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Players Championship: Top 51 in World ranking headed to TPC Sawgrass

Players Championship: Top 51 in World ranking headed to TPC Sawgrass

Golfsolutions March 05, 2021
Players Championship: Top 51 in World ranking headed to TPC Sawgrass https://ift.tt/374jP2J

The final commitment list for the 2021 Players Championship was released by the PGA Tour on Friday, with the top 51 players in the world coming to the First Coast to pick up where they left off last year when the tournament was canceled after one round because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Practice rounds are on March 9-10 and the first round will be March 11 at the Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. A limited number of tickets that equal 20 percent capacity are sold out.

The only player who is eligible and not entered this week is two-time Players champion Tiger Woods, who suffered severe leg injuries in a car wreck last week. He is ranked 52nd in the world.

World No. 1-ranked Dustin Johnson, who has won the Masters and the FedEx Cup in the past six months, leads the field of 154 from a World Golf Ranking standpoint. The rest of the top-10 as of this week’s ranking is Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, PGA champion Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele, Tyrrell Hatton, Patrick Cantlay, 2019 Players champion Rory McIlroy, Patrick Reed and 2018 Players champion Webb Simpson.

The field also will include the players who have combined to win 24 of the last 25 major championships, all 21 PGA Tour winners in the 2020-21 FedEx Cup season and past Players champions McIlroy, Simpson, Si Woo Kim, Jason Day, Rickie Fowler, Matt Kuchar, Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia and Adam Scott.

The Players is missing only 15 of the top-100 players in the world, but that’s only because they’re not eligible under the stringent rules to make the field. The primary avenues for getting into the Players are to win a tournament in the last 12 months since the previous Players and to finish among the top-125 on the final FedEx Cup standings the week before.

The Tour added a wrinkle this season in light of the pandemic, with the points list from 2019-20 combined with the points this season through last week to add 10 players to the usual field of 144.

Only one other pro can get into the field: the winner of this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, if he is not otherwise eligible. Six players in that category made the cut at Bay Hill but only Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand (4-under 140) is in serious contention, as he is five back of the lead headed to the weekend.

Players Championship field

(Past champions in bold) 

Byeong Hun An

Abraham Ancer

Ryan Armour

Daniel Berger

Christaan Bezuidenhout

Keegan Bradley

Scott Brown

Sam Burns

Patrick Cantlay

Paul Casey

Cameron Champ

Stewart Cink

Wyndham Clark

Corey Conners

Austin Cook

Joel Dahman

Cameron Davis

Jason Day (2016) 

Bryson DeChambeau

Jason Dufner

Tyler Duncan

Harris English

Tony Finau

Matthew Fitzpatrick

Tommy Fleetwood

Rickie Fowler (2015)

Dylan Fritelli

Sergio Garcia (2008) 

Brice Garnett

Brian Gay

Doug Ghim

Lucas Glover

Talor Gooch

Branden Grace

Lanto Griffin

Emiliano Grillo

Adam Hadwin

James Hahn

Brian Harman

Scott Harrington

Tyrrell Hatton

Russell Henley

Jim Herman

Harry Higgs

Bo Hoag

Charley Hoffman

Tom Hoge

Max Homa

Billy Horschel

Beau Hossler

Viktor Hovland

Charles Howell III

Mark Hubbard

Mackenzie Hughes

Sungjae Im

Dustin Johnson

Zach Johnson

Matt Jones

Sung Kang

Jerry Kelly

Si Woo Kim

Chris Kirk

Kevin Kisner

Patton Kizzire

Russell Knox

Brooks Koepka

Jason Kokrak

Matt Kuchar (2012)

Martin Laird

Andrew Landry

Nate Lashley

Danny Lee

K.H. Lee

Marc Leishman

Tom Lewis

Luke List

Adam Long

Shane Lowry

Robert MacIntyre

Peter Malnati

Hideki Matsuyama

Denny McCarthy

Tyler McCumber

Graeme McDowell

Rory McIlroy (2019) 

Maverick McNealy

Troy Merritt

Phil Mickelson (2007) 

