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South Carolina course near Hilton Head Island gets new ownership

South Carolina course near Hilton Head Island gets new ownership

Golfsolutions February 05, 2021
South Carolina course near Hilton Head Island gets new ownership https://ift.tt/3jsfQSn

A South Carolina golf course is changing owners, but it will still be known as “The Sarge.”

Sergeant Jasper Country Club in Ridgeland — which sits about 35 minutes north of Savannah, Georgia, and a similar distance west of Hilton Head Island — has been a staple in the community since the 1960s. The Congaree Foundation announced last week it has acquired the nine-hole course.

“The new, revamped Sergeant Jasper Golf Club will support access to the game of golf by providing a new home to area high school teams, as well as a quality public golf course for the Lowcountry,” a news release said.

The Congaree Foundation said local golfers can tee off at the revamped club March 2. The release said it also will provide opportunities to learn new skills and serve as a pipeline of talent for other courses in the region.

“The acquisition of Sergeant Jasper is a natural continuation of the Congaree Foundation mission: to positively impact the lives of young people locally and around the globe by providing opportunities through the game of golf,” said John McNeely, executive program director for the foundation. “The re-opening of the course reflects our commitment to serve the local community.”

Sergeant Jasper Country Club has new ownership, but it will still be open to the public. The Congaree Foundation recently acquired the nine-hole golf course in Ridgeland.

Sergeant Jasper Country Club has new ownership, but it will still be open to the public. The Congaree Foundation recently acquired the nine-hole golf course in Ridgeland.

Sergeant Jasper board president Bradley Bonds said the club had many stockholders, but most have passed away and its membership has dropped dramatically the past few years.

His father and fellow board member Buzz Bonds said the club started with about 130 members and dwindled to 10 at one point, though it has rebounded to 45-50 members.

“The club was in need of financial assistance and Congaree had approached the board about taking over ownership of the club to utilize it, in part, for youth golf,” Bradley Bonds said. “We went through the process with Congaree to make it public.”

Bonds said with Congaree Foundation assuming ownership there will be “a lot better product with lots of improvements.”

“We were in need of financial help and Congaree came in to help,” he said. “They explained they wanted to have youth golf programs and still have golf for the public. This facility was not going to be there much longer had it not been for Congaree Foundation saving the golf course.”

The foundation said it plans to allow high school teams to play at no cost.

“Access to the course will also offer an opportunity for area high schools to establish new boys and girls golf programs,” McNeely said. “The club will host events for the local First Tee chapter.”

Sergeant Jasper Country Club has new ownership, but it will still be open to the public. The Congaree Foundation recently acquired the nine-hole golf course in Ridgeland.

Sergeant Jasper Country Club has new ownership, but it will still be open to the public. The Congaree Foundation recently acquired the nine-hole golf course in Ridgeland.

Congaree has helped several schools in Jasper County, beginning in 2018 when its first girls’ golf instruction introduced more than 300 students to the game.

In partnership with Congaree Golf Club in Gillisonville, the foundation also hosts underserved students for its Congaree Global Golf Initiative. It welcomes students from around the world, including many from South Carolina and Georgia. They participate in an intensive camp that provides golf instruction and college admission prep.

“Congaree Foundation is looking forward to making Sergeant Jasper a full-service course for the entire community to enjoy,” McNeely said.

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Mark Hubbard 'might break out' crazy snail putting grip at Phoenix Open

Mark Hubbard 'might break out' crazy snail putting grip at Phoenix Open

Golfsolutions February 05, 2021
Mark Hubbard 'might break out' crazy snail putting grip at Phoenix Open https://ift.tt/3cJ4nwz

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Might the snail re-emerge from its shell once again?

Mark Hubbard indicated that fans just might get to see perhaps the wildest, goofiest, silliest putting stroke in golf sometime this week. But only under the right circumstances.

Hubbard shot an opening-round 63 on Thursday in the Waste Management Phoenix Open and took the co-lead with Matthew NeSmith at TPC Scottsdale, thanks in part to 28 putts made using his traditional grip.

“For whatever reason, I really like this place a lot, and it always kind of seems to kick me into gear right around this time of the year,” said Hubbard, who is from Colorado and played collegiately at San Jose State. It was there that the goofy snail thing got started. The term was coined by one of his college teammates.

Hubbard broke out the snail on the Friday of the American Express. On his way to a 76, he was pretty much playing out the string in the second round when he decided to showcase the move. But then he missed the putt.

