On Thursday, in her second round since that amazing day at Mission Hills Country Club, Ko went low again, firing a 63 at the Lotte Championship.
But a few hours later, Yuka Saso stole the show at Kapolei Golf Club in Hawaii.
The 19-year-old, in the field on a sponsor invitation, birdied seven of her first 10 holes to tie Ko for the lead at 14 under.
Saso later birdied the 16th, sinking a long putt for a 2 to take the outright lead.
For the solo lead 🔥
Yuka Saso drills the long birdie putt to take the solo lead at 15-under
Watch the @LPGALOTTE now on @GolfChannel! pic.twitter.com/4RkqzD3OTt
— LPGA (@LPGA) April 16, 2021
Then Saso made another birdie on 17 to go up by two shots at 16 under. She parred the 18th to shoot her second straight 64.
Saso won the 2019 Girls Junior PGA Championship a little more than two years ago. She turned pro four months after that and is currently a member of the Japan LPGA Tour, where she won twice last year. This season, she is third on the money list. She is seeking her first LPGA win.
LOTTE Championship: Leaderboard
It’s been three years Ko has won. So far this week, she has posted 15 birdies and just one bogey in two days.
Lydia Ko plays a tee shot on the 16th hole during the second round of the LPGA LOTTE Championship at Kapolei Golf Club on April 15, 2021 in Kapolei, Hawaii. (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Luna Sobron Galmes posted a second-round 64 and is tied for third with Nelly Korda and So Yeon Ryu at 11 under.
Amateur Rose Zhang, who lost in a playoff on the Symetra Tour in Arizona three weeks ago, held the lead early in the second round but settled back into a tie for 10th after a 68 on Thursday.
Amy Yang made some noise on the par-3 12th hole by draining a hole-in-one, which got her to 8 under for the tournament. It’s the third ace on the LPGA in 2021.
🚨 ACE ALERT! 🚨
Amy Yang with a ☝️ on the 12th hole in Hawaii!@LPGALOTTE | @GolfChannelpic.twitter.com/qFnvaxI7f5
— LPGA (@LPGA) April 16, 2021
The LPGA has returned to Hawaii for the first time since 2019. The Lotte Championship, once held at Ko Olina Golf Club, has moved to Kapolei Golf Club. This is the first time the tour has played at Kapolei since the 2001 Cup of Noodles Hawaiian Open.
The tournament has a Wednesday-to-Saturday competition schedule.
]]>For the first time, some of the PGA Tour Champions golfers are making quite the adjustment this week.
Eight former Masters champions played at renowned Augusta National Golf Club last week, and now must transition from those conditions and facing the top players in the world of younger ages, to the Champions Tour at the Chubb Classic presented by SERVPRO.
Jose Maria Olazabal didn’t win a third Masters, but he arrived at Tiburón Golf Club at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort as a winner of sorts. The 55-year-old was the only one of the eight to make the cut, and finished tied for 50th.
“I was here (Tuesday) afternoon for a little while, and I think everybody was in a state of shock that I made the cut last week — me included,” Olazabal said.
Olazabal shot a 3-over 75 in the first round and followed that up with a 1-under 71 in Friday’s second round to make the cut. He shot a pair of 75s over the weekend.
CHUBB CLASSIC:Leaderboard
“It was a very nice surprise, I have to say,” Olazabal said. “It’s been, what, seven years I think the last time I made the cut. It was great. It was great to make the weekend, especially on the Friday that was — it would have been Seve (Ballesteros’) birthday. It was a bit emotional in that regard. Plus other things, but it was really nice. I felt proud.”
Mike Weir was second among the former champions who are in the field this week. But he missed the cut by two strokes at 5 over. Bernhard Langer missed the cut by four shots, followed by Ian Woosnam (+9), Sandy Lyle (+12), Couples (+13), Vijay Singh (+15) and Larry Mize (+19). Mark O’Meara, another former Masters champion, is in the Chubb field, but did not play last week.
“I played fairly well and shot college score shots like when I was 16 years old,” Couples said.
Olazabal attributed his scores to saving par, since he was hitting a lot of 5-woods and 7-woods into par-4s, for example.
Bernhard Langer tees off on hole 12 during day two of the Chubb Classic Pro Am at Tiburón Golf Club in North Naples (Alex Driehaus/Naples)
“To shoot those scores, it’s very hard,” Couples said. “(The course) was a rock hard — it was hard to get a ball close, but he’s got a great short game, and that week you needed to have a short game.”
“He’s always had tremendous short game,” Langer said. “That’s important at Augusta. If he can keep his driver in play he’s always one to reckon with. He knows the place.”
“That was great to see Jose come back and play so well,” Weir said. “That had to be a brutal golf course for him, very long. For him to make the cut there just shows how good his short game is. His short game is just phenomenal, world-class.”
Weir couldn’t quite make up enough ground to make the cut after an opening-round 78, but he did shoot a 1-under 71.
“I felt like my game was really ready to contend there,” he said. “I was kind of shocked that I had such a bad short game day Thursday. That’s what really set me back.”
Langer tied for 29th in the Masters in November when it moved from its usual April dates due to the coronavirus pandemic. He missed the cut by three after shooting 74-77 and didn’t have a birdie in the second round.
“I thought the course was playing almost the opposite from last November,” he said. “Very firm at first. The greens were actually firmer on Monday and Tuesday than they were on — in the tournament rounds.
“So I think they were close to maybe losing some of them so they put a little water on them then they had a little bit of rain here and there, but conditions were great. Weather was beautiful. I just didn’t play good enough.”
Couples shot 77-73 at the Masters in November. He’s nowhere near saying when his last Masters will be.
“The last year I had a 78; year before that 76. But the last two years I’ve come back and had two really, really good other rounds,” he said. “This year I did not. But, no, I mean, it wasn’t a length problem. To be honest with you, I didn’t putt very well in November and I couldn’t get the speed of the greens down and I actually played OK, and then this year was five months later was the complete opposite. I putted everything 10 feet past, chipped everything horribly.”
Jose Maria Olazabal lines up his putt on the second green during the third round of 2021 The Masters Tournament. (Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports)
Olazabal said adjusting to Tiburón’s Black Course will be more than just the undulating, lightning-quick greens Augusta is known for.
“It’s a completely different golf course,” he said. “Small greens, greens are firm and fast, that is true, but you have to position the ball here. Fairways at Augusta are much wider, and in that regard for me, that I’m not the best or the straightest driver in the world, well, that helps over there.
“But I know that here I need to be sharp off the tee in order to be able to compete for the event.”
Weir, who tied for 51st in the November Masters, agreed.
“A lot of my preparation going to Augusta was hitting a lot of long clubs because I knew I was going to have rescue clubs and 5-irons and 6-irons and 7-irons into a lot of the holes there at Augusta where here you’re hitting a lot more wedges, so it’s just putting in a little more time in on the wedge shots,” he said. “And we’re in some Bermudagrass around the greens, so that’s difficult pitching, probably more difficult than Augusta because of the grain.”
As Couples implied, though, going anywhere after Augusta National will be an adjustment.
“(It) is hard to play on a golf course like that when you never do it — once a year,” he said. “I mean, we play golf courses that are nice; sometimes they play hard.
“But when you just all of a sudden hop out of bed Thursday morning and go play a course like that, it’s a little freakish, even though I love it.”
]]>Cameron Smith, who tied for 10th in last week’s Masters and tied for second in the November Masters, claimed the first-round lead Thursday after shooting a 9-under 62 – his career low on the PGA Tour. Stewart Cink is in second one shot back at 8 under.
Matt Wallace, who finished third in the Valero Texas Open two weeks ago and tied for 34th in last week’s Masters, shot a bogey-free 65 to share third with reigning PGA champion Collin Morikawa. Charles Howell III, Billy Horschel and Harold Varner III are T-5 at 5 under.
From tee times to television and streaming info, here’s everything you need to know for the second round of the RBC Heritage. All times Eastern.