Keith Mitchell

Francesco Molinari

Ryan Moore

Collin Morikawa

Sebastian Munoz

Kevin Na

Matthew NeSmith

Joaquin Niemann

Alex Noren

Henrik Norlander

Louis Oosthuizen

Carlos Ortiz

Ryan Palmer

C.T. Pan

Cameron Percy

Pat Perez

Victor Perez

Scott Piercy

J.T. Poston

Ian Poulter

Andrew Putnam

Jon Rahm

Chez Reavie

Doc Redman

Patrick Reed

Patrick Rodgers

Justin Rose

Sam Ryder

Rory Sabbatini

Xander Schauffele

Scottie Scheffler

Adam Schenk

Charl Schwartzel

Adam Scott (2004) 

Robby Shelton

Webb Simpson (2018) 

Cameron Smith

Brandt Snedeker

Jordan Spieth

Scott Stallings

Kyle Stanley

Brendan Steele

Henrik Stenson (2009)

Sepp Straka

Robert Streb

Kevin Streelman

Brian Stuard

Hudson Swafford

Nick Taylor

Vaughn Taylor

Justin Thomas

Michael Thompson

Brendon Todd

Cameron Tringale

Harold Varner III

Jimmy Walker

Bubba Watson

Richey Werenski

Lee Westwood

Bernd Wiesberger

Danny Willett

Aaron Wise

Matthew Wolff

Gary Woodland

Will Zalatoris

Xinjun Zhang

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Ashleigh Buhai prepped for 2021 by taking on childhood idol Ernie Els. Took his money too.

Ashleigh Buhai prepped for 2021 by taking on childhood idol Ernie Els. Took his money too.

Golfsolutions March 05, 2021
Ashleigh Buhai prepped for 2021 by taking on childhood idol Ernie Els. Took his money too. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

OCALA, Florida – Ashley Buhai had a life-sized poster of Ernie Els in her bedroom growing up. She first met her idol at the 1998 South Africa Open, which played about five minutes from her home. Buhai took the poster to the tournament to have it signed by the four-time major winner.

They’ve met several times since then but only recently started playing casual golf in south Florida now that Buhai has a home in Palm Beach Gardens. She might have taken a little money off of the Hall of Famer too.

Buhai, a three-time Ladies South African Open winner, played her first round in four weeks with Els and Branden Grace, who won last week’s Puerto Rico Open on the PGA Tour. She made nine birdies out at Turtle Creek to take $50 off them.

“They were pretty impressed with that,” said Buhai, who currently sits in a tie for seventh at the LPGA Drive On Championship after rounds of 70-70.

With such a short offseason, Buhai, 31, didn’t go back home to South Africa due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was hard enough getting back to the tour last summer when it restarted, taking 38 hours from their home to Chicago.

“I mean, obviously miss not being able to go back to South Africa,” said Buhai of having an American base, “but I think it’s going to be really good for me. It’s going to give me a sense of somewhere to go on my off weeks and not living out a suitcase all the time.

“I used to play so much because I didn’t have anywhere to go kind of thing. I’m going to be able to plan my schedule a little bit better and rest up more.”

Ashleigh’s husband, David, currently caddies for 2019 U.S. Women’s Open winner Jeongeun Lee6. The couple first met at a golf academy in Johannesburg and were dating long distance when David flew out to sub in after Ashleigh’s caddied suffered a broken leg.

David, who was a general manager of a shoe store at the time, never went back, looping for Ashleigh until they got married.

Ashleigh, who is still looking for her first LPGA title, said playing with Els was as much of a rush for David as it was for her.

“It was funny, when I tee’d it up with (Els) and even Brandon I felt at ease,” she said. “which was cool. I wasn’t nervous. My husband Dave got to play. I think he was more excited than me and he held his own too, so it was cool.”

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Oklahoma still No. 1; Illinois vaults from unranked to No. 4 in Division I Bushnell Golfweek Coaches Poll

Oklahoma still No. 1; Illinois vaults from unranked to No. 4 in Division I Bushnell Golfweek Coaches Poll

Golfsolutions March 05, 2021
Oklahoma still No. 1; Illinois vaults from unranked to No. 4 in Division I Bushnell Golfweek Coaches Poll https://ift.tt/36CRPTo

Fresh off a win at the Cabo Collegiate, the Oklahoma Sooners remain atop the latest Bushnell Golfweek Coaches Poll.