“It usually makes for an automatic putt inside five feet,” Hubbard said. “Little disappointed I missed that one.”

But since that tournament two weeks ago, Hubbard has been working on his putting. Like, working on his real putting stroke.

“I’ve worked on it a little,” he said, while admitting “I haven’t done much of the snail, but we were joking on 16 that if I had hit it to a tap-in’s length that I would have had to have done it.

“But who knows, we might break it out this week.”

“Yeah? The snail could be in play?” he was asked.

“Ideally a tap-in on 16 or a tap-in with like a two-shot lead on 18 for the win, those would be the two situations to break it out,” he said.

Hubbard’s in the final group teeing off on the 10th tee on Friday at 3:20 p.m. ET. The rough math says that should get him to the 16th green a little after 5 p.m. or so. With the sun starting to set in the Arizona desert, perhaps it’ll be the perfect time for the snail to make another appearance.

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Phoenix Open: Steve Stricker shoots 65, says, 'I feel like I still have a little bit of game left'

Phoenix Open: Steve Stricker shoots 65, says, 'I feel like I still have a little bit of game left'

Golfsolutions February 04, 2021
Phoenix Open: Steve Stricker shoots 65, says, 'I feel like I still have a little bit of game left' https://ift.tt/3pniElm

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – The Waste Management Phoenix Open includes five of the top 10 players in the world, but in the first round they were all beaten by the 460th -ranked player, a PGA Tour Champions regular who thought his days of whipping up on these young whippersnappers were over.

That old timer would be none other than U.S. Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker, who shot six-under 65, the lowest score of the afternoon wave at TPC Scottsdale, and proved he’s not just here to scout potential players for his 12-man side later this year.

“I made some putts,” he said. “Felt like the old Steve Stricker. I am old, but I don’t feel 53 or 4. I feel like I still have a little bit of game left in me.”

Stricker, who turns 54 later this month and won the last of his 12 PGA Tour titles in 2012, sits in fifth place after the opening round, two strokes behind Matthew NeSmith and Mark Hubbard.

Waste Management Phoenix Open: Photos | Leaderboard | Tee times, TV info

“I don’t know if I feel like I belong anymore, to be quite honest,” Stricker said.

Have you seen the leaderboard, he was asked by one reporter.

“Yeah, I know. These guys, they all hit it 300 plus, 320s, 330s, and I’m just trying to get it in the fairway and get it up to 280,” Stricker said.

Stricker thought he’d be put out to pasture this year and be a full-time Champions tour pro, but the Ryder Cup postponement due to the global pandemic changed his plans. He’s still playing against the young bucks—this is his third Tour event in a row—so that he can keep an eye on his potential players. That included a practice round with Patrick Cantlay at the American Express and conversations with Patrick Reed at the Farmers Insurance Open and Justin Thomas this week.

Stricker’s wife Nicki was on the bag and their kids followed along making it a family affair. It didn’t hurt that Stricker was also grouped with fellow 50-something and pal Jerry Kelly and European Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington.

“Walking off the first tee I said, ‘Paddy, we got two Badgers against you today. He was like, ‘Well, I need to get used to that I guess.’ So, he knows what’s coming when he comes there in September,” Stricker said of Whistling Straits, site of the biennial matches.

As he walked off the 18th green, he took a long glance at the scoreboard and couldn’t help but notice that his name was above the likes of Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth, Webb Simpson, and Thomas, who all have Ryder Cup experience, and Euro stars Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy.

“I love to watch who is playing well and look for potential players on the Ryder Cup team, friends, how they’re playing. Just get the lay of it. I study it a lot it seems like nowadays just trying to get a feel for what’s going on and how guys are playing,” he said. “It was good to see my name up there on the top, and the challenge will be to come out tomorrow and try to keep that ball rolling.”

His trusty putter, an Odyssey White Hot putter he’s used for more than 20 years, decided to behave and he made seven birdies against just one bogey to shoot the lowest score by a 50+ year-old golfer in the Phoenix Open since Tom Lehman in 2011.

Hubbard, who was followed by his pregnant wife, straightened out his putter, too. On his way to a forgettable round of 76 and a missed cut at the American Express two weeks ago, Hubbard used an unconventional putting technique, extending his right arm and wrapping his pinky finger around the lower portion of his shaft for support on a 5-foot putt. Hubbard said the maneuver was coined “the snail” during his days at San Jose State. When asked what his teammates thought of his technique, he said, “They all know I’m an idiot, so they just expect it from me.”

