in calendar 2017 but the average winning score is 272. Cameron Champ is not here this week to defend but that won’t bother the full field of 156 players. Up for grabs are a $6.6 million purse ($1.188 winner), 500 FedExCup points and essentially a three year exemption, the rest of this 49 event season and the two seasons after. Not to mention a spot in the 2021 Masters, PLAYERS and a really cool wine barrel trophy to top it off! Recent Winners at Silverado 2019: Cameron Champ (-17; not entered) Led by three after 54 holes and won by a shot. … Sacramento native became the second Californian to win in the last three years. … Fourth winner of six 30 or younger at 24. … Fourth winner of six to lead the field in Strokes-Gained: Tee to Green. … Also led in Strokes-Gained: Off the Tee and Scrambling. … Second straight winner to rank outside the top 12 in Strokes Gained: Approach but also top also top eight in Driving Distance. … 21 birdies (T2). … Won in third attempt (T25-MC). Notables Playing This Week: Zac Blair (T4) posted 16-under over the final three rounds after opening with 75. … Cameron Percy (T7) signed for four rounds of 70 or better. … Xinjun Zhang (T7) led the field with 22 birdies. … Nick Watney (T10) sat two shots off Bryson DeChambeau’s (not entered) 36-hole lead at 10-under after 69-65. … Adam Scott (not entered) was the only player in the top 32 to post two rounds above par. … Top 16 were double digits under-par. … 2-under played the weekend. … Just 23 bogey-free rounds on the week. 2018: Kevin Tway (-14) Defeated Ryan Moore (not entered) and Brandt Snedeker in a three hole playoff. … Birdied Nos. 17 and 18 to get into playoff. … Birdied all three playoff holes to win for the first time on TOUR. … Joins all winners here by finishing in the top three in Bogey Avoidance. … Third in Strokes-Gained: Tee to Green. … Began the final round three shots back in the last group. Notables Playing This Week: Brandt Snedeker (P2) led by three after 36 and 54 holes, led the field with 23 birdies. … Aaron Baddeley and Luke List shared fourth with Troy Merritt and Sam Ryder. … JB Holmes cash alone in ninth. … Top 10 was all double digits under par on 10-under led by Bill Haas. … Phil Mickelson (T17) was the only player in the top 24 to have a round at par AND a round OVER par. … Sepp Straka (T46) posted 63 on Thursday for the first round lead. … Ricky Barnes (T69) tied the course record with 61 in Round 2. … 3-under played the weekend. 2017: Brendan Steele (-15) Defended his title successfully as he won by two shots. … Trailed by two shots entering the final round in the penultimate group. .. Ball-striking clinic from the Californian as he led the field in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and Tee to Green. … One of six winners to place in the top three in Bogey Avoidance. … Third winner in four to lead Par-5 Scoring. … Third winner in four to finish outside T25 in Strokes-Gained: Putting. Notables: Chesson Hadley (T3) broke 70 once as he posted the course record 61 in Round 2. … Phil Mickelson (T3) didn’t have anything better than 68. … Graham DeLaet, who returns from injury this week, was T5. … Tyler Duncan (T5) co-led after Round 1 and led alone after 36 and 54 holes, closed with 75. … Bud Cauley (T7) played with Steele on Sunday and shot 74 to round out the group at 10-under. … Only seven rounds in the 60s on Sunday as gusty winds and wildfires raged. … Hadley and Mickelson co-led with 23 birdies. … 1-under played the weekend. Key stat leaders Top golfers in each statistic on the 2019-2020 PGA TOUR are listed only if they are scheduled to compete this week. * – Previous Top 10 finish at Silverado Strokes-Gained: Off the Tee 3 Sergio Garcia (debut) 5 Jhonattan Vegas 14 Will Gordon (debut) 16 Sam Burns 17 Harold Varner III 25 *Luke List 29 Joel Dahmen 30 Doc Redman 34 Lucas Glover 35 Harry Higgs Scrambling 7 Adam Schenk 9 Mark Anderson 13 *Bud Cauley 14 Cameron Tringale 15 David Hearn 18 Kramer Hickok 22 Russell Knox 24 Tim Wilkinson 26 *Brandt