The Sooners received 13 of 24 first-place votes. Second-ranked Wake Forest received seven first-place votes. Arizona, ranked seventh in the poll, garnered the remaining four first-place votes.

Florida State check in at No. 3. Illinois, unranked last time, vaults into a tie at No. 4 with Arizona State.

Pepperdine ranks sixth followed by Arizona, Clemson and Texas with Oklahoma State and North Carolina tied at No. 10.

Division I

Rank University (First-place votes) Points Previous
1 Oklahoma (13) 576 1
2 Wake Forest (7) 552 T-7
3 Florida State 528 15
T-4 Arizona State 504 3
T-4 Illinois 504 NR
6 Pepperdine 480 5
7 Arizona (4) 456 11
8 Clemson 408 8
9 Texas 385 10
T-10 North Carolina 360 NR
T-10 Oklahoma State 360 22
12 Texas A&M 308 14
13 Vanderbilt 299 2
T-14 SMU 264 T-17
T-14 Georgia 264 6
16 Florida 242 19
17 Auburn 216 13
18 Liberty 297 NR
19 Tennessee 154 4
20 Texas Tech 152 16
21 San Diego State 147 9
22 North Texas 84 NR
23 Arkansas 70 12
24 Arkansas State 64 NR
25 New Mexico 48 NR

Dropped from ranking: Alabama (T-17); Baylor (21); Duke (25); North Florida (24); South Carolina (20); UAB (23).

Others receiving votes: North Florida, 21; Stanford, 21; Baylor, 20; Kansas, 18; South Carolina, 12; UAB, 12; Tennessee Tech, 10; Alabama, 9; Indiana, 9; Louisville, 9; Georgia Tech, 8; Houston, 8; LSU, 6; Duke, 3; Northwestern, 3; USC, 3; San Francisco, 2; South Florida, 2; Arkansas-Little Rock, 1; Iowa, 1; Loyola Marymount, 1; Notre Dame, 1.

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Lincoln Memorial is new No. 1 in Division II Bushnell Golfweek Coaches Poll

Lincoln Memorial is new No. 1 in Division II Bushnell Golfweek Coaches Poll

Golfsolutions March 05, 2021
Lincoln Memorial is new No. 1 in Division II Bushnell Golfweek Coaches Poll https://ift.tt/36CRPTo

The Lincoln Memorial men’s golf team jumped up one spot to claim the No. 1 slot in the latest Division II Bushnell Golfweek Coaches Poll of 2021.

The Railsplitters, whose campus is in Harrogate, Tennessee, garnered just one first-place vote but had 391 points in the poll to take the top spot.

Lynn received 11 first-place votes and jumps from No. 8 to No. 2. South Carolina-Aiken drops from No. 1 to No. 3 but still received four first-place votes. West Florida is fourth and Barry and Saint Leo are tied for fifth.

Division II

Rank University (First-place votes) Points Previous
1 Lincoln Memorial (1) 391 2
2 Lynn (11) 384 8
3 South Carolina-Aiken (4) 374 1
4 West Florida 357 9
T-5 Barry (1) 304 T-3
T-5 Saint Leo 304 T-17
T-7 Lee 289 T-3
T-7 Columbus State 289 5
9 Indianapolis 272 6
10 Findlay 256 7
11 Arkansas Tech 240 11
12 Colorado State-Pueblo 225 10
13 Nova Southeastern 196 NR
14 Limestone 176 21
15 Dallas Baptist 150 19
16 Colorado School of Mines 135 12
17 North Georgia 124 T-14
18 Oklahoma Christian 108 20
19 Georgia Southwestern State 105 16
T-20 Lander 91 NR
T-20 Young Harris College 91 22
22 Florida Southern 88 13
23 Central Missouri 66 24
24 Anderson (SC) 60 23
25 Henderson State 49 NR

Dropped From Ranking: Delta State (T-14); Missouri – St. Louis, (25); Newberry, (T-17).