Hubbard said it wasn’t outside the realm of possibility that the snail would make an encore performance this week.

“We were joking on 16 that if I had hit it to a tap-in’s length that I would have had to have done it,” he said. “It drew a little more at the end, so I had five feet and it was kind of outside that range. But who knows, we might break it out this week.”

Hubbard finished with a flurry of birdies, five in his last six holes, to shoot his lowest round of his career after making a slight swing adjustment.

“I think earlier in the day I was kind of whipping it a little inside, so I kind of straightened my takeaway a little bit, and that kind of got things in motion, and I putted pretty good all day,” he said.

Matthew NeSmith plays his second shot at the second hole during the first round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. (Photo: Rob Schumacher-Arizona Republic/USA Today Network)

NeSmith went out early and carded six birdies and an eagle when he holed a bunker shot at No. 13. He hit 16 greens in regulation and took just 27 putts. NeSmith is winless on Tour and doesn’t need to be reminded that a victory would earn him an invite to the Masters.

He grew up less than 20 minutes from famed Augusta National Golf Club, just across the border in South Carolina and his father was a part-time caddie there. He has fond memories of attending the tournament as a kid.

“I’d try to get my dad to let me skip school on Thursday and Friday to watch it when we were going,” he said.

Nate Lashley, who attended University of Arizona and makes his home in Scottsdale, is one stroke back along with Same Burns after shooting 64s. Spieth ranked second in the field in Strokes Gained: Putting en route to signing for 4-under 67. That was a stroke better than Koepka, the 2015 Phoenix Open champion, who posted 3-under 68, his lowest opening-round score since last year’s PGA Championship. Koepka, who is trying to end a streak of three straight missed cuts, made 149 feet of putts, his most in a single round since 2018.

Rahm, an Arizona State alum, tied Koepka with 68, while McIlroy overcame a slow start and Thomas took a costly triple-bogey 7 at No. 17 as both opened with 1-under 70. Simpson, the defending champion, struggled to 2-over 73 as did Fowler, the 2019 champion, who is in danger of missing the cut after shooting 74.

Asked what Stricker would say to Team USA vets such as Xander Schauffele, who shot 66, Fowler, Spieth, Koepka, Thomas and Simpson, who are all looking up at The Captain’s name on the leaderboard, he said, “Well, it’s only one round. But it shows that I’m still out here trying to compete with them, trying to play, trying to beat them.”

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Waste Management Phoenix Open: Friday tee times, TV information

Waste Management Phoenix Open: Friday tee times, TV information

Golfsolutions February 04, 2021
Waste Management Phoenix Open: Friday tee times, TV information https://ift.tt/3cGyxjT

The PGA Tour’s West Coast swing moves from the San Diego coast to Arizona this week for the 2021 Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale.

Matthew NeSmith and Mark Hubbard are tied atop the leaderboard at 8 under after the first round of a quiet “People’s Open” due to limited crowds, followed by Nate Lashley and Sam Burns, who sit T-3 at 7 under. Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker rounds out the top five at 6 under.

From tee times to television information, here’s everything you need to know for the second round of this week’s event in Scottsdale.

Waste Management Phoenix Open: Photos | Leaderboard

Tee times

1st tee

Tee time Players
9:20 a.m. Adam Hadwin, Charl Schwartzel, Denny McCarthy
9:30 a.m. Chris Kirk, Hunter Mahan, Bo Van Pelt
9:40 a.m. Danny Lee, Patrick Rodgers, Beau Hossler
9:50 a.m. Stewart Cink, Kevin Tway, William McGirt
10 a.m. Dylan Frittelli, Adam Long, Troy Merritt
10:10 a.m. Tyler Duncan, Michael Kim, Grayson Murray
10:20 a.m. Martin Laird, Corey Conners, Ted Potter, Jr.
10:30 a.m. Martin Trainer, Matt Kuchar, Keegan Bradley
10:40 a.m. Doc Redman, Sepp Straka, Tom Lewis
10:50 a.m. Kelly Kraft, Kyoung-Hoon Lee, Robby Shelton
11 a.m. Vincent Whaley, Jesse Mueller, Nick Hardy
1:40 p.m. Emiliano Grillo, Byeong Hun An, Will Zalatoris
1:50 p.m. Matt Jones, Luke List, Jamie Lovemark
2 p.m. James Hahn, Scott Brown, Matthew NeSmith
2:10 p.m. Si Woo Kim, Brooks Koepka, Rickie Fowler
2:20 p.m. Daniel Berger, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele
2:30 p.m. Cameron Champ, Bubba Watson, Jason Day
2:40 p.m. Carlos Ortiz, Nate Lashley, Luke Donald
2:50 p.m. Sung Kang, J.B. Holmes, Andrew Putnam
3 p.m. Nick Taylor, Brian Harman, Kevin Stadler
3:10 p.m. Charley Hoffman, Harry Higgs, Bo Hoag
3:20 p.m. Sam Burns, Wyndham Clark, Erik van Rooyen