RBC Heritage: Yardage book | Fantasy picks
| Time | Players |
| 7 a.m. | Russell Henley, Matthew NeSmith, Christiaan Bezuidenhout |
| 7:11 a.m. | Adam Hadwin, Anirban Lahiri, Wyndham Clark |
| 7:22 a.m. | Vaughn Taylor, Sam Burns, Bo Hoag |
| 7:33 a.m. | Robert Streb, Jim Herman, Jason Dufner |
| 7:44 a.m. | Shane Lowry, Ian Poulter, Pat Perez |
| 7:55 a.m. | Kevin Na, Dylan Frittelli, Mackenzie Hughes |
| 8:06 a.m. | Chez Reavie, Scott Piercy, Ryan Armour |
| 8:17 a.m. | Hudson Swafford, Danny Willett, Davis Love III |
| 8:28 a.m. | Chris Kirk. Ben Martin, Beau Hossler |
| 8:39 a.m. | Byeong Hun An, Sepp Straka, Doc Redman |
| 8:50 a.m. | Nick Watney, Henrik Norlander, Kyoung-Hoon Lee |
| 9:01 a.m. | Bryson Nimmer, John Augenstein, Tommy Gibson |
| 11:50 a.m. | Danny Lee, Denny McCarthy |
| 12:01 p.m. | Lucas Glover, Mark Hubbard, Matt Wallace |
| 12:12 p.m. | Charley Hoffman, Chase Seiffert, Doug Ghim |
| 12:23 p.m. | Stewart Cink, Andrew Landry, Satoshi Kodaira |
| 12:34 p.m. | Brian Gay, Sung Kang, Kevin Tway |
| 12:45 p.m. | Richy Werenski, Michael Kim, Jim Furyk |
| 12:56 p.m. | Branden Grace, Matt Kuchar, Matt Fitzpatrick |
| 1:07 p.m. | Billy Horschel, Dustin Johnson, Will Zalatoris |
| 1:18 p.m. | Daniel Berger, Brice Garnett, Patton Kizzire |
| 1:29 p.m. | Emiliano Grillo, Harold Varner III, Xinjun Zhang |
| 1:40 p.m. | Hunter Mahan, Alex Noren, Scott Harrington |
| Time | Players |
| 7 a.m. | Peter Malnati, Scott Stallings, Robert MacIntyre |
| 7:11 a.m. | Lee Westwood, Abraham Ancer, Patrick Rodgers |
| 7:22 a.m. | Brian Stuard, Adam Schenk, Tom Lewis |
| 7:33 a.m. | Carlos Ortiz, Brendon Todd, Aaron Wise |
| 7:44 a.m. | C.T. Pan, Kevin Kisner, Wesley Bryan |
| 7:55 a.m. | Cameron Smith, Tyler Duncan, Sebastián Muñoz |
| 8:06 a.m. | Webb Simpson, Corey Conners, Paul Casey |
| 8:17 a.m. | Collin Morikawa, Patrick Cantlay, Sergio Garcia |
| 8:28 a.m. | Harris English, Tyrrell Hatton, J.T. Poston |
| 8:39 a.m. | Brian Harman, Bo Van Pelt, Will Gordon |
| 8:50 a.m. | Ryan Moore, Scott Brown, Rafael Campos |
| 11:50 a.m. | Camilo Villegas, Harry Higgs, Robby Shelton |
| 12:01 p.m. | Bill Haas, Tom Hoge, Brandon Hagy |
| 12:12 p.m. | Kyle Stanley, Maverick McNealy, Cameron Davis |
| 12:23 p.m. | Nick Taylor, Andrew Putnam, Russell Knox |
| 12:34 p.m. | Austin Cook, William McGirt, Kevin Streelman |
| 12:45 p.m. | Sungjae Im, Troy Merritt, Ted Potter, Jr. |
| 12:56 p.m. | Si Woo Kim, Charles Howell III, Zach Johnson |
| 1:07 p.m. | Martin Trainer, Adam Long, Brandt Snedeker |
| 1:18 p.m. | Michael Thompson, Graeme McDowell, Luke Donald |
| 1:29 p.m. | Chesson Hadley, Rory Sabbatini, Tommy Fleetwood |
| 1:40 p.m. | K.J. Choi, Luke List, Michael Gligic |
Golf Channel (Watch for free on fuboTV): 3-6 p.m.
PGA Tour Live: 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
Twitter: 7-8:30 a.m.
PGA Tour Radio on SiriusXM: 12-6 p.m.
Golf Channel (Watch for free on fuboTV): 1-3 p.m.
CBS: 3-6 p.m.
PGA Tour Live: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Twitter: 8-9:15 a.m.
PGA Tour Radio on SiriusXM: 1-6 p.m.
Golf Channel (Watch for free on fuboTV): 1-3 p.m.
NBC: 3-6 p.m.
PGA Tour Live: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Twitter: 8-9:15 a.m.
PGA Tour Radio on SiriusXM: 1-6 p.m.
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]]>HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – Cameron Smith came up empty fishing just past the 17th hole at Harbour Town Golf Links on Wednesday.
His luck certainly changed on Thursday.
Smith reeled in the first-round lead of the RBC Heritage with a bogey-free, 9-under-par 62 to stand one shot clear of Stewart Cink. Smith, a two-time winner on the PGA Tour, didn’t have a 5 on his card and made three of his nine birdies on his final four holes, including holing out from a back bunker on the 17th and polishing off his gem of a round from 4 feet on the 18th.
“We were actually out there (fishing) for about 45 minutes and then security came out and escorted us off. I tried my best to stay out there. I’m addicted to fishing,” Smith said. “But I just thought it was best to just leave.”
Smith thought it best to head home to Jacksonville, Florida, after finishing in a tie for 10th in last week’s Masters. Smith also tied for second in the 2020 Masters in November when he became the only player in tournament history to shoot four rounds in the 60s in the same year.
RBC Heritage: Tee times, TV info | Yardage book | Fantasy picks
In the Sunshine State, Smith started to decompress from the Masters and drove back up to Hilton Head Tuesday afternoon.
“Augusta, especially how I played last week, was very stressful,” Smith said. “I mean, you’re almost worried about every shot out there it seems like. I had a couple days at home. I drove up here Tuesday lunchtime, just played nine holes in the pro-am (on Wednesday). I felt like my game was in a really good spot, so I didn’t feel like I needed to come here and really grind out a couple of good practice days. I felt like everything was in a good spot.
“And I think it paid off, those couple days at home.”
Smith started to cash in quickly as he birdied the second and then ripped off three consecutive birdies starting at the fourth. He turned in 31 after another birdie at the ninth and added red numbers on the 12th, 15th, 17th and 18th.
“It was just one of those days, I guess, where there wasn’t really lots of in-between shots, so I could be really aggressive into the greens,” he said. “Everything I had today was kind of like a perfect number, and I think that’s why I hit so many good golf shots. I hit lots of irons close, and when I missed one, I missed it in the right spots. Not a lot of stress out there, which is nice.”
There certainly wasn’t much stress when he missed a green.
“After last week, I feel like chipping around here is almost like a breeze,” he said. “I was so scared almost last week on every chip shot, and I feel like I can be really aggressive around here.
“This place really gets my creativity going into the greens. Especially there’s a couple of holes out there where you really have to shape it into the greens around trees, and if you’re in a bad spot off the tee, you just have to know where to miss it, especially with how firm the greens are out there.
“It was just a really solid day.”
]]>With financial backing from KSL Capital, Heritage Golf Group now owns and operates 11 clubs total in New Jersey, Illinois, New York, Virginia, South Carolina, Florida and Wisconsin. Some of the better-known clubs in the group’s portfolio include TPC Tampa Bay and TPC Estancia.
Stanton Ridge Golf & Country Club features a layout by Stephen Kay about 40 miles west of Newark, New Jersey. Heritage said in a media release announcing the purchase that it is reviewing several possible upgrades to club amenities.
Stanton Ridge Golf & Country Club in New Jersey (Courtesy of Heritage Golf Group)
“With its location in a family-oriented suburban market and an outstanding golf course, clubhouse and residential community, Stanton Ridge Golf & Country Club is a welcome addition to our expanding portfolio of clubs,” Mark Burnett, Heritage Golf Group’s CEO and president, said in the media release. “This club represents our third acquisition in the New York and New Jersey metropolitan area over the past three months (alongside Shackamaxon Country Club in Union County, New Jersey, and Knollwood Country Club in Westchester County, New York).”
Boulder Ridge features 27 holes designed by Lohmann Golf Designs with former PGA Tour player Fuzzy Zoeller as a consultant. As with Stanton Ridge, Heritage Golf Group plans improvements for the course, clubhouse, pool complex and outdoor areas.
“We are very excited to add Boulder Ridge Country Club to our portfolio of private clubs,” Burnett said. “This will be our first club in the Chicago suburban market – a traditional family-centric club, located in a growing residential community, that offers a wide range of amenities including 27 holes of championship golf. We look forward to creating an environment that reflects what current and prospective members want from a private club experience.”
]]>HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – World No. 1 Dustin Johnson’s funk continued Thursday in the first round of the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links.
The reigning FedEx Cup champion hit more than enough good shots to post a low round but instead made a couple mistakes and had a few bad breaks that led to another ho-hum round.
Johnson made six birdies but drove his tee shot into a penalty hazard on the 18th, had one three-putt and caught a gust of wind that led to a double-bogey 5 on the par-3 4th and he signed for a 1-under-par 70 – seven shots behind pace-setting and two-time RBC Heritage champion Stewart Cink.
“I felt like I played pretty well,” Johnson said. “Just like on 4 I hit a good shot. Just got a little gust of wind (and the ball went into the water). On 18, I just chipped a driver. Didn’t think it was going to get anywhere close to (the penalty area), but obviously rolled out a long way. The 3-putt was bad, but I felt like I played pretty well. Drove it good. Hit a lot of the good shots. I need to just clean it up a little bit tomorrow.”