Snedeker 27 Ben Martin 29 Carlos Ortiz 30 Maverick McNealy 32 Shane Lowry SG: Approach the Green 8 Cameron Tringale 10 Doc Redman 13 *Emiliano Grillo (2015 winner) 14 Jim Furyk 16 *Brendan Steele 20 Branden Grace 22 *Cameron Percy 23 *Matthew NeSmith 24 Jason Dufner 26 Russell Knox 28 Harold Varner III 29 Chez Reavie 30 *Chesson Hadley 31 *Nick Watney 32 Lucas Glover Sommeliers Brendan Steele: Two-time champ has been quiet the last two seasons but he’s the all-time money leader by a million bucks. Never missed in all six. Phil Mickelson: Backed up his T8 in 2017 with T3 in 2018 and followed with T17 in 2019 before MC last year. Martin Laird: Only other player in the field other than Steele and Mickelson to hit the top 10 twice since the move here in calendar 2014. Enjoys golf in the West and cashed T3 in 2015 and T8 in 2017. Emiliano Grillo: Won in his first attempt in his first event with a TOUR card. Won the week prior at the KF Tour Championship so he was a bit scalding hot. T26 is his best in four visits since winning. 90 Points Chez Reavie: All six have cashed including three T22 or better but nothing inside top 10. Harold Varner III: Never missed in five. Stroke average of 70.25 comes with an 80 and 79! Top 17 three of last four. Brandt Snedeker: P2 in 2018 hasn’t missed in four tries. Bud Cauley: Four of four as well with T7 in 2018. Charl Schwartzel: Teed it once, T6 with all four rounds in the red 2016.

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RIDGELAND, S.C. – Dustin Johnson appears to be heating up just in time for summer. After missing the cut in two of his last four starts, including the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island, and failing to register a top-10 finish since The Genesis Invitational in February, world No. 1 Johnson quickly established himself on the leaderboard at the Palmetto Championship at Congaree. Despite failing to birdie any of the course’s three par-5s, Johnson made six birdies – the last a chip-in from 81 feet at the ninth hole – and no bogeys for an opening-round 65. He was tied at the top with Doc Redman amongst the morning wave of finishers. Jhonattan Vegas (66) bogeyed his last hole and was one back. “Yeah, I mean, you know, I’m playing well,” Johnson said of his recent form, which has seen him fall to 19th in the FedExCup. “I feel like I’ve been playing pretty good all year, just, like I said, I haven’t putted well, short game’s been a little off, but today I missed it in the right spots when I did miss it, but hit a lot of real quality iron shots and gave myself a lot of looks.” Johnson, a 24-time winner on the PGA TOUR but never in his home state of South Carolina, took some time away from the game – “Clearing my head,” he said – after missing the cut at the PGA. But he got right back to work last week. He came to Congaree ranked 106th in Strokes Gained: Putting but took just 23 putts in the steamy opening round. It was progress, even if that stat was slightly deceiving; several of his approaches trickled just onto the collar around the greens, and he was 7-for-7 in scrambling. Although pleased with the round, Johnson walked away thinking about the birdies that got away, like his putt from just 4 1/2 feet that missed the hole at the par-3 fifth hole. Still, he wasn’t complaining. And the coast-to-coast birdie to close things out on nine was a nice way to end it. He admitted he would’ve been happy just to get up and down; instead, he jarred his third shot from well left of the green for his final birdie. The last time he competed the week before a major was back in November, when he finished T2 at the Vivint Houston Open before flying to Georgia and winning the Masters. “I felt like I’ve been swinging well for a while now,” he said, “just haven’t really seen the results or seen the scores. Made a few putts, but, yeah, I mean just playing solid – finally put a round together. … Hopefully I can keep it rolling for the rest of this week.”

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