Golf Power Rankings: Jason Day takes No. 1 spot from Dustin Johnson

The first FedEx Cup Playoff event is in the books, and it resulted in a big shakeup at the top of this week’s power rankings. This might be the first time this season we have had a takeover of the No. 1 spot from a non-winner the week before (more on that in a minute). First, let’s look back at the parameters of the exercise.

  1. Scope is last two months of tournaments
  2. We value different things but will take into account wins, top 10s and
  3. If you haven’t played, you don’t get ranked (i.e. Tiger Woods)
  4. Recency matters
  5. PGA Tour will be main focus but bigger European events will be factored in

1. Jason Day (3): Day somehow willed himself to a top four finish at The Barclays despite basically only using his putter to score with. He raised his strokes gained putting number to an even more outrageous number than it was at before the week started and has officially taken the Tiger Woods role of contending in every tournament he plays in no matter how well he’s hitting it. Official World Golf Ranking: 1

2. Dustin Johnson (Last week: 1): Johnson finished in the top 20 last week at The Barclays but never really scared the leaders. His reign atop our power rankings is over with his missed cut at the PGA Championship and T18 at The Barclays. OWGR: 2

3. Jordan Spieth (4): Spieth banged out another top 10 at The Barclays and could have finished a lot higher if not for a double bogey that unwound him on the 17th hole on Saturday. I’m bullish on his FedEx Cup Playoffs future over the next month. OWGR: 3

4. Henrik Stenson (2): Stenson is in trouble after The Barclays because of a knee injury that caused him to withdraw. The rest of the FedEx Cup Playoffs and (even more importantly) Ryder Cup could be up in the air. OWGR: 4

5. Patrick Reed (8): Reed is having himself a nice late summer push. Four top 13s in five events coming into The Barclays before holding Rickie Fowler at arm’s length for his fifth (!) PGA Tour title by the age of 26. Heady stuff from one of the anchors for the U.S. Ryder Cup team. OWGR: 9

6. Phil Mickelson (5): Mickelson and New York crowds were made for each other. He clearly loves playing Bethpage and responded with a T13 finish last week. His commentary on Justin Rose putting with his gold medal on was even better. OWGR: 13

7. Sergio Garcia (6): Garcia did not play The Barclays last week. OWGR: 12

8. Brooks Koepka (7): Koepka narrowly made the cut at Bethpage and then did nothing after that with a pair of 73s. I can’t knock him too much over a single tournament, but you certainly want to see your presumable Ryder Cup studs showing out before Hazeltine. OWGR: 18

9. Justin Rose (13): Rose gets bonus points for putting a freaking gold medal around his neck to putt out with at Bethpage. I’ll bump him three slots just for that! OWGR: 10

10. Matt Kuchar (10): Kuchar shot three rounds over par and a 69 at The Barclays. One of those rounds was a 76. Not great timing for somebody needing a Ryder Cup captain’s pick. OWGR: 15

11. Rory McIlroy (12): New putter, same story for McIlroy. He finished No. 77 (of 79) in putting at Bethpage for The Barclays. If he finds a stroke it’s game, blouses. But that’s the biggest “if” of the golf season so far. OWGR: 5

12. Russell Knox (11): A T60 from Knox to follow up his Travelers Championship win. To make matters worse, he got left off the European Ryder Cup team on Tuesday despite being inside the OWGR top 20. OWGR: 20

13. Emiliano Grillo (NR): Grillo is a flat-out stud. Top 15 at the PGA Championship. Top 10 at the Olympics. Now T2 at The Barclays. As an American, I’m glad he’s not going to be on the European Ryder Cup team. OWGR: 25

14. Jimmy Walker (14): Walker has now missed two straight cuts since winning the PGA Championship. OWGR: 19

15. Branden Grace (9): Another MC from Grace. He’s falling rapidly. OWGR: 14

16. Ryan Moore (NR): Moore scored a top 10 at Bethpage after winning the John Deere Classic a few weeks ago. Might be making a last-minute bid to get on the Ryder Cup squad. OWGR: 43