Others receiving votes: Delta State, 48; St. Marys (TX), 40; Wingate, 40; Valdosta State, 36; Newberry, 28; CSU East Bay, 18; Washburn, 18; Barton College, 16; Missouri Western State, 15; Clayton State, 10; Western Washington, 10; Carson-Newman, 9; Missouri – St. Louis, 9; Academy of Art, 8; Tampa, 8; Winona State, 8; Flagler, 7; Holy Names, 6; Simon Fraser, 6; Sonoma State, 6; Southwestern Oklahoma State, 6; Northeastern State, 3; Grand Valley State, 2; Wayne State (MI), 2; Cal State-Monterey Bay, 1; Chico State, 1; Colorado-Colorado Springs, 1; Queens Univ. of Charlotte, 1; Saint Martins Univ., 1; Tiffin, 1.

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Make it eight: Illinois Wesleyan is No. 1 yet again in Division III Bushnell Golfweek Coaches Poll

Make it eight: Illinois Wesleyan is No. 1 yet again in Division III Bushnell Golfweek Coaches Poll

Golfsolutions March 05, 2021
Make it eight: Illinois Wesleyan is No. 1 yet again in Division III Bushnell Golfweek Coaches Poll https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

For the eighth time in a row, the Illinois Wesleyan men’s golf team checks in at No. 1 in the Division III Bushnell Golfweek Coaches Poll.

The Titans claimed 14 of 15 first-place votes this time around. Huntingdon and Emory tied for the second spot in the poll. Carnegie Mellon, which received the other first-place vote, is No. 4. Methodist is No. 5.

 

Division II

Rank University (First-place votes) Points Previous
1 Illinois Wesleyan (12) 375 1
T-2 Huntingdon 322 2
T-2 Emory 322 2
4 Carnegie Mellon (1) 308 4
5 Methodist 190 T-5
6 Hampden-Sydney 266 7
7 Piedmont 252 T-5
8 Guilford 238 8
9 St. Thomas (MN) 192 11
10 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 187 9
T-11 Mary Hardin-Baylor 182 10
T-11 Greensboro 182 12
13 Gustavus Adolphus 156 13
T-14 Wisconsin-Eau Claire 154 15
T-14 Wittenberg 154 14
16 Oglethorpe 140 18
17 New York University 121 T-16
T-18 Southwestern (TX) 112 T-19
T-18 Washington & Lee 112 T-19
20 Hardin-Simmons 96 T-16
21 Redlands 84 T-22
22 Saint Johns (MN) 66 T-22
23 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 50 T-25
24 Nebraska Wesleyan 45 NR
25 Aurora University 44 21

Dropped From Ranking: Calvin (24); East Texas Baptist (T-25).

Others receiving votes: Trine Univ. (TX), 38; Babson, 35; Calvin, 28; Sewanee: The Univ. of the South, 28; Texas Lutheran, 24; McMurry, 21; Concordia Univ. (TX), 20; Kenyon College, 19; Univ. of Texas-Dallas, 19; LeTourneau, 18; Rhodes, 18; Rochester, 16; Univ. of Dallas, 15; Denison Univ., 14; East Texas Baptist, 12; Transylvania, 12; Centenary College (LA), 11; Averett, 10; Berry College, 10; MacMurray, 8; Trine Univ. 8; Covenant College, 6; Skidmore, 6; Allegheny, 5; Howard Payne Univ., 5; Adrian College, 4; Williams, 4; LaGrange, 3; Wisconsin Lutheran, 3; Centre, 2; Franklin, 2; Luther, 2; McDaniel, 2; La Verne, 1; Loras, 1; Middlebury, 1; Webster Univ., 1.

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Bushnell Golfweek Coaches Polls for men's golf: NAIA, NJCAA Div. I, NJCAA Div. II

Bushnell Golfweek Coaches Polls for men's golf: NAIA, NJCAA Div. I, NJCAA Div. II

Golfsolutions March 05, 2021
Bushnell Golfweek Coaches Polls for men's golf: NAIA, NJCAA Div. I, NJCAA Div. II https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Point University is once again No. 1 in Bushnell Golfweek Coaches Polls for NAIA. Meanwhile, