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5 things we learned on day one of the Presidents Cup 2019
The 2019 Presidents Cup, the 13th playing of the match between an international squad and one from the USA, began in precisely the manner that American playing captain Tiger Woods had desired. The first round of five matches closed exactly as International captain Ernie Els had hoped. The Royal Melbourne golf course, a composite layout that blends the best of the storied club’s East and West 18s, provided an unpredictable yet ideal stage for what all involved expect to be an unforgettable, four days of matches. Although we could write for hours on the shots, decisions, conditioning, and uniforms of the squads, we’ve distilled our thoughts to a succinct five things that we learned on Day One—Wednesday evening (USA time) and Thursday morning (Australia time)—of the 2019 Presidents Cup. Come join us.
1. The golf course matters
So often in team events, the golf course is sold to the highest bidder. If funding is needed, that’s the trade-off of modern, professional sport. The West course belongs to the wit of Alister MacKenzie, while the East fell under the mastery of Alex Russell and M.A Morcom, in the spirit of the master of the West course. The two meld seamlessly, allowing a composite course to host the club’s most important events. The course plays akin to a links, in an Australian Sandbelt manner. The fairways and greens are firm, fast, unforgiving yet welcoming. The bunkering is equal parts apparent and subdued. The entire course is at the mercy of capricious winds, and it is those putting surfaces, with their cant and roll, their spines and splines, that provide the culminating interest to each hole. If you’ve not been an architectural aficionado until now, sit back for the next three days and four rounds, and devour all that you can learn about exquisite, golf course design.
2. Captain Tiger came to play, and he may have found a partner
In days of yore, Severiano Ballesteros and José María Olazabal were an unbeatable partnership for team Europe in the Ryder Cup matches. Since then, as pundits are wont to do, anticipation and prediction for the next, unstoppable duo have been commonplace and unwelcome. No one has fallen under that looking glass with more frequency, than Tiger Woods. Say what you will about Seve and Olly; neither was in the conversation of the greatest player of all time. Such is the burden that Woods wears on his shoulders. In 2019, the latest partner in the firm is Justin Thomas. A major champion and multiple-times, tour winner himself, Thomas does not shrink from the bright light of fame. On Thursday, he and Woods began the event with a convincing, 4 & 3 victory over homebred Marc Leishman and ingenuo Joaquín Niemann of Chile. Woods made an impeccable birdie at the first: perfect drive, elegant pitch, conceded putt, and the duo was away with the sun. Their lead reached 3 up by the 5th, but the Internationals rallied to 1 down, with 2 consecutive, won holes at 6 and 7. Unmoved, the Americans won the 9th and the 11th to again reach 3 up. Back came the rest of the world at the 12th, but birdies at 14 and 15 concluded the day for the westerners.
One thing was learned from match one on day one: follow Tiger Woods. 12 holes were won outright in his pairing. If you want drama, excitement, back and forth, follow the Woods.
3. Fortunately for Els, Tiger can’t play in every match
Much has been made about the metrics that Ernie Els and his assistant captains utilized in the selection of numbers 9 through 12, and the subsequent pairings for practice and matches. When the gifts are wrapped and the planning concluded, the tell is the conduct of the golfers on course. Perhaps Marc Leishman’s sole job was to acclimate Niemann to the greatest pressure of the international stage; that much, and anything more, is unknown. What is known is this: the other four teams were unanticipated, and their performances, unknown. Sungjae Im and Adam Hadwin had the nervy task of following the opening match with Woods, and righting the international ship. Im’s unfathomable eagle pitch at the first found the bottom of the cup, and that lead held until the 6th. The Korean and the Canadian went 1 down with consecutive losses, but won the 9th to square the match once more. Even they stood until the difficult, par-four 16th, when Hadwin made a gutsy par as the other three went off into neverland, and the International side hung on for a 1-up victory. Others would follow.
4. The others that followed
Byeong Hun “Ben” An and Adam Scott dispatched the length of Tony Finau, and the newly-expanded muscles of Bryson DeChambeau, by 2&1. Much like the 2nd match of the day, match 3 was a chess battle. Just 6 holes changed hands, and the International lead of 2 up stood from the 14th hole to the end. If an approach is to find the neighborhood of the hole, it won’t arrive with spin and back-up. Instead, it will trace a roundabout corridor along the ground, allowing it to complete its revolutions as it nears the flagstick. This golf is fun!
C.T. Pan and Hideki Matsuyama jumped out early, by 2 up after 4 holes. Webb Simpson and Patrick Reed did manage to win 3 holes on the day, but were never able to do so consecutively, to build momentum. As the sun seemed to finally shine on the American side, with Reed squaring the match at 16, Pan made birdie at the penultimate hole and reclaimed the lead for Chinese Taipei and Japan, and the pair held on for a 1-up win.