17. Jim Furyk (17): Furyk finished T41 at The Barclays with zero rounds in the 60s. He will still likely receive a Ryder Cup pick. OWGR: 22

18. Si Woo Kim (18): Kim narrowly missed the cut at The Barclays following his Wyndham win. No surprise there. There is a lot that goes on after a win that drains you emotionally and physically. He should rebound next week at the Deutsche Bank Championship. OWGR: 62

SOURCE: CBSSPORTS

The first tournament in the PGA Tour’s playoff run is being played at Bethpage State Park’s world-renowned Black Course in New York, a layout that’s also hosted two U.S. Opens.

“The Black,” as it’s infamously known, is just one of five golf courses — all open to the public — at Bethpage, which sees approximately 300,000 rounds per year. The Black is the most storied (and feared) of the color-coded courses at Bethpage, so it’s only natural that it overshadows its neighbors.

Following is a rundown of five of the best courses in the U.S. that perhaps don’t always get the attention they deserve because of a more heralded layout at the same property that hosts PGA Tour events. All are public or resort courses.

BETHPAGE RED – Farmingdale, New York 

Bethpage State Park's Red Course is an A.W. Tillinghast design, just like the Blue and the more ballyhooed Black.

Bethpage State Park’s Red Course is an A.W. Tillinghast design, just like the Blue and the more ballyhooed Black.

Like “The Black,” Bethpage Red was also designed by Hall of Fame architect A.W. Tillinghast and sits adjacent to its more famous sibling. The Red course is the second-toughest of the five at Bethpage and features a run of long par-4 holes, including the beastly opening hole which plays uphill at 460 yards from the back tee. Although it doesn’t have the acclaim of the Black course, the Red is a challenging layout that’s hosted local tournaments such as the 2015 Met PGA Assistant Championship, the Long Island Open and the Met Junior PGA. For an incredible 36-hole experience outside the exclusive private clubs on Long Island, walk Bethpage Black and then ride the second 18 at the Red course.

THE LINKS AT SPANISH BAY – Pebble Beach, California

The Links at Spanish Bay on the Monterey Peninsula. Photo credit: Joann Dost

The Links at Spanish Bay on the Monterey Peninsula. Photo credit: Joann Dost

It’s easy to understand why Spanish Bay gets overshadowed with legendary Pebble Beach Golf Links just a short drive away down 17-Mile Drive. But the course, created by the design team of Robert Trent Jones Jr., Tom Watson and Sandy Tatum, has rightfully snagged a spot among America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses. It’s a true links-style course in California of which Watson, a five-time British Open champion, famously said, “It’s so much like Scotland, you can almost hear the bagpipes playing.” It’s marked by spectacular waterfront views, beautiful natural dunes, and fast and firm conditions. At the end of the day, there may be no better spot for a 19th hole: sitting by one of the fire pits just off the second green while a bagpiper plays and the sun sets into the ocean.

KAPALUA BAY COURSE – Kapalua, Maui

The par-3 fifth hole at Kapalua's Bay Course.

The par-3 fifth hole at Kapalua’s Bay Course.

Some of the most breathtaking views of the PGA Tour season come from the Tournament of Champions at Kapalua’s Plantation Course every January, when golfers in frigid climes live vicariously through the stunning imagery on Maui. The Plantation Course is the gem at the Kapalua Resort, but the Arnold Palmer-designed Bay Course is special in its own right. The layout has hosted more than 20 professional tournaments and was the site of Greg Norman’s first U.S. victory in 1983. The par-3 fifth hole is utterly unforgettable, the only hole on Maui to play over the ocean.