RBC Heritage: Tee times, TV info | Yardage book | Fantasy picks
It’s been that way for Johnson for a while now. She he won the Saudi International in February, he has just one top-10 in five starts and three finishes outside the top 25. He also missed the weekend as the defending champion in last week’s Masters when he had six three-putts to miss the cut by two strokes.
He worked hard on his putting ahead of the RBC Heritage, but the results were more of the same.
“Felt like I rolled it really good. Even the couple short ones that I missed I hit them where I wanted to; just misread them a little bit,” he said. “The greens are tricky. They’re hard to read. I was happy with the way I rolled it. Happy with the way I’ve been swinging it. Just need to clean up a little bit more tomorrow.
“Just a couple of mistakes, but just nothing really that I did too wrong.”
]]>HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – Stewart Cink has long treasured his journeys to this little spot in the world that hugs the Atlantic Ocean, an island paradise featuring a legendary lighthouse, charming ambiance, peaceful streets lined with an assortment of trees and miles of inviting beaches and bike trails.
All of which surrounds the gem named Harbour Town Golf Links, a challenging Pete Dye layout that tests one and all golfers without brutalizing them. The first time Cink toured Harbour Town, he won the 2000 MCI Classic, now known as the RBC Heritage. Added another win in 2004 and hasn’t missed a chance to tee it up here for 22 consecutive years.
“I feel so relaxed here,” Cink said. “I think it’s the vibe. Is it the week after the Masters vibe or is it the Hilton Head Island vibe? Maybe a little bit both. Coming after the grindhouse that Augusta National can be – especially this year, conditions were pretty tough – it’s nice to come here and relax a little bit, exhale.”
Well, he relaxed a bit too much ahead of his opening tee shot Thursday in the first round of the RBC Heritage, sending his golf ball deep into a lake guarding the 10th hole and making bogey. From there, however, Cink didn’t have another blemish on his card full of seven birdies and an eagle and grabbed the first-round lead with an 8-under-par 63 — his career low at Harbour Town.
RBC Heritage: Tee times, TV info | Yardage book | Fantasy picks
“It really was a very smooth round once I got past the obstacle of the first hole. It was probably one of the worst opening drives I ever hit in my life,” he said. “You’d think that’s a bad way to start, but in a way it’s a wake-up call. After playing in the Masters and being super focused and intense, to come here and be lazy on the first shot was kind of like a slap in the face and it got my attention.
“I was just so relaxed and lackadaisical on the shot that I just kind of didn’t really go through my normal preparation on the shot. Just completely went to sleep at the wheel. Then I really played very, very well the rest of the way.”
Quite a few players played well under overcast skies. Matt Wallace, who finished third in the Valero Texas Open two weeks ago and tied for 34th in last week’s Masters, shot a bogey-free 65 to stand in second among the early finishers.
Billy Horschel, Charles Howell III and Harold Varner III were at 66.
World No. 1 Dustin Johnson finished with a 70.
“This week’s so much more relaxed than last,” Horschel said. “You’re just so excited to get to Augusta, can’t wait to play, and by maybe the middle of the week or after the first round, gosh, this place just drives me insane. It’s just one of those weeks where it drives you a little insane with the way the wind can be; the way they set it up. It just requires a lot from you as a golfer.
“So, it’s always nice to come over here after a stressful challenging week like it would be at any major.”
Hilton Head’s casual atmosphere even made an angry golfer smile. Wallace was one of several European Tour stars to take part in a hilarious video released earlier this year where they gathered together to attend an anger management therapy group to discuss their issues (Wallace has had problems with caddies).
Wallace had few issues in the first round and loves Hilton Head.
“I do like it here,” said Wallace, who added that the angry golfer video was brilliant, and the outtakes are even better. “My girlfriend has been coming here with her family for a really long time and it’s a special place. Really nice and chilled and we enjoy it.
“Tournament golf is not decompression (golf) for me. I am fully focused out there. But I like the vibe, the chilled vibe, and I like the trees. I mean, it’s pretty cool that you’ve got all the roads in between the trees and the shrubs, the dense growth.
“The golf course itself is nice as well. I like playing here. I’ve got a good handle of what I want to do on the golf course, and it showed today.”
]]>Here’s a look at a few to watch this week at Tiburón Golf Club at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, which will be played on the club’s Black Course, the first time it has been used for a tour event. The Gold Course, the original of the two Greg Norman layouts, has been used for every QBE Shootout since 2001, and also for the LPGA Tour’s CME Group Tour Championship since 2013.
Tiburón had 27 holes, then an additional nine were added, with the Black Course opening in 2002, four years after the Gold. The fourth nine joined with the old South Course to become the Black Course. The North and West became the Gold Course.
Here are a few players to watch for:
]]>The 24-year-old has worked at the tournament, serving as an attendant on the range and even caddying last year for his good friend Spencer Ralston, a University of Georgia product who qualified as the champion of the Players Amateur tournament.
Now Nimmer, who starred on the Clemson golf team, is getting a chance to tee it up with the best in the world on Hilton Head Island. He’s making his first appearance at the RBC Heritage this week, having received a sponsor exemption.
“Obviously being a local, I’ve played the place a good bit, so tried to help (Ralston) out last year as best I could,” said Nimmer, who estimated he’s played Harbour Town close to 50 times.
RBC Heritage: Tee times, TV info | Yardage book | Fantasy picks
“I like a lot of the holes. It’s just such a good layout. It makes you hit golf shots. It makes you shape the ball. You’ve always going to be thinking. I’m really happy that the greens are firm and fast this year because it makes it play a lot different,” Nimmer said.
“You’re always kind of having to game plan and figure out where you want to land it, where it’s trying to finish. There’s no holes in particular that really stand out to me. But the par-3s are very important this week. You just have to really make good swings on those holes and try to just play them the best you can. Those are going to be really key this week for really any guy in the field.”
The former Tigers All-America is trying to make his way to the big time through playing smaller tours like the Mackenzie Tour, based in Canada.
He said he hopes his familiarity with Harbour Town helps him this week, but he realizes it’s going to be a whole different ballgame. He expects to have a huge contingent of friends and family following him starting Thursday, when he tees off with the last group of the day — playing with John Augenstein of Kentucky and Tommy Gibson of North Carolina. The group goes off at 1:51 p.m. Thursday and 9:01 a.m. Friday.
“I can’t even imagine how many people are coming. I’ve had a lot of text messages and a lot of people reaching out,” Nimmer said. “I know it’s obviously tough this year with the limited amount of fans, but I’d say there will be anywhere from 100, 200 people at least out there following, which is awesome. I can’t thank everybody enough that’s willing to come out and follow me.”
Savannah native Brian Harman, coming off a tie for 12th at Augusta National, is set to tee off with Bo Van Pelt and Will Gordon at 1:29 p.m. Thursday and 8:29 a.m. Friday.
Harman, a UGA and Savannah Christian alumnus residing on St. Simons Island, has top-12 finishes in four of his last seven starts, including a tie for third at The Players Championship.
Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN
]]>In the first installment, we introduce you to the practice area of the future – one that’s here today.
The views at Spanish Hills Club in Camarillo, California, are stunning. The tricky course is perched on a hill above lemon orchards, strawberry fields and farmland. However, the best thing I can say about the Spanish Hills driving range is it’s ego-boosting. As you hit down a steep slope, your shots seem to hang in the air forever.
Across the country, the opposite is true at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey. A bastion of blue-blooded tradition, the club has hosted seven U.S. Opens, two U.S. Women’s Opens and two PGA Championships, but the members’ range slopes uphill, making shots fly shorter.
Golfers who want to improve their game spend a lot of time on driving ranges, but most facilities, whether they slope downhill, uphill or are flat, are not designed to provide a lot of feedback. Most just have flags fluttering at distances like 100, 150 and 200 yards. They are, essentially, empty fields where golfers typically hit a shot off a matt (or turf, if you’re lucky), roll another ball into place and then hit the same shot again, hoping to see a straighter flight and more distance.
But thankfully, with advancements in technology and a growing demand among golfers for more information about the shots they hit, systems like Toptracer Range and TrackMan Range can transform tired, little-used practice spaces into areas where you can learn almost as much about your shots as pros on the PGA Tour who regularly use launch monitors that cost as much as a car.
Chris Cote operated the pro shop at GolfQuest, a double-decker practice facility in Southington, Connecticut, for years before he bought the entire facility in 2019. GolfQuest benefits from a good location, directly off Interstate 84, and initially opened in 1997. There was nothing special about it until Cote installed Toptracer Range.
By utilizing a pair of high-definition cameras that were first developed to create shot-tracer patterns on golf broadcasts, the system can track shots hit from 66 different hitting bays.
Cameras on the practice range help collect data for players as they practice.