10th Tee

Tee time Players
9:20 a.m. Louis Oosthuizen, Harold Varner III, Scottie Scheffler
9:30 a.m. Russell Henley, Vaughn Taylor, John Huh
9:40 a.m. Padraig Harrington, Steve Stricker, Jerry Kelly
9:50 a.m. Harris English, Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas
10 a.m. Webb Simpson, Gary Woodland, Hideki Matsuyama
10:10 a.m. Matthew Wolff, Ryan Armour, Brendan Steele
10:20 a.m. Brendon Todd, Chez Reavie, Brice Garnett
10:30 a.m. Robert Streb, Michael Thompson, Aaron Wise
10:40 a.m. C.T. Pan, Billy Horschel, Jordan Spieth
10:50 a.m. Cameron Tringale, Talor Gooch, Xinjun Zhang
11 a.m. Mark Anguiano, Davis Riley, John Augenstein
1:40 p.m. Kyle Stanley, Sam Ryder, Scott Harrington
1:50 p.m. Camilo Villegas, Lucas Glover, Rory Sabbatini
2 p.m. Joel Dahmen, Tom Hoge, Will Gordon
2:10 p.m. Sungjae Im, Ryan Palmer, Russell Knox
2:20 p.m. J.T. Poston, Keith Mitchell, Zach Johnson
2:30 p.m. Max Homa, Satoshi Kodaira, Patton Kizzire
2:40 p.m. Hudson Swafford, Jason Dufner, Jimmy Walker
2:50 p.m. Brian Gay, Richy Werenski, Austin Cook
3 p.m. Sebastián Muñoz, Pat Perez, Kevin Streelman
3:10 p.m. Ryan Moore, Henrik Norlander, Adam Schenk
3:20 p.m. Brian Stuard, Scott Stallings, Mark Hubbard

TV, radio information

Friday, Feb. 5

TV

Golf Channel (watch for free on fuboTV): 3-7 p.m.

STREAMING

PGA Tour Live: 9:15 a.m.-7 p.m.
Twitter: 9:15-10:20 a.m.
Peacock Premium: NBC Sports Edge BetCast, 3:45-6:15 p.m.

RADIO

PGA Tour Radio on SiriusXM: 1-7 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 6

TV

Golf Channel (watch for free on fuboTV): 1-3 p.m.
NBC: 3-6 p.m.

STREAMING

PGA Tour Live: 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Twitter: 11-12:15 p.m.
Peacock Premium: NBC Sports Edge BetCast, 2-4:30 p.m.

RADIO

PGA Tour Radio on SiriusXM: 1-6 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 7

TV

Golf Channel (watch for free on fuboTV): 1-3 p.m.
NBC: 3-6 p.m.

STREAMING

PGA Tour Live: 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Twitter: 11-12:15 p.m.
Peacock Premium: NBC Sports Edge BetCast, 2-4:30 p.m.

RADIO

PGA Tour Radio on SiriusXM: 1-6 p.m.

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At Phoenix Open's 16th hole, a different vibe for fans and players amid COVID concerns

At Phoenix Open's 16th hole, a different vibe for fans and players amid COVID concerns

Golfsolutions February 04, 2021
At Phoenix Open's 16th hole, a different vibe for fans and players amid COVID concerns https://ift.tt/3cGyxjT

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Two things not associated with the Waste Management Phoenix Open were in abundance at Thursday’s opening round of the tournament.

Space, and relative serenity.

The masses of humanity that would have TPC Scottsdale teeming with activity in a typical year—hence, the event known as “The People’s Open”— were drastically limited to allow fans to move about freely and without being stuck in bottlenecks along the course.

At the PGA Tour’s most notorious hole, the 16th, reactions were subdued compared to how involved fans and players get with each other in a typical tournament.

It was more like The Few People’s Open. But some fans were just fine with that.