IRISH COURSE AT WHISTLING STRAITS – Kohler , Wisconsin

 

The sixth hole at the Irish Course at Whistling Straits known as "Mulligan's Watch." (Photo credit: The American Club)

The sixth hole at the Irish Course at Whistling Straits known as “Mulligan’s Watch.” (Photo credit: The American Club)

The Straits Course at Whistling Straits along Lake Michigan is among the most ruggedly dramatic layouts in the U.S., the site of the PGA Championship in 2004, 2010 and 2015. It was designed by Pete Dye, who also built the second 18-hole track at The American Club — the less-heralded Irish Course. Traditional and memorable, the Irish is a grassland and dunes course located just inland from the great lake and is interspersed by four meandering streams. It has about half the bunkers of its famous neighbor and is more sheltered from the fierce winds that can come whipping off Lake Michigan. Don’t miss it on a golf trip to Wisconsin.

THE GREENBRIER COURSE AT THE GREENBRIER – White Sulfur Springs, W.V.

The Greenbrier Course at the Greenbrier Resort in the mountains of West Virginia. (Photo credit: The Greenbrier)

The Old White TPC has been the site of the PGA Tour’s inaugural Greenbrier Classic, but its just one of five 18-hole layouts (and counting) at the historic West Virginia resort.  The Greenbrier Course was designed by Seth Raynor, an associate of C.B. MacDonald, who built Old White. The heavily-wooded course was redesigned by Jack Nicklaus in 1977 in preparation for the 1979 Ryder Cup and encourages shot-shaping off the tee and deft approach shots into the greens. The Greenbrier Course also hosted the 1994 Solheim Cup, making it the only resort course in the world to hold the premier team golf events for both men and women. Although less heralded today, the Greenbrier Course has more history than the resort’s course the pros now play each year. The lowest score at the Greenbrier Course? Sam Snead’s 59.

 

Jason Sobel ESPN Senior Writer

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — There were several newsworthy moments from Rory McIlroy’s interview session on Wednesday in regard to his equipment. He might not sign with another manufacturer anytime soon; he’s got three years’ worth of golf balls stored away if he needs them; and he’s switching to a mallet-style putter for this week’s Barclays tournament.

But let’s start with perhaps the biggest takeaway: When Nike Golf announced recently that it would be ceasing its equipment operation, one of the company’s star attractions barely knew ahead of time.

“It was a shock to all of us,” McIlroy revealed. “I got a call two hours before it was announced.”

The dominoes from that announcement have already started to fall, as McIlroy will have a Scotty Cameron-model putter in his bag this week.

Following a poor putting performance at the PGA Championship three weeks ago, he felt it was time to make a change.

“There’s a bit to go and it’s a process, but I feel like I’ve made a good start,” McIlroy explained. “I feel like with the putter change to a mallet, it doesn’t encourage that face to close that much, which is the bad putt I was getting. So it just sort of encourages the face to stay a little more square through impact.”

As for the rest of those dominoes, McIlroy insisted he’ll take a wait-and-see approach regarding any other equipment changes.

“I’m not going to commit to anything,” he said. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see me not go with a manufacturer for a year or two, just sort of play with what I want to play, play with what I’m comfortable with, and go from there.”

That hasn’t stopped other manufacturers from already trying.

McIlroy revealed with a laugh that his parents’ home in Northern Ireland has been inundated with packages from companies requesting that he test out their products.

“I don’t think it’s the time or the place to change what I feel like I’m very comfortable with,” he said. “Obviously, working with the Nike guys over the last number of years, they have gotten to know me and my specific tendencies and what I like in golf clubs. No reason to start changing just because I can. I’m comfortable with everything.”

As for those golf balls, well, McIlroy knows he’ll need to find a new one at some point, but he’s comfortable extending that deadline as long as possible.

“I’ve got them to save me a lot of three years’ worth of golf balls, so at least I’ve got a golf ball that I like and that I know that I can play well with,” he said.

How many balls is that, exactly?

“If I don’t lose a golf ball, I’m still using at least six, you know, cutting them,” he said with a laugh. “There’s a few dozen there.”

SOURCE: ESPN

Is there gold in Ko’s future?

RIO DE JANEIRO — Golf being a game for a lifetime, Lydia Ko could be excused for never having made an ace. She’s just 19, remember.

Then again, she has won 14 times on the LPGA Tour. She is the youngest player to win two major championships. She is the No. 1-ranked player in the world.

And she’s never had a hole-in-one?

That changed for Ko on Friday in the third round of the women’s Olympic golf tournament. And what a time to do it. Ko holed a 7-iron shot from 140 yards at the par-3 eighth hole to help her shoot 29 over the first nine holes and finish with a 65 that vaulted her into contention for Olympic gold.

In blustery conditions that became more pronounced in the afternoon, Ko’s score was the best of the day and moved her up 20 spots into a tie for second, 2 strokes behind South Korea’s Inbee Park.

“To do that at the Olympics, it doesn’t get any better than that,” said Ko, who is from New Zealand. “But to put myself back into good position going into tomorrow, I think was a job well done going forward.”

Ko’s exploits help set up what could be a potentially blockbuster final day for Olympic golf, which will get started earlier than usual due to expected bad weather Saturday afternoon. A two-tee start will begin at 6 a.m. ET with Ko’s final pairing going off at 7:39 a.m. ET.

She will be in that final group with Park, 28, who spent a good bit of time at No. 1 in the world and has 17 LPGA Tour titles, including seven major championships. A thumb injury has kept her from performing at her best this year, but Park has responded nicely during the Olympics, shooting scores of 66-66-70 to position herself for a gold medal.

Joining them in the last group will be American Gerina Piller, who has never won on the LPGA Tour but has played inspired golf this week. At a Tuesday news conference, Piller got emotional just talking about the idea of getting on the medal stand. Now, after a third-round 68, she could be just a day away.

And that is not to count out the likes of Shanshan Feng of China or Charley Hull of Great Britain or a couple of other South Koreans: Amy Yang and In Gee Chung. They are all within striking distance of a medal, potentially even gold.

All of that seemed unlikely for Ko after a lackluster start to the tournament. The pre-Olympics favorite, Ko opened 69-70 and trailed Park by 7 shots.

But the New Zealander got hot on the first nine Friday, making birdies at the first, fifth and sixth holes before her ace at the eighth. She then struck her approach to 3 feet at the ninth for another birdie and an outward nine of 29 strokes.

The hole-in-one was her first anywhere, somewhat surprising given her success around the world to this point.

“I was just [recently] talking to someone and I said, I’ve actually only made a fifth of a hole-in-one because I made a hole-in-one for a double[-bogey] in a practice round, so I really can’t count it,” said Ko, meaning that she had hit two balls in a hazard before holing the third for a 5.

“This is the first one in practice rounds or tournaments included, and I almost didn’t know how to react. Because it’s the first one and the wind is blowing and I haven’t had the best of luck when it comes to hole-in-ones.

“I would have loved to, like, done a dance or jumped up and down, but in that situation, I think I was almost trying not to cry, and then I realized, hey, I’ve got 11 more holes, get out of it.”

Ko then made nine straight pars to close out her round in some of the toughest conditions. That put her in the last group for Saturday’s final round. In Round 3, Ko hit 15 of 18 greens in regulation.

“I see a girl who is way beyond her years,” said Paul McGinley, the 2014 European Ryder Cup captain who has served as a team leader for the Irish golfers the past two weeks; he watched Ko on Friday while she played with Ireland’s Leona Maguire.

“She’s very mature as a golfer and in control of her game. She understands her game, her swing, and she is very proficient at her craft. And she stays in her own mindset. Doesn’t play anybody else’s game. Doesn’t get caught up in the emotions of a good hole, bad hole. And as I say, a girl who seems to be very mature as a golfer.”

Those attributes have served Ko well in an amazing career as a teenager, one that has a chance to get even better Saturday.