“Think about the technology that you get watching a football game on TV with the first down line and the technology that you get that makes the line calls in tennis,” said Ben Sharpe, Toptracer’s CEO. “That’s the technology that we’re using for Toptracer, which is our secret sauce.”
As the cameras follow the ball, Toptracer Range collects information like carry distance, total distance, shot height, launch angle, curvature and landing angle. But instead of creating a graphic for Golf Channel, CBS or NBC, Toptracer Range displays it on television screens positioned in every hitting bay. Downloading a free app on a smartphone or tablet allows a golfer to access that information directly from his or her device.
Toptracer has become a key element of golf broadcasts.
TrackMan Range, developed by the same Danish company that makes the popular TrackMan launch monitors used by pros, works in much the same way. A radar-emitting transmitter positioned at the back of the range follows a shot’s path, then sends information to an app on your smartphone or tablet where you can see all kinds of information.
Systems like Toptracer Range and TrackMan Range encourage effective and efficient practice. In a single session, you can easily discover the average carry distance with every club in your bag. These systems can also help you work on things like accuracy, consistency and feel.
For example, if you want to work on approach shots, instead of hitting at a flag that happens to be 125 yards away, you can pre-select any yardage you like and Toptracer Range or TrackMan Range will reveal how close you come to that distance. The systems will not only show you your shot patterns, they will reveal your most-common misses and tendencies, too.
If you are learning to shape shots, your eyes can tell you that a ball is moving from right to left, but Toptracer Range and TrackMan Range can reveal exactly how much your shots curved, and how much they rolled out after landing.
There’s no guesswork here, just hard numbers.
An extra benefit is that Toptracer Range and TrackMan Range save all the data collected during your sessions in the system, so you can review your shots on your smartphone, tablet or desktop computer later. You can also share the information and findings, and that’s when things can get really interesting.
Golfers can take the information they learn on shot-tracking-enabled ranges and put it directly to use on the golf course. For example, if you know that your 6-iron has flown an average of 150 yards over the course of five practice sessions, when you’re faced with a par 3 that requires a 155-yard carry, picking a 5-iron will be an easier decision to make. Similarly, if you know from shot-tracking range sessions that hitting a half-swing sand wedge sends the ball 45 yards and makes it stop quickly, you can reach for that club more confidently the next time you are forced to play from that awkward distance.
If you are taking lessons, it is one thing to tell your PGA of America instructor or pro that you practiced three times since your last meeting, but it is another to show him or her data from each of those sessions. When an instructor can see tracer patterns of your shots and view your dispersion patterns with each club, he or she can get a better feel for how you are progressing.
A player browses shot data at Chris Cote’s range in Southington, Connecticut.
Likewise, sharing information you gather on shot-tracking-enabled ranges can help club fitters get a better understanding of your tendencies and the distance gaps between your clubs the next time you need new gear. Instead of relying solely on the shots you hit that day during your fitting, the fitter can consider a much larger number of shots and make better recommendations for you.
For the facility, shot-tracking systems offer benefits too. According to Toptracer, 90 percent of the facilities that add Toptracer Range see an increase in new golfer visits, with 74 percent of golfers going to those facilities specifically because they have Toptracer Range. To help facilities afford the equipment and costs associated with installing Toptracer Range, the company offers a five-year leasing program, but according to Sharpe, many ranges become cash-positive within the first month of operation because of the increased traffic.
“The Southington location has been absolutely insane,” Cote said. Even in the midst of a cold New England winter, with the range itself covered with snow, heaters and covers above the hitting bays have kept things, in Cote’s words, overwhelming.
After Toptracer was installed, Cote utilized Facebook and Instagram to get the word out about the upgrades to his facility, but after six months he stopped. The word was out and his business was thriving.
Cote opened a second Toptracer location in Portland, Connecticut, in June 2020 and said that with no advertising, within a month the range was packed.
Hitting bays at Chris Cote’s range in Southington, Connecticut.
“The younger kids absolutely love it,” he said. “I think they almost prefer it over playing golf. I really do. They hang out with their buddies, have a couple of drinks and don’t have to worry about the group behind them. They can play music. It’s fun!”
The bottom line is this: Empty-field, traditional driving ranges are still the norm, but as you can see by clicking on these maps, (here and here), there are lots of facilities where you can track your shots and gather data easily. More are coming soon, and in time, golfers at every level are going to practice more effectively and use what they learn in those practice sessions to become better golfers.
]]>“I try to stay one shot at a time,” said Altomare, “but towards the end I kind of realized, and then I chipped in on No. 7 and just started laughing. I’m just like, just one of those days, which was fun. Hasn’t happened in a while, so I was excited.”
Altomare’s seven-birdie streak ties the second-highest LPGA record for consecutive birdies, last done by Isi Gabsa at the 2019 Portland Classic. Amy Yang holds the record for most consecutive birdies with 10 in 2015.
“I gave myself some pretty good looks,” said Altomare. “I did make a couple long ones, but they weren’t super long. All inside 30 feet.”
Brittany Altomare walks up to the clubhouse with her caddie following the first round of the LPGA LOTTE Championship at Kapolei Golf Club on April 14, 2021 in Kapolei, Hawaii. (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Saso turned professional in 2019 and has two wins on the Japan LPGA. The Lotte marks her sixth LPGA career appearance. She tied for 50th two weeks ago at the ANA Inspiration.
“My thoughts are just nothing really,” said Saso. “I feel like I want to rest and get ready for tomorrow.”
So Yeon Ryu and Ally Ewing carded 67s to take a share of third. Ryu said she struggled with her confidence in the ANA and Kia Classic. How did she spend the week off?
“First of all, because I was exhausted,” said Ryu, “I had to have good two days off. I definitely needed to have some good ice cream, good chocolate, good wine, so that’s what I had first two days.”
After that feel-good stretch, Ryu went to work on her physical training, shoring up strength for four tournaments in a row.
Then she went through a check-list of her game.
“Long game was good, she said. “Short game was decent, but just not enough confidence. Putting game was good, but not enough confidence. Everything was just missing by confidence.
“I really tried to build up my confidence level. I tried to watch a lot of YouTube to find a way to inspire by myself.”
]]>Not so much.
A contender for the national title before the pandemic canceled last season, Pepperdine cruised to their first win of the spring at Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz, California, on Wednesday. The Waves swept over the field in the final round, shooting 6 under as a team to finish at 4 under, the lone team under par. Stanford finished second at 7 over, with San Diego State in third at 20 over.
Rankings: Men’s team | Men’s individual
.@PeppGolf completes the SWEEP. 🏆🏆#WesternIntercollegiate // @joehighsmith33pic.twitter.com/63BMTJ97Kt
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) April 15, 2021
The Waves were led by junior Joe Highsmith, who earned his first collegiate win after four playoff holes. The Lakewood, Washington, native made par to win, defeating BYU’s Carson Lundell. San Diego State’s Puwit Anupansuebsai was eliminated after the third playoff hole.
The Waves, winners of two events in the fall, will next play at the WCC Championships at the end of the month.
]]>On Wednesday, a tie-dye hoodie featuring the LPGA logo designed by Michelle Wie West and worn by Kent Bazemore and Damion Lee of the Golden State Warriors created quite the stir on social media. Wie West noted on Instagram that the hoodie, priced at $74.99, sold out in three hours but would be restocked soon.
Last year, ESPN reported that the WNBA’s #OrangeHoodie effort garnered 16.4K mentions on Twitter with over 623 million potential impressions thanks to the likes of LeBron James, Trae Young, Ja Morant, Victor Oladipo and Lil Wayne sporting the sweatshirt.
Television viewership rose by 63 percent over 2019 and ESPN added 13 WNBA games to its lineup.
👀 @warriors | @Dami0nLeepic.twitter.com/gqxETZg9IR
— LPGA (@LPGA) April 14, 2021
Wie West, whose husband Jonnie is director of basketball operations for the Warriors, indicated on social media that more on the #HoodieforGolf campaign will be released soon and that proceeds will benefit the Renee Powell Fund, established last year to provide need-based grants to LPGA-USGA Girls Golf programs that are inclusive of Black communities as part of their initiatives.
]]>Inside the newly renovated 10,000 square-foot Jack Key Golf Teaching Facility, players can use three double indoor hitting bays or relax in the lounge and locker rooms. The building also features a club repair room, putting lab, video analysis and coaches’ offices.
More:Check out our list of college golf practice facilities
Amidst the 2020 pandemic, Padraig was able to take time and hone in on the analytics of his swing, including the metric that’s taken the sport by storm: club head speed. After coming across an ad on Instagram for VKTRY Performance Insoles, the carbon fiber performance insoles that have been rumored to be in the cleats of top sports stars in most major sports, Padraig immediately understood the science of the product and wanted to try it for himself.
Sure enough, after a few sessions wearing “VKs”, he hit his new personal best of 196 MPH driver club head speed. Not bad for 49 years old? Padraig was so impressed that he contacted VKTRY about being their spokesperson in golf.
Here’s what he had to say about VKTRY Insoles:
“They promised speed… I’m all about speed. Easy speed. Why not add a bit of speed for no extra effort? Sure enough, I’ve broken my personal best a couple of times since I started using them, but there’s an added bonus…they help with recovery. I had been suffering a lot with fatigue and soreness in my ankles and knees. Since I started to wear VKTRY, it’s gone away completely. Nice added bonus there to the speed, I’d say.”
The benefits Padraig sees from his VKs are nothing new for someone trying the insoles for the first time. VKs are backed by 10 years of R&D and worn by tens of thousands of athletes around the world. Here are the five reasons why the world’s top golfers love VKTRY Insoles:
VKTRY’s patented carbon fiber technology has been proven by 3rd party, PhD-led research to increase an athlete’s ground force by greater than 8%. You may have heard the phrase “power comes from the ground up”. VKTRY’s carbon fiber base stores the energy you put into the ground, and rather than dispersing it like a foam insole would, it returns it back to you. VKs help a golfer rapidly transfer energy from the backswing to the follow throw – creating a more explosive swing. Professional golfers have reported a 2-3 mph increase in club head speed, translating to 5-10 yards more distance. Safe to say, Padraig isn’t the only one swinging harder with VKTRY!
Balance in the golf swing is crucial to making consistent, solid ball impact. In order for Padraig to achieve his personal best club head speed, stability must be maintained. When a golfer loses even the slightest bit of balance, power and distance suffer. And no matter what golf shoes you choose to wear, VKs will give you a consistent feeling and supportive base. Made from aerospace-grade carbon fiber from heel to toe, VKTRY Insoles provide a stable foundation for the golf swing. As Padraig has stated, “You can’t launch a rocket from a canoe!”
Overpronation/supination can lead to unwanted inconsistencies when striking the ball or even worse – injury. The VKTRY technology ensures that you’re getting the assistance needed to avoid imbalance and unwanted torque while still giving your foot custom flexibility, support and comfort. This leads us to another important topic…
We all know how we can feel the day after playing 18 holes. Improper support under your feet can lead to soreness of the back, lower body and feet. VKTRY Insoles provide support of the heel and arch, plus energy return with every step as the carbon fiber base plate gives back what you put into it. Test subjects in a clinical study performed by the Korey Stringer Institute at the University of Connecticut reported a lower rate of fatigue while wearing VKs. The study found that wearing VKTRY Insoles resulted in less joint load on the lower extremities and improved common injuries such as plantar fasciitis. “My ankle and knee soreness went away almost instantly when I started wearing VKTRY Insoles,” stated Padraig. Golf can be tough on the feet; reward them with the performance and protection of VKTRY Insoles.
VKTRY Gold Insoles, with the carbon fiber base pictured
Most companies provide you with footgear that is made to fit your foot size… end of story. VKTRY goes a step further to give each customer a unique insole tailored to their weight and sport. VKTRY’s Pro Level algorithm customizes each pair using your age, gender, weight, and activity, providing you with a “Pro Level” that will allow you to get the most out of your VKs. The higher the Pro Level, the higher the spring strength. All athletes are not alike. A big athlete needs more push or bounce than a lighter-weight athlete. VKTRY ensures every customer’s experience is optimal to his or her needs.
Of course, as every insole should, VKTRY Insoles provide arch & heel support, as well as better comfort for your round. Performance and protection can only go so far if the insole isn’t comfortable. To be worn by some of the world’s best athletes means they have to like wearing them, and VKTRY takes pride in providing the best athletes in the world with the best gear in the world. That’s why athletes at over 300 Division 1 and Professional programs wear VKTRY, and professional athletes from all over the world do too.
Get your game-changing pair of insoles at VKTRYGear.com. All orders come with a 90-day money-back guarantee. So no risk to try VKs for yourself!
]]>His galleries and interview requests are growing by the week and he ]]>
How are you rolling, Will Zalatoris?
“I think none of that will really sink in until I get home. It’s definitely different, going and picking up some food and people asking for autographs or pictures,” the 24-year-old rookie said on Wednesday at the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links. “I kind of humble myself and say, ‘I didn’t win, I finished second.’ It’s like, I’ve felt like I’ve been getting some treatment like I won, but to me it’s funny.
“I enjoy it, interacting with the fans. They’re the ones that we play for.”
Despite all the heady stuff going on in his world, Zalatoris remains level-headed. His meteoric rise – he was ranked 1,514th in the Official World Golf Ranking in April of 2019, was 483rd in April of 2020 and now rests at 27th after nearly becoming the first rookie to win the Masters in 42 years – hasn’t changed his good nature and calm demeanor.
RBC Heritage: Tee times, TV info | Yardage book | Fantasy picks
He’s still the same guy who was Monday qualifying for Korn Ferry Tour events two years ago, the same guy who won his lone pro title at the TPC Colorado Championship at Heron Lakes on the Korn Ferry Tour last July.
Then again, he’s not the same guy inside the ropes and he might just be on the USA Ryder Cup team. Since winning in Colorado, he’s made 22 starts on the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour and finished in the top-10 10 times and the top-25 18 times. He tied for sixth in the U.S. Open and fell one shot shy of Hideki Matsuyama in the Masters – the only two majors he’s played as a pro.
Last week, fulfilling a nearly lifelong dream, he was on cloud nine playing Augusta National but didn’t let the moment go to his head, a nod to the strong support system around him, including his parents and golf mentor, David Price.
At Augusta, Zalatoris became a huge storyline early on and revered swing coach Butch Harmon said Zalatoris looked like a 1-iron without a grip.
And then movie star Adam Sandler, aka Happy Gilmore, noted in a tweet that Zalatoris looked like one of his caddies in the 1990s comedy and wrote: “Have fun today young man. Mr. Gilmore is watching you and very proud.”
Zalatoris responded with his own tweet – “If you’re ever in need of a caddie again let me know. I’ll be better this time. I’m always available for you, Mr. Gilmore.” – and then went out and almost won a green jacket.
If you’re ever in need of a caddie again let me know. I’ll be better this time. I’m always available for you, Mr. Gilmore. https://t.co/R1e8awZIvh
— Will Zalatoris (@WillZalatoris) April 12, 2021
When he left Augusta National, there were 852 text messages on his phone.
“I still wish I could put into words how much fun I actually had,” Zalatoris said. “I was able to appreciate playing in my first Masters because, of course, like I’ve said, I really haven’t taken anything for granted over the last two years.
“It’s a crazy wild ride that I’ve enjoyed every single minute of it. To be in contention on a Sunday at Augusta was obviously a dream come true. Obviously to come up one short will sting forever, but I know that I can contend against the best players in the world, and I know I’m capable of getting those two shots somewhere pretty soon.”
Pretty soon could be this week as he makes his tournament debut. The tight, treelined Harbour Town with smallish greens seems right up Zalatoris’ alley because of his ball-striking talents.
“I love the golf course,” he said. “It’s in phenomenal shape. I think it will be a really good place for me. It’s very tight off the tee, overhanging trees. Obviously really got to work the golf ball into some of these greens just because of kind of the tight corners.
“But I’m looking forward to it. This was a tournament that even though a lot of people on paper did say, well, you hit it far, this place kind of handcuffs your advantage, but obviously my iron play I think is the best part of my game, and so this is an event that I’ve really been looking forward to.
“This golf course actually suits me pretty well.”
Lately, most every course has suited him well.
]]>Five of the top-10 golfers in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings are teeing it up this week, including defending champion Webb Simpson. Bryson DeChambeau, No. 6 in the Golfweek rankings, withdrew Monday.
Harbour Town is a par-71 course measuring 7,099 yards and featuring plenty of water hazards. The Jack Nicklaus and Pete Dye design puts an emphasis on accuracy off the tee and approach into small, Bermudagrass greens.
Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Tuesday at 12:20 p.m. ET.
RBC Heritage:Odds and picks | Field by the rankings
Twenty-eight competitive rounds played at Harbour Town with an average of 1.12 strokes gained on the field per round. Fourth on Tour this season in driving accuracy percentage and is better rested than most of the top names off a missed cut at Augusta National Golf Club.
Eighth on Tour this season in scrambling and is well-equipped to escape the trouble prevalent on nearly every hole. Tied for 17th in this event last year.
Leads the Tour in driving accuracy while hitting 73.54% of fairways. Second among qualified golfers in Strokes Gained: Putting through 41 measured rounds on the 2020-21 season.
The 2014 RBC Heritage champ was also the runner-up in 2019. He tied for 41st last year but was beginning to show good form prior to the Masters with a third-place finish in the match play and a T-12 at the Valero Texas Open.
Twenty-seventh in driving accuracy, fifth in scrambling and 20th in sand save percentage. Wasn’t invited to the 2021 Masters but can book his ticket for 2022 with a win this week.
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Got off to a strong start at the Masters with a 3-under, 69 in each of his first two rounds before shooting 74 both Saturday and Sunday. It was on the heels of a third-place showing at The Players Championship. The 34-year-old is hanging with the big names.