“I kind of like it to a certain degree,” said Scottsdale resident Chad Scuncio at the 16th hole on Thursday afternoon.

By mid-afternoon, there was more of a buzz at hole, with boos from the crowd for hooked tee shots from players Tyler Duncan and Grayson Murray.

“You can watch more golf without the madness. Walking around has been great. You can get as close to the green as you can,” Scuncio said.

Waste Management Phoenix Open: Photos | Leaderboard

The only drawback for Scuncio, who expects the atmosphere to be more lively on Friday and Saturday, was the absence of independent drink stands outside of the 16th hole.

It was quiet there in the morning hours as Xander Schauffele, Rory McIlroy and Daniel Berger walked up the tunnel to the tee. Schauffele and McIroy got a few shouts of encouragement from the handful of spectators in the reconfigured stadium hole, where suites replaced seating areas.

McIlroy dropped in a chip from just off the green for a birdie on the par three hole, and a fan yelled “Welcome to 16, Rory!”

McIlroy had never played the Phoenix Open before. It had never fit his schedule with him playing abroad at this time of year, and he admitted that the size of the crowd under non-pandemic circumstances was a drawback.

But the Open still offered an atmosphere, with more fans allowed than at other tournaments McIlroy has played in, and McIlroy decided to take part. He seems willing to return, in part because he likes the course and he wants to experience an actual 16th hole atmosphere, where there are thousands of fans right on top of the action and making noise.

“Yeah, I think I have to experience a real Phoenix Open at least once in my career. I think it’s important to do that. I’ll definitely be back when things are more normal,” McIlroy said.

“It was nice to play in front of people (Thursday),” McIlroy said. “Yeah, just to get clapped for some good shots and good putts and get encouragement from some greens to tees, it was really nice to see people out here.”

Jason Day hit his tee shot at 16, and a fan shouted “Dayyyyyy-yoooo!” Bubba Watson just missed a 36-foot putt on the 16th green that would have gotten him a birdie, and some groans came from those in the suites above the green.

The 16th hole is known for the cheers and boos fans rain down on the players, the boos for errant tee shots. In 2015 when Francesco Molinari aced the hole—the most recent player to do so—the crowd went so wild that they tossed cups of beer onto the grass. The cleanup delayed play.

In “normal” years, fans line up in the predawn hours to wait for the course gates to open and make a dash for the general admission seats at 16. But there was none of that this year. The limited general admission tickets had been sold out for weeks.

First-time attendee Brandon Blum of Kansas City said he’s watched the Phoenix Open on TV for years and knew the raucous atmosphere wouldn’t be there, but decided to watch from the 16th hole anyway.

“We accepted it. Actually it’s almost an advantage because you can see better. Of course, the vibe is more mellow. We can see the tee box and we can see the pin,” Blum said.

Matthew Nesmith fired a 63 on Thursday to finish tied for the overall lead, which included a near-ace at 16.

“I probably made the quietest almost hole-in-one ever on 16. I got about six claps there and hit it to six inches. But yeah, it was really nice,” Nesmith said. “It was really nice to have fans again. It’s really nice to feel a little nerves. It’s been kind of quiet and it’s just been like we’re all kind of playing together at home or something like that. So it’s really nice to feel a little bit of the nerves and get some claps. I’m sure they’re having a really good time out here. It’s beautiful.”

Waste Management Phoenix Open

A couple watches the action at the 16th hole during round one of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. (Photo: Rob Schumacher-Arizona Republic/USA Today Network)

Schauffele ended the day at minus-5, which put him in the top 10 on the leaderboard before the afternoon wave came through. At one point, though, the four-time PGA Tour winner overheard a fan after he didn’t hit a chip well.

“When there’s a lot of people it almost becomes white noise,” Schauffele said. “Out here I chunked my chip and some guy was like, ‘Dang, he duffed it.’ I’m like, ‘yeah, you’re right, I just duffed the crap out of that chip.’

“You can kind of hear certain small comments more, which when you show up here you know exactly what you’re walking into, but it is weird, though, overall sort of quietness here. It is strange to me.”

Million-dollar shot contest

To recognize small- and medium-sized businesses, many of which were impacted by the pandemic, Waste Management is putting up $1 million for 20 of its business customers in a hole-in-one contest during Saturday’s third round.

The 20 companies from around the U.S, who were chosen randomly as contest finalists, will be assigned a threesome of golfers playing on Saturday. If a hole-in-one is made on the 16th hole the company wins $1 million. If there is no ace, the company whose group has the lowest aggregate score on 16 will win $100,000. Multiple aces will result in the price being split evenly, and there is a closest-to-the-pin tiebreaker if needed for tied aggregate scores.

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Get a look at Grayhawk Golf Club, site of the NCAA Championship

Get a look at Grayhawk Golf Club, site of the NCAA Championship

Golfsolutions February 04, 2021
Get a look at Grayhawk Golf Club, site of the NCAA Championship https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

The NCAA Championship was supposed to land at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, in 2020 for the beginning of a three-year run at the desert course. The coronavirus pandemic only succeeded in delaying that run. Grayhawk instead will begin its hosting duties at the end of the 2020-21 season and will still host for the next three seasons.

Many teams have already started reconnaissance missions ahead of this year’s national finals. The Golfweek crew has done the same.

Want a look at some of the key holes and scenic views? Take a scroll. We don’t know about you, but we can’t wait for May.

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Phoenix Open: Like clockwork, Xander Schauffele's name is high on leaderboard

Phoenix Open: Like clockwork, Xander Schauffele's name is high on leaderboard

Golfsolutions February 04, 2021
Phoenix Open: Like clockwork, Xander Schauffele's name is high on leaderboard https://ift.tt/3cGyxjT

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – The 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale is infamous for its 16,000 rowdy fans making the fully-enclosed hole a Colosseum of sorts. But not this year. When Matthew NeSmith chipped an 8-iron to six inches at the par 3 hole, he heard all of six claps.

“I made the quietest almost hole-in-one ever at 16,” he said.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions and social distancing requirements, only about 5,000 fans per day are being permitted to attend the Waste Management Phoenix Open, where crowds topping 250,000 for Saturday’s third round has become the norm. The tournament affectionately known as “the people’s open,” is missing its masses.

“When there’s a lot of people it almost becomes white noise,” said Xander Schauffele. “Out here I chunked my chip and some guys was like, ‘Dang, he duffed it.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, you’re right, I just duffed the crap out of that chip.’ You can kind of hear certain small comments more, which when you show up here you know exactly what you’re walking into, but it is weird the overall sort of quietness here. It is strange to me.”

Waste Management Phoenix Open: Photos | Leaderboard

What is becoming clockwork is seeing Schauffele’s name on the first page of the leaderboard. He carded seven birdies en route to a 5-under 66 and sits three strokes behind NeSmith, who fired a bogey-free 63, and Mark Hubbard, who matched him by making birdies on five fo his last six holes.

Schauffele’s become the Tour’s “Mr. Consistency,” recording 16 top-25 finishes in 18 starts last season and hasn’t finished worse than T-17 in six starts this season, with two seconds among them, including last week at the Farmers Insurance Open, which helped him improve to a career-best of No. 4 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

“I want to be like Xander,” said Tour pro Joel Dahmen. “Thursday to Sunday he’s the same guy. It’s very impressive. He has a plan and he sticks to it.”

All that’s missing for Schauffele, 27, is a trophy to hoist. He’s been stuck on four career victories since the Sentry Tournament of Champions more than two years ago. With each passing close call, Schauffele’s level of frustration grows.

“The ultimate goal is winning and it kind of just dangles right in front of you every tournament, and you just try your best,” he said. “I’ve knocked on the door a few times and kind of messed up and choked, I guess, if you want to call it that. But just try to learn from every moment.”

When asked if he thinks he’s choked, Schauffele didn’t mince words.

“I have at certain times,” he said. “I’m trying to just get to a level where when I know I’m playing really well, I can win. I don’t know if my game is quite there yet to where I can show up to a course and really feel like I’m 100 percent that I’m going to win this tournament. There’s a lot of variables that come into play.”

On a sun-splashed opening round, Schauffele’s putter was on fire. He canned five birdies in a six-hole stretch beginning at No. 17 and one-putted each hole in that span on his way to making over 100 feet of putts for the day. That included a beautiful 28-foot right-to-left birdie putt at No. 4 that broke back to the cup at the end and dropped.

NeSmith tied his career low with 63. He took a short-game lesson on Monday and it paid quick dividends. He holed a bunker shot on 13 for eagle and chipped in from over the sixth green for birdie.

“I don’t know what’s going on the last couple of days, but I’m very grateful for it,” he said.