“Ever since ’09, I was only 12 then, I’ve imagined myself to be able to represent New Zealand at the Olympics,” Ko said. “To be here and especially on the first day, the first hole, I almost needed to pinch myself if I was really here in Rio and really competing in the Olympics.

“To be able to stand on that podium, it’s almost more than what you would imagine. Yesterday, New Zealand had five athletes who got to stand on the podium and I said, ‘Wow, what a feeling it would be to put my contribution and stand on the podium for New Zealand, too. Just start imagining and dreaming about it.’

“But you never know with the game of golf. Things can change so quickly.”

SOURCE: ESPN

By Rob Oller  The Columbus Dispatch  •  Monday August 15, 2016 7:02 PM

Gene Sauers, who in 2011 nearly died from a rare skin disease, parred the 72nd hole on Monday at Scioto Country Club to win the 37th U.S. Senior Open by one shot over Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez and PGA Tour Champions rookie Billy Mayfair.

Sauers, 53, looked in trouble after 16 holes when he trailed Jimenez by a shot, but he parred the last two holes — while Jimenez bogeyed them both — to win his first senior major title and the $675,000 winner’s check.

Sauers shot 1-under 69 and third-round leader Jimenez shot 1-over 71. Mayfair (tied for 2nd) shot 3-under 67.

Sauers did not touch a golf club for seven years beginning in 2005, when he gave up golf for three years. After getting sick in 2008 and suffering through Stevens-Johnson syndrome — a serious disorder of the skin and mucous membranes — doctors gave him a 25 percent chance to live.

“I told my wife when I was in the hospital that I didn’t think I’m ever coming out,” he said during his victory speech.

He recovered, needing skin grafts, and in 2014 lost his first U.S. Senior Open to Colin Montgomerie in a playoff. This time he pulled it out in a Senior Open that experienced intense heat the first three days, then heavy rains that postponed Sunday’s final round to Monday.

SOURCE: DISPATCH

Justin Rose shoots 66, leads after third round in Rio

RIO DE JANEIRO — Justin Rose is one round away from winning golf’s first Olympic gold medal in 112 years.

Rose did a little shimmy when his 10-foot par putt on the final hole Saturday swirled in the back side of the cup for a 6-under 65, giving him a one-shot lead over British Open champion Henrik Stenson going into the final round — the medal round — at Olympic Golf Course.

It’s not a two-man race, even if it felt like one.

Rose was at 12-under 201 and had the lead after Stenson narrowly missed a birdie putt and had to settle for a 68, capping a day in which he poked a caiman with the end of his wedge in the water to the left of the 10th hole.

Marcus Fraser, the leader after the first two rounds, stumbled to a 72 and was four shots out of the lead.

“It’s like a lot of other sports,” Rose said. “You work hard to get into the finals. It’s about a great performance tomorrow.”

Rose, the U.S. Open champion three years ago at Merion, is used to playing alongside Stenson when the competition is more about flag than money. They were partners in the Ryder Cup in 2014 at Gleneagles, winning all three of their matches for the European flag.

That won’t be the case Sunday. It will be Britain against Sweden, with other countries still looking to break into contention.

Bubba Watson kept American hopes alive with a 5-under 67 that featured his own surreal moment. Watson had a 30-foot birdie putt on the 14th hole, but when he took his putter back, a clump of mud dropped to the ground. Watson tried to stop his stroke and failed, so the ball traveled only about 6 feet.

He still wound up with a 67 and was in the group six shots behind — and three shots out of a medal — along with Emiliano Grillo of Argentina and David Lingmerth of Sweden, both of whom shot 68. They were at 6-under 207, with Matt Kuchar and Padraig Harrington another shot behind.

Rickie Fowler had the low round of the blustery day with a 64, though he remained nine shots behind.

Rose was four shots out of the lead to start the second round, but not for long. He holed a 75-foot pitch for eagle from just short of the third green, where the tees were moved up to make it a 285-yard hole into the wind. Then, he hit 7-iron to 15 feet on the downwind, par-5 fifth hole and made that for another eagle. He took the lead for the first time with a 35-foot putt from off the 12th green.