Averaging 0.88 SG: Approach for the season and is well-tailored for reaching these small greens. He’s just 67th in driving accuracy but is T-23 in scrambling.
Missed the cut in this event last year but with 2.20 strokes lost per round with the putter. He gained 0.76 strokes off-the-tee and can avoid the trouble; he just needs to be average on the greens.
Playing this event for the second time after a T-25 finish in 2019. He averaged 0.87 SG: Off-the-Tee and 1.41 SG: Tee-to-Green per round and his iron play is well-suited for this venue.
His T-8 finish at the Masters was his third top-10 result in his last five events with the others also coming in strong fields at The Players and Arnold Palmer Invitational. He tied for 21st last year in his fourth appearance at this event.
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Comes off a T-18 finish at the Masters that marks his best result in five PGA Tour events this year. Tied for third last year with an uncharacteristic 2.31 SG: Putting per round.
The surprise runner-up at the Masters moved to 27th in the Official World Golf Ranking and fourth in the Golfweek rankings. He’ll remain motivated as he still needs to win this year to qualify for the 2020-21 FedEx Cup Playoffs.
His length off the tee and excellence on par 5s don’t really translate to Harbour Town GL, but he has averaged 0.66 strokes gained on the field per round over five appearances at this event.
Tied for third last year with 1.32 SG: Putting and 0.81 SG: Around-the-Green per round. He’ll need to lean on that short game off a missed cut in Augusta, Georgia.
Last year’s runner-up averaged 2.96 SG: Approach per round but lost strokes both on and around the green. His short game has been better this season, and he’s second in driving accuracy.
The top-ranked player in the field at No. 3 in the Golfweek rankings is coming off a missed cut at the Masters in defense of his 2020 title from the fall.
Second to Johnson in this field with 2.01 total strokes gained on the field per round for the 2020-21 season. He’s also coming off a missed cut last week but is second in the field with 2.55 strokes gained per round at Harbour Town.
Leads this field in SG: Approach per round. He’s also sixth in driving accuracy off a T-18 finish last week.
Tied for 34th last week for his worst finish in six PGA Tour events this year. He has 20 rounds played at this venue with an average of 1.06 strokes gained on the field per round.
The defending champ returns fifth on Tour this season in driving accuracy, first in scrambling and ninth in sand save percentage. He has 42 rounds played at this venue with an average of 1.56 strokes gained per round.
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]]>With rounds of 74-75, Johnson missed the weekend by two shots just five ]]>
Instead of making a spirited title defense the final two rounds, Johnson was left only to help Hideki Matsuyama slip on the green jacket Sunday evening.
“I would have liked to have kept it, but I’ve got one, so it still felt good,” Johnson said Wednesday ahead of Thursday’s start of the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links. “And obviously very happy for Hideki. He played great. I think it’s great for golf. It’s great for him.
“It was definitely neat to be a part of the ceremony, and I enjoyed being their champion for five months. I don’t care how long it was for, it’s still cool. I’m always going to be a Masters champion.”
RBC Heritage:Odds and picks | Field by the rankings
No longer in possession of the coveted green jacket, the world No. 1 is eyeing a different sports coat – the red plaid number that goes to the winner this week. If he’s to add to his wardrobe, he has to take care of what ailed him at Augusta.
“The game is OK. Obviously last week I really struggled with the putting, so I’m putting in a lot of work this week on it,” he said. “Probably the worst I’ve putted in a long time.”
That’s an accurate statement – Johnson had two three-putts in the first round and four three-putts in the second round.
“It was disappointing,” Johnson said of not putting up a better defense of his title. “Thursday was tough. But still, a couple three-putts on Thursday and then double the last hole, even though I kind of got it around pretty well.
“And then the same thing on Friday; I played good enough to shoot a good score. You’ve got to hole putts if you want to play well, and I did not do that. I had four three-putts on Friday and missed the cut by a couple. Hit it in the water on 15, felt like I hit a really good shot there.
“You take those away and I’m right in the mix starting the weekend.”
Johnson has worked on his setup – he said it was a little funky at Augusta – and his speed on the greens since arriving at Harbour Town.
“I got it fixed,” he said. “It’s better, feels better, a lot more comfortable. I put in some work, but that was kind of the big issue last week. Other than that, I feel like the game is in pretty good form.”
And he feels like he’s in the ideal place to turn around his non-Dustin Johnson like form of late. Since he returned from the Middle East after winning the Saudi International in February, the reigning FedEx Cup champion has just one top-10 in five starts, his missed cut in the Masters and three finishes outside the top 25.
At Harbour Town, he’s finished in ties for 16th, 17th and 28th the last three years.
“I love playing this event,” he said. “I think it’s a great golf course. It’s always in good shape, and it’s a tough course, too, so you know you don’t have to shoot real low, which I like.
“You use every club in your bag. You’ve got to hit all different types of shots. You’ve got to shape it around here. It’s treelined. You just really have to golf your ball. Small greens. You hit a lot of greens you’re going to play well.”
If you putt well on them, that is.
]]>“We have the most unapologetic, massive American flag that sits in the middle of the conjoining fairways ]]>
There will be many similar stories at the new course. Built to drive its profits to the Folds of Honor, a non-profit organization that provides academic scholarships to the children of wounded or killed soldiers, American Dunes promises to loudly and proudly salute those who have sacrificed while in military service.
American Dunes in Grand Haven, Michigan (Courtesy of American Dunes)
American Dunes opens May 2, and all profits from the course will be donated to Folds of Honor, which Rooney created in 2007 after sitting on a tarmac at the end of a commercial flight that also brought home the remains of a fallen soldier. The pilots of the flight asked that passengers remain seated while the casket containing the soldier was unloaded from the plane, but many passengers stood and began deboarding. Rooney wanted to find a better way to honor the sacrifice of that soldier and all those like him.
Folds of Honor was born, and in 2019 it awarded approximately $22 million in educational scholarships to more than 4,500 students, representing a 10 percent increase in scholarships from 2018.
Jack Nicklaus designed the renovated layout at American Dunes in Grand Haven, Michigan. (Courtesy of American Dunes)
American Dunes in an extension of that mission, Rooney said, and the patriotic theme will be everywhere. Players must walk through what Rooney called a massive Folds of Honor memorial on the way into the clubhouse. The boot imprints of fallen soldiers will line the walkway through 8-foot walls, on which hang the stories of those soldiers and their families as well as the origin story of Folds. A bell will toll 13 times at 1 p.m. each day to signify the 13 folds in the American flag when it is handed to a fallen soldier’s family, and the National Anthem will play daily.
“I’m telling you, people will walk into the golf shop with tears in their eyes. You will know immediately why this place is here,” Rooney said of the entrance. “If you were talking to a normal person about any other golf course, they would want to tell you all about the course. But the golf is just one character, certainly a main character but just one character in this story of American Dunes. It’s really not the only thing that sets it apart, because there’s a lot of great golf in the world.
“Nobody will be disappointed when they come play this course. … But what they’re going to tell their friends about is not simply the golf story. It’s the experience we created at American Dunes that is unlike anything else in the world. I always go back to the term reverent, and it’s so reverent.”
American Dunes in Grand Haven, Michigan (Courtesy of American Dunes)
The course sits on the site of the former Grand Haven Golf Club, which was built in 1965 and which Rooney’s family owned for 20 years. Rooney partnered with four other investors to establish American Dunes LLC in renovating the layout, and little looks the same after Nicklaus agreed to wave what Rooney said was his typical $3-million design fee and totally rethought what was a heavily wooded course just a few hundred yards from the shore of Lake Michigan.
Rooney called the new layout much more “natural and organic,” with long views across the rolling property’s nearly 100 feet of elevation changes in what is now a much bouncier, sandier environment.
“The site was there, but it was totally treed,” Rooney said. “And it was on sand, but there was not a bit of sand you could see anywhere. That was the brilliance of Jack coming in and saying we’re going to take out every piece of turf, take out every piece of topsoil, take down 100 acres of trees, and we’re going to turn this thing into American Dunes. In Jack fashion, man, it’s hard. The slope from the back is like 151. So it’s all the golf you would ever want. …
American Dunes in Grand Haven, Michigan (Courtesy of American Dunes)
“When Jack came up to see the site, they drove around the golf course on a beautiful afternoon in May, and when we finished he said, ‘Dan, you have no idea what you have here.’ Then we started the process, and it went from ‘Hey, I’m going to do a nice little redesign,’ to a complete reimagination. What drove that line of effort was that this golf course has the potential, and it has to be as good and as reverent as the cause. They literally stripped this dune environment.”
Rooney said Nicklaus made nine trips to the site, and Nicklaus’ wife, Barbara, told Rooney that the plans for the course were frequently found on the kitchen table as Jack plotted the design.
American Dunes in Grand Haven, Michigan (Courtesy of American Dunes)
“I’ve never seen Jack do anything like this course,” said Rooney, who besides being a fighter pilot is also a PGA of America golf professional. “You could put tee markers anywhere and play it at any length. It’s kind of informal, if you know what I mean. It’s just so natural.”
The patriotic and military themes extends beyond the golf course and the memorial at the entrance to the clubhouse. The restaurant is set up like a fighter jocks’ squadron bar, with the beer taps built into a hollowed-out Aim-9 Sidewinder missile that normally would be hung under the wing of an F-16. Rooney called it the “ultimate Budweiser bar,” as the brand will be favored after Budweiser has donated more than $18 million to Folds of Honor over the past decade.
“The hang, if you want to call it that, at this place is just over the top. It’s just fun,” Rooney said, adding that the experience can go even further when a lodge named The Camp opens in 2022 with 16 rooms.
American Dunes in Grand Haven, Michigan (Courtesy of American Dunes)
Many companies have donated course equipment or provided deep discounts to support Rooney’s mission, and others have donated to support construction. Rooney is a natural pitchman and fundraiser, and it’s easy to be swept up in his enthusiasm for the project, whether you be a golfer, a military supporter or both. With profits going to Folds, Rooney said it’s all worth it.
“This is a golf course where the objective, the unwavering objective, is to raise money and awareness for the Folds of Honor Foundation and support these families,” Rooney said. “That’s what truly sets this place apart.”
]]>Pete Dye was still kicking off his design career in 1969 when he laid out Harbour Town at Sea Pines Resort in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, soon before the course hosted the first of what has become the PGA Tour’s RBC Heritage. Fans surely will recognize the iconic red-and-white lighthouse just beyond the 18th green – that view of water, golf course and lighthouse is one of the most recognizable shots in televised golf each year.
What the cameras can’t capture adequately are the strategic demands of the first 16 holes that amble through a neighborhood and wooded areas. Tall trees block many shots, and it’s entirely possible to smack a tee shot into a fairway but have almost no standard shot toward the green. Pine branches dangle out from all angles on several holes, forcing players to think their way around the course. The Tour players this week better be ready to hit a mix of cuts, draws, high shots and low screamers to the relatively small greens.
A view of the lighthouse behind the 18th green at Harbour Town Golf Links (Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports)
Simply put, Harbour Town presents all the strategic challenges a player might expect from Dye (with input from a then-fledgling designer named Jack Nicklaus), just in a tighter package than at some of the famed designer’s other courses.
The course ranks No. 2 in South Carolina on Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play list, No. 21 in the United States on Golfweek’s Best Resort Courses list and No. 56 in the U.S. on Golfweek’s Best Modern Courses list for layouts built in or after 1960.
Thanks to yardage books provided by Puttview – the maker of detailed yardage books for more than 30,000 courses around the world – we can see exactly the challenges that players face this week. Check out each hole below.
]]>The 32,000-square-foot estate at 382 S. Beach Road in Hobe Sound sold on April 7. The buyer reportedly is the family of Les Wexner, chairman emeritus of L Brands, owner of Victoria’s Secret.
The eight-acre Tranquility compound is a sprawling beach-to-Intracoastal Waterway enclave. It features 10 bedrooms, 12 bathrooms, six half-bathrooms, two wine cellars, two pools, more than 170 feet of oceanfront and water frontage, and 370 feet of docking space on the Intracoastal. A 150-foot yacht could dock at the property.
In addition to the main house, there’s a pool house, tennis house, boathouse, carriage house, beach house plus a 5,000-square-foot basement.
Norman bought Tranquility in 1991 for $5 million. Since then, he has put it on the market, taken it off the market and done a major renovation.
The Normans put the property up for sale again in February for $59.9 million, landing a buyer only two weeks after the property was listed.
A Coldwell Banker spokeswoman confirmed the sale, which is not yet recorded in Martin County public records. However, an MLS listing on Monday afternoon included an update that the property had been sold for $55.095 million.
Despite the sale, Norman and his wife continue to be Florida homeowners.
On April 8, the day after selling Tranquility, they turned around and paid $12.2 million for a home in Old Palm Golf Club, an exclusive private golf community in Palm Beach Gardens. The retired pro golfer, nicknamed The Great White Shark, beat back rival buyers to snare the coveted, double-lot home at 12227 Tillinghast Circle, according to people in real estate familiar with the deal.
Greg Norman has paid $12 million for a house in Old Palm Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens.
Norman and his wife are doing a number of real estate trades in anticipation of a planned move to Australia, following a bout with COVID-19 last year, according to published reports.
Norman’s new home in Old Palm is expected to be a second home. It is much smaller than the Jupiter Island estate, but it still is luxurious.
The 11,837-square-foot house sits on two acres and features six bedrooms, seven full bathrooms and two half-baths. The property also has a tennis court, guest house and a massive resort-style pool with a swim-up bar.
Rob Thomson of Waterfront Properties in Jupiter represented the Old Palm seller, Joseph Lashinger. A former casino executive, Lashinger bought the house for $5 million in 2009. He also bought an adjacent lot, where he built the the tennis court and pool, Palm Beach County property records show.
Thomson declined to comment on the sale.
But speaking generally, Thomson described Old Palm as a lushly landscaped community filled with palm trees that evoke the feel of Palm Beach. It is very private, with many of its homes nestled either amid woods or on the community’s private golf course, which was designed by Raymond Floyd.
Connie McGinnis, Old Palm director of sales, represented Norman in the deal. He did not return a phone call seeking comment on Monday. Norman also did not return a phone call seeking comment.
Norman’s new home in Old Palm is on the same street where Dr. Ben Carson, former U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary, lives with his wife, Candy.
Other notable Old Palm residents include pro golfer Ernie Els and Elin Nordegren, the ex-wife of Tiger Woods. In September, Nordegren paid $9.4 million for a home at 12251 Tillinghast Circle.
The real estate deals follow Norman’s well-publicized bout with COVID-19 last year. Norman was hospitalized with the virus and later urged people to take the disease seriously.
In January, he told Stellar magazine, an Irish publication, that he wanted to return to Australia after his battle with COVID.
“I want to get back to Australia as soon as I can,” Norman said.
Since then, the athlete-turned-businessman has been busy selling his two U.S. residential compounds.
In March, he unloaded his Seven Lakes ranch in Meeker, Colorado, for $52 million, one year after listing it for $60 million. He bought the 12,000-acre ranch in 2004 for $12 million.
Norman has won more than 90 tournaments worldwide, including two British Opens, and he holds the distinction of having defended his No. 1 position in the world golf rankings for 331 weeks, the second-longest reign in history.
In recent years, Norman has become a busy entrepreneur. He leads the Greg Norman Company, which has designed more than 100 golf courses across six continents. A bit of renaissance man, Norman also produces wine, makes golf-inspired apparel and has his own brand of prime Wagyu beef, Greg Norman Australian Prime.
]]>Johnson shot 68-70 in the 36-hole tournament to finish at 4 under at TPC Las Vegas to edge Nyasha Mauchaza by a shot. Johnson’s final birdie on Tuesday came on the 14th hole and he parred out from there, but it was enough to claim the title and the $7,500 first-place check.
Tommy Schaff was third at at 2 under. Rovonta Young, who won the previous APGA event at the World Golf Village King & Bear Course in St. Augustine, Florida, finished tied with Marcus Manley for fourth at 1 under. Willie Mack III, Landon Lyons and Marcus Byrd tied for sixth at even par.
APGA Tour TPC Las Vegas: Leaderboard
Kamaiu Johnson is your TPC Las Vegas winner by a margin of one stroke. What a finish! 🏆
Thank you to our sponsors and the TPC Las Vegas course for supporting the APGA Tour and its growth!@PGATOUR@PGA@Lexus@WeAreFarmerspic.twitter.com/T2U8LJubYB
— APGA TOUR (@APGA_Tour) April 13, 2021
Johnson has competed in two PGA Tour events this season—the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Honda Classic—on sponsor exemptions. He won the APGA Tour Championship last season.
April 18-20 – APGA Tour Scottsdale, TPC Scottsdale
May 23-25 – APGA Tour Louisville, Valhalla Golf Club, Louisville, Kentucky
May 31-June 2 – APGA Tour New Orleans, TPC Louisiana, New Orleans
July 18-20 – APGA Tour Deere Run, TPC Deere Run, Silvis, Illinois
Aug. 8-10 – APGA Tour Championship, TPC Sugarloaf, Duluth, Georgia
]]>Defending champion Webb Simpson and world No. 1 Dustin Johnson highlight the post-Masters field this week. Corey Conners is riding a wave of momentum from Augusta National, while South Carolina native Kevin Kisner gets back to work (with a potential major change).
From tee times to television and streaming info, here’s everything you need to know for the first round of the RBC Heritage. All times Eastern.
RBC Heritage:Odds and picks | Field by the rankings
| Time | Players |
| 7 a.m. | Camilo Villegas, Harry Higgs, Robby Shelton |
| 7:11 a.m. | Bill Haas, Tom Hoge, Brandon Hagy |
| 7:22 a.m. | Kyle Stanley, Maverick McNealy, Cameron Davis |
| 7:33 a.m. | Nick Taylor, Andrew Putnam, Russell Knox |
| 7:44 a.m. | Austin Cook, William McGirt, Kevin Streelman |
| 7:55 a.m. | Sungjae Im, Troy Merritt, Ted Potter, Jr. |
| 8:06 a.m. | Si Woo Kim, Charles Howell III, Zach Johnson |
| 8:17 a.m. | Martin Trainer, Adam Long, Brandt Snedeker |
| 8:28 a.m. | Michael Thompson, Graeme McDowell, Luke Donald |
| 8:39 a.m. | Chesson Hadley, Rory Sabbatini, Tommy Fleetwood |
| 8:50 a.m. | K.J. Choi, Luke List, Michael Gligic |
| 11:50 a.m. | Peter Malnati, Scott Stallings, Robert MacIntyre |
| 12:01 p.m. | Lee Westwood, Abraham Ancer, Patrick Rodgers |
| 12:12 p.m. | Brian Stuard, Adam Schenk, Tom Lewis |
| 12:23 p.m. | Carlos Ortiz, Brendon Todd, Aaron Wise |
| 12:34 p.m. | C.T. Pan, Kevin Kisner, Wesley Bryan |
| 12:45 p.m. | Cameron Smith, Tyler Duncan, Sebastián Muñoz |
| 12:56 p.m. | Webb Simpson, Corey Conners, Paul Casey |
| 1:07 p.m. | Collin Morikawa, Patrick Cantlay, Sergio Garcia |
| 1:18 p.m. | Harris English, Tyrrell Hatton, J.T. Poston |
| 1:29 p.m. | Brian Harman, Bo Van Pelt, Will Gordon |
| 1:40 p.m. | Ryan Moore, Scott Brown, Rafael Campos |
| Time | Players |
| 7 a.m. | Danny Lee, Denny McCarthy, Tyler McCumber |
| 7:11 a.m. | Lucas Glover, Mark Hubbard, Matt Wallace |
| 7:22 a.m. | Charley Hoffman, Chase Seiffert, Doug Ghim |
| 7:33 a.m. | Stewart Cink, Andrew Landry, Satoshi Kodaira |
| 7:44 a.m. | Brian Gay, Sung Kang, Kevin Tway |
| 7:55 a.m. | Richy Werenski, Michael Kim, Jim Furyk |
| 8:06 a.m. | Branden Grace, Matt Kuchar, Matt Fitzpatrick |
| 8:17 a.m. | Billy Horschel, Dustin Johnson, Will Zalatoris |
| 8:28 a.m. | Daniel Berger, Brice Garnett, Patton Kizzire |
| 8:39 a.m. | Emiliano Grillo, Harold Varner III, Xinjun Zhang |
| 8:50 a.m. | Hunter Mahan, Alex Noren, Scott Harrington |
| 11:50 a.m. | Russell Henley, Matthew NeSmith, Christiaan Bezuidenhout |
| 12:01 p.m. | Adam Hadwin, Anirban Lahiri, Wyndham Clark |
| 12:12 p.m. | Vaughn Taylor, Sam Burns, Bo Hoag |
| 12:23 p.m. | Robert Streb, Jim Herman, Jason Dufner |
| 12:34 p.m. | Shane Lowry, Ian Poulter, Pat Perez |
| 12:45 p.m. | Kevin Na, Dylan Frittelli, Mackenzie Hughes |
| 12:56 p.m. | Chez Reavie, Scott Piercy, Ryan Armour |
| 1:07 p.m. | Hudson Swafford, Danny Willett, Davis Love III |
| 1:18 p.m. | Chris Kirk, Ben Martin, Beau Hossler |
| 1:29 p.m. | Byeong Hun An, Sepp Straka, Doc Redman |
| 1:40 p.m. | Nick Watney, Henrik Norlander, Kyoung-Hoon Lee |
| 1:51 p.m. | Bryson Nimmer, John Augenstein, Tommy Gibson |
Golf Channel (Watch for free on fuboTV): 3-6 p.m.
PGA Tour Live: 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
Twitter: 7-8:30 a.m.
PGA Tour Radio on SiriusXM: 12-6 p.m.
Golf Channel (Watch for free on fuboTV): 3-6 p.m.
PGA Tour Live: 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
Twitter: 7-8:30 a.m.
PGA Tour Radio on SiriusXM: 12-6 p.m.
Golf Channel (Watch for free on fuboTV): 1-3 p.m.
CBS: 3-6 p.m.
PGA Tour Live: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Twitter: 8-9:15 a.m.
PGA Tour Radio on SiriusXM: 1-6 p.m.
Golf Channel (Watch for free on fuboTV): 1-3 p.m.
NBC: 3-6 p.m.
PGA Tour Live: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Twitter: 8-9:15 a.m.
PGA Tour Radio on SiriusXM: 1-6 p.m.
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]]>Wolklin, 68, made his 12th career hole-in-one — two months after making three of them in five days — on Easter Sunday at Heritage Bay Golf & Country Club in Naples, Florida. He used an 8-iron on the 142-yard No. 6. His wife, Cheryl, and Bob and Catherine Balser witnessed it.
“How crazy?” Wolkin said Tuesday. “Just doing a couples golf, Easter Sunday, and luckily enough it comes another hole that I didn’t have yet — each one’s been on another hole.
“Good shot, right-to-left draw, but it bounced a little bit left of the pin. Then the undulation of the green brought it back right, and right into the hole. It was just another big roar. People can’t believe it.”
It’s his fourth at Heritage Bay, and as he said, all four are on different holes. From Feb. 12-16, he aced No. 13 on the Cypress Course, No. 21 on the Oak Course, and No. 26 on the Oak Course on the 27-hole layout.
“Now everybody rubs my shoulders or rubs my clubs for luck,” Wolklin said. “One guy rubbed my shoulder, and he makes a hole-in-one the next day.”
Last Monday, Wolklin visited Doreen Formale and she asked if he was the “ace guy.” He said he was. The next day, Formale made one on No. 6 at Heritage Bay.
Then last Wednesday, Wolklin was playing with Tim Johnson, and he gave him some words of encouragement on No. 8.
“I said ‘Let’s see you knock this in,'” Wolklin told him.
Johnson promptly knocked it in the hole for an ace.
Wolklin said four people he’s encountered have gone on to make one.
]]>And why not? The Canadian has delivered on some of the game’s biggest stages of late, finishing third in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, seventh in the Players Championship and tying for eighth in last week’s Masters.
Which all adds up to him expecting to play well in this week’s RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links.
“I have a lot of confidence in my game,” Conners said Tuesday. “I feel like I’ve been fine tuning all parts of my game, and everything is rounding nicely into shape. I definitely have high expectations teeing it up week in and week out, and the strong results definitely help that.
“I’m looking forward to continuing the good play. Definitely know that if I play my game, do what I can, play with the confidence I have and the trust that I have in my game, I’m going to give myself a good chance.”
RBC Heritage:Odds and picks | Field by the rankings
More:Conners’ hole-in-one gets ultimate Canadian tribute
He gave himself a big chance last week at Augusta National and got plenty of airtime, especially when he aced the sixth hole in the third round. It was the best iron shot he hit all week of many and only a poor Sunday when he shot 74 kept him out of contention as the shadows of the Georgia Pines started to cover the course late on Sunday afternoon.
“One of my biggest takeaways (from the Masters) is how well the course sets up for me and how much I like the golf course,” Conner said. “I think one of my big strengths is my iron play. It was really valuable around that golf course and makes me avoid the stressful situations or the difficult spots that you can find yourself in on that golf course, striking the ball solidly I think into the greens is really important. I drove it well and ironed it well and took a lot of the stress off my game trying to save pars or whatever.
“As far as Sunday, didn’t quite have the feel on the greens like I had the first few days. Obviously playing for a green jacket, which is a pretty big deal, just wasn’t quite as relaxed on Sunday as I was the first few days. It’s something to be a little more aware of when I get back in the mix there in the future.”
This week, Conners is at another ball-striker’s course – the course is tight and rimmed with trees and the greens are among the smallest on the PGA Tour. Conners missed the cut in his first three trips to Harbour Town but made it to the weekend last year and tied for 21st.
“I feel very comfortable with the course. Solid play last year. Kind of made me like the golf course a little bit more. Got a great feel for things,” he said. “Feeling good about all parts of my game. Been really consistent with the ball-striking, and the putter has been working pretty well the last little while, getting better and better, a little more consistency there.
“But really happy with the way I’m striking the ball, hitting it very solid particularly with the irons, driving it well, also. Feel good, have a lot of confidence in my game right now, and just trying to keep riding that wave of good play.”
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