NeSmith, 27, and Hubbard, 31, are both winless on Tour. They lead Nate Lashley, a 38-year-old University of Arizona product who calls Scottsdale home, and Sam Burns by one stroke.

Former champions Brooks Koepka made seven birdies in shooting 68, while Rickie Fowler carded four consecutive bogeys and will have his work cut out to make the 36-hole cut after 3-over 74. Rory McIlroy was 3-over par after his first two holes but rallied to shoot 1-under 70 in his Phoenix Open debut.

“It was a good battle back,” he said.

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Will Holcomb V is teeing it up at the Jones Cup with one big goal in mind

Will Holcomb V is teeing it up at the Jones Cup with one big goal in mind

Golfsolutions February 04, 2021
Will Holcomb V is teeing it up at the Jones Cup with one big goal in mind https://ift.tt/36DQ0FV

The driving range at Spring Creek Country Club, a nine-hole facility in Crockett, Texas, was practically at the end of Will Holcomb V’s driveway as a kid. Holcomb can’t tell you how many times he found himself in an intense game at Spring Creek – often one in which he wouldn’t be allowed to use his driver, but would still have to give up strokes anyway. He was always welcome, and he was always challenged.

“Doesn’t matter if you’re 100 with one lung and one leg … or if you’re 14 or 15, just a good group of guys who play together and compete and anybody is invited,” Holcomb said. “There’s trash talk and I can’t tell you how many times somebody has said something while I was over a putt.”

It’s no wonder Holcomb craves that setting. As a fifth-year senior on the Sam Houston State roster, Holcomb recently found himself less than excited about going to golf practice as he helped a friend with a home project. But when he got to the golf course, he discovered head coach Brandt Kieschnick had planned an up-and-down competition.

Holcomb’s switch flipped – instant engagement.

“I love it – that’s what I want to do,” he said. “I want to just beat somebody. I don’t know where I got that from.”

The switch will flip again on Friday as Holcomb tees it up among the world’s best amateurs at the Jones Cup, a 54-hole event at Ocean Forest Golf Club in Sea Island, Georgia. The objective is simple: Holcomb wants to play his way onto the U.S. Walker Cup team.

No one else like him

As Kieschnick likes to say, there’s a Navy SEAL-style discipline to the way Holcomb goes about business, and the killer instinct figures in. Holcomb thinks he’s such a good match-play player because he hates to lose more than he likes to win.

“He wants to win more than anyone out there,” Kieschnick said.

Discipline is maybe the unseen layer to Holcomb’s success – or at the least the one that gets overlooked. Holcomb is a quick talker and a cut-up, and those qualities come through first. Personality was arguably the biggest takeaway from Holcomb’s break-out performance at the 2019 U.S. Amateur, when he played his way to the semifinals after entering the week ranked No. 328 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.

“He proved to himself that his good golf is as good as anybody’s good golf in the country,” Kieshnick said of that week. “He’s continued to prove that.”

Will Holcomb and Brandt Kieschnick

Will Holcomb with Sam Houston State coach Brandt Kieschnick. (Photo: Sam Houston State Athletics)

Kieschnick saw a kid with the whole package on the recruiting trail in the summer of 2015. Sam Houston State had finished the previous season as a top-50 team in the nation, and Kieschnick really wanted the fast-talking player from Crockett with serious game. Keischnick secured the commitment over dinner at the Holcomb family’s table.

There are no boring moments with Holcomb on the roster.

“He would hit shots – he’d be trying to hook this 3-iron, he’d yell hook and he would spin on his feet three three times round for that ball to hook,” Kieschnick said. “That’s how much he talked to the ball. He’s spinning his body three full circles for that thing to hook.”

“When he hits a shot and he gets a good bounce he says, ‘The good lord takes care of the needy boy,” and he just keeps going.”

The Holcomb file is equal parts one-liners and statistics. It speaks of faith and character. Holcomb has steadily improved on the golf course because of a single-minded commitment, but Keischnick also remembers Holcomb coming to his office the summer after his freshman year to talk about proposing to his girlfriend. Holcomb and Graycie were ultimately married in August. Holcomb broke his foot at the wedding, but told his coach he’d play through it – and did.

“He played the whole semester in a boot, was our No. 1 player, almost won a couple times,” Kieschnick said. “… It was just the most amazing thing you ever saw.”

One box left to check

With a transition approaching, Holcomb would like to close this chapter as a Walker Cupper.

“I wouldn’t have gone to the South Beach (International Amateur) and I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the Walker Cup,” Holcomb said flatly. “I’ll get to play plenty of golf in this life, I didn’t really necessarily have to play any more.”