Depending on your taste, the final match was done before it began. Someone turned the heat too high on the panini maker, and Abraham Ancer (Mexico) and Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa) jumped out to a 4-up lead after 4 holes. Even thought Ancer on Louis’ shoulders matches Dustin Johnson in height, on this day, Gary Woodland and Johnson were outclassed. They attempted to fight back, as major champions do, but when your side wins a solitary hole on the day, that match ain’t going your way. Mercifully, it ended at the 15th green, a complete flip-flop from how the day began.
5. The Ins and Outs of day two
Who’s in and who’s out? Aussie Cameron Smith moves into the lineup, with C.T. Pan dropping out for the International squad. Interestingly, China’s Haotong Li will not make an appearance, meaning he might be on the slate for 36 holes on Saturday, followed by 18 more on Sunday. For the Red, White and Blue, Rickie Fowler and Matt Kuchar step up for roll call on day two, with Bryson and Tony taking a rest. What’s up with Li? Who knows. Here’s what’s important.
The captains are taking entirely opposite strategies for the Friday foursomes (alternate shot) competition. Captain Tiger will preserve 3 of his 5 pairings for the 2nd day of matches He and JT, Webb and Pat, and Xander/Cantlay will return as partners. Kucher will lead off with DJ, while Fowler will accompany Woodland in the day’s last dance. In complete contrast, Captain Ernie changed all five of his partnerships, in what could only be described as a series of amicable breakups. Scott and Louis will lead off, followed by Niemann and Hadwin. Ancer pairs with Leishman in the 3rd match, with Matsuyama joining An in the 4th. The closing duo will be Smith and Im, and let me tell you this: the final duo might birdie every hole on the course.
You need to watch this. You need to Tevo this (does anyone Tevo anymore?). The golf is spectacular, the venue is the best we will see this decade or next, and the players are motivated in the most positive of ways. Join us.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 PGA Championship
GolfWRX is on site this week at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, for the PGA Championship.
While we see fewer equipment changes and new gear seeding at major championships, we get a look at custom gear and looks into the bags of players we rarely see, which is just as exciting. In the case of the PGA Championship, this means a look at the gear some of the PGA Professionals who qualified for the tournament will be gaming, and LIV players, such as Jon Rahm and Patrick Reed.
Check out links to all our albums from Valhalla below and check back throughout the week as we continue to update.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Michael Block – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Patrick Reed – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cam Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Josh Speight – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Takumi Kanaya – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kyle Mendoza – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Adrian Meronk – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jordan Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jeremy Wells – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jared Jones – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Somers – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Larkin Gross – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tracy Phillips – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jon Rahm – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Keita Nakajima – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kazuma Kobori – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- David Puig – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Ryan Van Velzen – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brad Marek – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Chris Gotterup – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rich Beem WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Phil Mickelson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Matt Dobyns – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Lucas Herbert – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jason Dufner – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Daly – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Taylor Gooch – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dean Burmester – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dustin Johnson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
Pullout Albums
- Ping putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Bettinardi covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cameron putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Max Homa – Titleist 2 wood – 2024 PGA Championship
- Scotty Cameron experimental putter shaft by UST – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – new Ping putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka’s new Cameron putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rickie Fowler’s Cobra bag and Aerojet driver – 2024 PGA Championship
- Super Stroke grip – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tiger Woods – 2024 PGA Championship
- Michael Block’s new TaylorMade “Proto” 7-iron, from address – 2024 PGA Championship
- Odyssey putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
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Morning 9: Is it Rory’s time? | Stricker WDs | Why Valhalla is a great major venue
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News
Tour Rundown: Rose blooms, Rory rolls
This week last year, I found myself praying to the weather goddesses and gods that Rochester would be spared their wrath over the next seven days. The 2023 Oak Hill PGA Championship (that was slated for August when the contract was signed) was on the horizon, and I wanted my region to show well. Things turned out fine, with all four seasons making an appearance, a PGA Professional (Blockie!) stealing hearts, and a proven champion in Koepka (although I was pulling for Viktor.)
This year, no concerns. Louisville will shine this week at Valhalla, but we’ve matters to consider before we look to four days of coverage this week. Nelly did not win on the LPGA this week, so who did? The PGA Tour held two events in the Carolinas, and Tour Champions celebrated a major event in Alabama. Four noteworthy events to run down, so let’s head to RunDownTown and take care of business.
LPGA @ Founders Cup: Rose blooms
There was a sense that Rose Zhang might have a role in the 2020s version of the LPGA. After winning everything there was in amateur golf, she came out and won her first tournament as a professional. That was last May and, let’s be honest, who among us thought it would take 12 months for Zhang to win again? Rhymes with hero, I know.
This week in New Jersey, eyes were on Nelly Korda, as she made a run at a sixth consecutive win on the LPGA circuit. Korda ran out of gas on Saturday, and that was just fine. Madelene Sagstrom and Zhang had turned the soiree at Upper Montclair into a battle of birdies. Gabriela Ruffels came third at nine-under par. No one else reached double digits under par but Sagstrom and Zhang. They didn’t just reach -10…they more than doubled it.