Stenson’s day was exciting because of a wedge, just not for a shot that he played with it.

Walking along the edge of the water on the par-5 10th, he spotted a caiman — a small crocodile in these parts — and reached over to poke it with the end of his wedge.

“It was a little lob wedge,” he said. “If it was twice the size, you probably needed to go to a longer iron.”

He wound up making birdie on that hole, and two birdies late on the back nine kept in range of Rose.

For all the talk about the stars who stayed home, this is just what golf needed in its return to the Olympics. Stenson is coming off the lowest score in major championship history when he won the British Open at Royal Troon, among the greatest final rounds played. He is No. 5 in the world, the highest-ranked player in the field.

Rose is another major champion at No. 12 in the world, slowed by a back injury in the middle of his season, but excited about the Rio Games. He was part of opening ceremony and kept busy in the week leading to the golf competition, going to other sports, spending time in the gym with Britain’s other athletes and soaking it all in.

The only thing better would be leaving with a gold medal.

“It would mean an awful lot,” Rose said. “You see what it means to the other Olympic athletes. Once a guy slips a gold medal around his neck, we’ll all understand how important it is.”

SOURCE: ESPN

Sindelar-Shamus-847

UPPER ARLINGTON, Ohio — Joey Sindelar, one of four former Ohio State players in the U.S. Senior Open at Scioto Country Club in suburban Columbus, has felt the support of the hometown crowd all week.

It apparently was a big help Friday. The 58-year-old Sindelar shot a 4-under 66 on a hot and humid day to take the second-round lead. He had five birdies, including two in a row after a bogey on No. 5. After finishing the first round with a 69, he was at 5 under overall.

“I’ve never been unconvinced that that many people in your corner, as the four of us have witnessed this week, cannot somehow kind of talk you into what might happen,” Sindelar said.

His highlight was a 40-foot birdie putt on the par-3 17th, after pars on the six previous holes.

“I’m seeing the line very well, and I seem to be able to hit the ball where I’m looking, and so far it’s been a fun week with the putter,” said Sindelar, whose best finish in a senior event was a second in 2009.

Billy Mayfair, making his first PGA TOUR Champions start after turning 50 last Saturday, was a stroke back after a 67. He had four birdies and a bogey.

“Any time you put the words USGA in front of a tournament, first of all, they’re going to be the best venues you’re ever going to find, and they’re going to be set up very difficult,” Mayfair said. “You’ve got to drive the ball well. You’ve got to hit good, smart iron shots, and you’ve got to position the ball on the green really well. Usually, that’s below the hole. The greens will get firmer and firmer.”

First-round leader Vijay Singh followed his opening 66 with a 75 to drop into a tie for eighth at 1 over.

“I didn’t hit that many fairways,” Singh said. “It was a lot windier today. I got some bad breaks, didn’t putt as well. But all in all, I managed. I didn’t play as bad as what the score reads.”

Defending champion Jeff Maggert also was 1 over after a 71. He won last year at Del Paso in California.

Sindelar said stamina has been factor for the PGA TOUR Champions players in the blistering heat and high humidity. For one thing, Sindelar said he also had trouble keeping his hands dry on the club. The conditions also have worked in their favor, with the course playing hard and fast.

“Some of us have aged way different than others,” he said. “I’m extremely arthritic so the heat is good for me. It keeps me loose so I’m kind of enjoying it. But, boy, at night we’re cramping no matter how much you drink. Everybody got beat down a little. It’s just tough physically to go through that out there.”

John Daly had an 81 to miss the cut. He had three double bogeys, six bogeys and a birdie.

Bernhard Langer was tied for 23rd at 3 over after a 70.

Because of the threat of rain Saturday, the players will play in threesomes starting at about 7:30 a.m.