Realistically, Holcomb, as a U.S. Amateur semifinalist, was one match away from serious consideration for the last U.S. Walker Cup team. Ultimately, however, it took two more years and a head-turning stroke-play performance at the inaugural Maridoe Amateur in December to lift him into the conversation for the squad that will compete at Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Florida, on May 8-9.

“I’ve wanted to be on the team,” said Holcomb. “I want to play against the Europeans. I want to compete in match play with the best amateurs in the country and so I’ve always wanted to play it.”

Only one position on the 10-man team is spoken for – it went to Tyler Strafaci as winner of the 2020 U.S. Amateur. The USGA’s International Team Selection Committee will select three more players (the top three players in the WAGR) at the conclusion of the Jones Cup. Holcomb currently is ranked No. 71.

Will Holcomb, Maridoe Amateur medalist

Will Holcomb with his trophy as Maridoe Amateur medalist.

It’s safe to assume the winner of the Jones Cup, if he is American, will get serious consideration. Holcomb knows what he has to do.

A 16-man practice squad invited was selected the week before Holcomb’s run at the Maridoe Amateur or he would conceivably have been in that elite group. After he wrapped up the stroke-play medal, Holcomb was introduced to Walker Cup captain Nathanial Crosby. He relished the face time.

“It’s kind of like, you’re not going to want to go on a date with somebody unless you’ve probably met them, even if everybody says great things about them, you don’t know them,” Holcomb reasoned.

The Maridoe medal amounted to a major feather in Holcomb’s cap. It goes along with a runner-up at the North & South Amateur, the Trinity Forest Amateur title and a top-10 finish at the Azalea Invitational.

“He truly believes he’s one of the best in the country and he’s not afraid to play anybody,” Kieschnick said. “He definitely respects his competition, he knows he has to play well. He wants the moment and he’s kind of the guy who wants the ball. I think the bigger the scenario, the better he is.”

This moment is big, and as he always does before major amateur events, Holcomb has spent three days at Ocean Forest getting lines and committing to spots. He’s already noted the small greens there, which will work in his favor. After all, some of his crowning achievements have come at Pinehurst No. 2, where he deftly navigated tricky green complexes. That’s not to say it’s the only place he’s a factor.

As Holcomb noted, “Cup’s the same width at Pinehurst as it is here, I think.”

from Golfweek https://ift.tt/36IXDee
Rory McIlroy gets early-morning surprise in Waste Management Phoenix Open debut

Rory McIlroy gets early-morning surprise in Waste Management Phoenix Open debut

Golfsolutions February 04, 2021
Rory McIlroy gets early-morning surprise in Waste Management Phoenix Open debut https://ift.tt/3cGyxjT

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Rory McIlroy’s first tee shot in his first visit to the Arizona desert delivered an early-morning eye-opener.

“I was really surprised how far my tee shot went on 10 to get into the desert there,” he said a few hours after starting his first round on the back nine at 8 a.m. local time with the temperature about 50 degrees. “It was like a 340 run-out. I had no idea I could hit 340 in that temperature.”

McIlroy went on to post a 1-under 70 in his first trip to the Waste Management Phoenix Open but not before running into some early trouble.

“From there, didn’t really have shot, hit it into the front bunker and then I just made a mess of it from there, thinned the bunker shot into the next bunker and didn’t get that one up-and-down.

“On the next hit it behind a couple of trees and had to chip out and hit a really good wedge shot in and just missed the putt.”

McIlroy got it going after that double-bogey, bogey start.

“It was a good battle back. Being 3-over through 2 isn’t ideal, especially on this golf course where you sort of need to make birdies,” he said.

McIlroy made some of those birdies on 13, 15 and 16. After making the turn, he birdied two more holes, the second and third, then strung together four straight pars before a bogey on 8. A par on 9 closed out his round.

There was only a smattering of fans on 16 to witness his chip-in from 32 feet for a two. Nonetheless, McIlroy said he was glad to see some fans back on the PGA Tour.

“Yeah, it was nice to play in front of people today. Just to get clapped for some good shots and good putts and get encouragement from some greens to tees, it was really nice to see people out here.”

McIlroy, along with playing partners Daniel Berger and Xander Schauffele, should have perfect weather for Friday’s second round when they tee off No. 1 at 12:20 p.m. local time.

from Golfweek https://ift.tt/36KEiJz