Sagstrom had the look of a winner with five holes left to play. She was three shots clear of Zhang, at 23-under par. The Swede played her closing quintet in plus-one, finishing at 22-deep, 13 shots ahead of Ruffels. That performance we’d anticipated from Zhang? It happened on Sunday. She closed with four birdies in five holes to snatch victory number two, by two shots. Spring is a lovely time for a Rose in bloom.
Take a look back at hole No. 1… @rosezhang is living life on the edge ? pic.twitter.com/o6z6SK7TRA
— LPGA (@LPGA) May 12, 2024
PGA Tour @ Wells Fargo: Rory the Fourth is crowned in Charlotte
Xander Schauffele is a likable lad. He has an Olympic gold medal on his shelf, and a few PGA Tour titles to his credit. Even X knows that even par won’t get much done in a final round unless conditions are brutal. They weren’t brutal at Quail Hollow on Sunday. X posted even par on day four. It kept him ahead of third-place finisher Byeong Hun An but gave him zero chance of challenging for the title.
Paired with Xander in round four was the King of Quail, Rory McIlroy. The Northern Irishman had previously won thrice at the North Carolina track, and he was champing at the bit to gain some momentum on the road to Louisville. While Xander scored increasingly worse along the week (64-67-70-71) McIlroy saved his best round for the final round. Thanks to five birdies and two eagles, McIlroy ran away with the event, winning his fourth Wells Fargo by five over Schauffele.
HOLE-OUT EAGLE FOR RORY!!!
He now leads by SIX! pic.twitter.com/UE49lwfwNC
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 12, 2024
PGA Tour @ Myrtle Beach Classic: a little CG won the inaugural week
It always seemed odd that the PGA Tour had zero stops along the Grand Strand each season. This week’s event seemed odd in that the golfers played the same course each day, and there were zero handicaps involved. Most events at Myrtle Beach involve hundreds of amateurs at dozens of courses, with all sorts of handicaps.
The Dunes Club is a Robert Trent Jones Sr. course, down toward Pawley’s Island. It claims what used to be considered an unreachable, par-five hole, the watery 13th. Nothing is unreachable any longer, including a 22-under par total for a six-shot win. Chris Gotterup, a former Rutgers and Oklahoma golfer, played sizzling golf all week and won by a sextet of shots. Gotterup opened with 66, then improved to 64 on Friday. His Saturday 65 sounded a beacon of “come get me,” and his closing 67 ensured that second place was the only thing up for grabs.
Chasing the podium’s second level were a bunch of young Americans. In the end, Alastair Docherty and Davis Thompson reached 16-deep, thanks to rounds of 64 and 68 on Sunday. They held off six golfers at 15-under par. The victory was Gotterup’s first on tour and should be enough to get him a Wikipedia page, among other plaudits.
Leader by SIX!
@ChrisGotterup | @MyrtleBeachC pic.twitter.com/TVdA6ZPYc4— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 12, 2024
PGA Tour Champions @ Regions Traditions: Vindication for Dougie
Doug Barron, if I recall correctly, was suspended by the Powers That Be, way back in 2009, for testosterone. He was naturally low in the hormone, so he took supplements. This did not sit well with certain admins, so he was put on the shelf for 18 months. Not cool.
In 2019, Barron came out on the Tour Champions. He won in August. The next year, despite the craziness of Covid, he won again. Barron hit a dry spell for a few years. He kept his card, but accrued no additional victories. In late April, Barron showed serious signs of life, with a t2 at Mitsubishi. This week in Birmingham, he jumped out to a lead, lost it, then gained it back on Saturday. With major championship glory on the line, Barron brought the train into the station with 68 on Sunday.
Stephen Alker, the man who could not lose just two years ago, gave serious chase with a closing 63. He moved up 11 slots, into solo 2nd on Sunday. He finished two shots back of the champion. Two shots ain’t much. Cough once and you drop a pair. Third place saw a three-way tie, including last year’s winner (Steve Stricker) and runner-up (Ernie Els.) Despite the intimidating presence of the game’s greats, however, Doug Barron had more than enough of everything this week, and he has a third Tour Champions title to show off.
At the @RegionsTrad, all champions receive a green bike.
Doug Barron decided to take a victory lap ? pic.twitter.com/bEzENMjZwv
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) May 13, 2024
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Henny Bogan
Dec 12, 2019 at 11:01 am
TiVo
Ronald Montesano
Dec 12, 2019 at 12:01 pm
tHaNkS
gonna watch a good old fashioned movie and chill with a friend. may work on my capitalization problem later 😉
rm
enoughtrumpspam
Dec 12, 2019 at 5:37 pm
Also work on your reading problem. You misspelled it as well.
Ronald Montesano
Dec 13, 2019 at 10:35 am
I misspelled “it”? Where did I do that?
Prime21
Dec 12, 2019 at 9:18 am
If the final duo makes 5 birdies it will be AMAZING. Please spare us the “birdie every hole on the course” stuff.
Ronald Montesano
Dec 12, 2019 at 12:06 pm
Prime21
Thank you for writing. I issue a gentleman’s wager that they will make 9 birdies, minimum. That’s ‘twixt Im and Smith.
#WontBackDown
rm