Joey Sindelar (69-66—135/-5)

• Followed his opening-round 1-under-par 69 with a 4-under-par 66 for a 36-hole score of 5-under-par 135.

• Is competing in his ninth U.S. Senior Open with his best finish a second-place effort at the 2009 event at Crooked Stick GC in Indiana. Was also T4 in 2011.

• This marks the first time he has held sole possession of a second-round lead in a PGA TOUR Champions event since March, 2009 when he led Don Pooley by one stroke at the AT&T Champions Classic in Valencia, Calif. He eventually finished T4.

• Claimed seven victories on the PGA TOUR with the last coming at the 2004 Wachovia Championship in Charlotte.

• Played his college golf here in Columbus at Ohio State where he was a three-time All-American and a member of the Buckeyes’ 1979 NCAA Championship team.

• Son, Jamie, is working as his caddy this week. He, too, played golf at Ohio State.

• Is a native of Horseheads, N.Y.

U.S. Senior Open Notes

• A total of 63 players, including one amateur, made the cut at 7-over-par 147.

• Among those missing the cut were former U.S. Open champions Hale Irwin (+13), Scott Simpson (+10) and Lee Janzen (+11) as well as former U.S. Senior Open winners Bruce Fleisher (2001), Roger Chapman (2012), Dave Eichelberger (1999) and Eduardo Romero (2008). Others missing the cut included Mark O’Meara, John Daly, Rocco Mediate, Scott McCarron, Wes Short, Jr., and John Cook.

• Two players who enjoyed big turnarounds on Friday were Peter Fowler and Duffy Waldorf. Each improved their scores by 10 strokes over Thursday’s opening rounds. Fowler shot a 3-under-par 67, while Waldorf finished at 2-under-par 68. Fowler shared the 36-hole lead in Sacramento a year ago. In addition, Joe Durant, coming off a win at last week’s 3M Championship, rebounded from an opening-round 75 with a 3-under-par 67.

• A day after shooting a 4-under-par 66 in his opening round, Vijay Singh shot a 5-over-par 75 on Friday and is currently T8 where he is joined with defending champion Jeff Maggert and 2011 U.S. Senior Open champion Olin Browne.

• Bernhard Langer rebounded from his 3-over-par 73 on Thursday with an even-par 70 and finds himself T22 heading into the weekend. He trails by eight strokes as he seeks his third major title in 2016 and eighth overall which would tie Jack Nicklaus in that category on PGA TOUR Champions. Langer also has a streak of 15 consecutive top-10 finishes in majors dating back to 2013.

• The only amateur among the 23 amateur entrants to make the cut was Chip Lutz, who posted a 36-hole score of 6-over-par 146. It marked the 12th consecutive year at least one amateur had made the 36-hole cut. Lutz won the 2015 U.S. Senior Amateur title to earn a berth in the field.

• Brandt Jobe, who already owns three top-5 finishes in major championships this year on PGA TOUR Champions, is back in the top 10 after two rounds. His even-par 70 on Friday helped him to his current T10 position. He was T3 at the Senior PGA Championship, fourth at the Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS Championship and T5 at the recent Senior Open Championship. He was the medalist at last fall’s PGA TOUR Champions National Qualifying Tournament in Scottsdale.

• Doug Garwood has now played 216 consecutive holes without a three-putt on PGA TOUR Champions.

• Mark Wiebe and Mike Gilmore each withdrew on Friday. Wiebe withdrew after eight holes, while Gilmore did not start his round.

SOURCE: PGATOUR

Prime Time Special – This Sunday Only! 8/14

 “Beat the Heat” with a Prime Tee Time at the Foxfire Course!

Sunday 8/14 – Book a Tee Time online to play between 7:10am to 8:40am on the Foxfire Course, and receive a -$6 Discounted Greens Fee of

$23 Foxfire Course w/Riding Cart* 

* Discount will be reflected at time of purchase in Pro Shop.  Online bookings are only eligible for this promotion.  Promotion period 8/14 only.  Riding cart included.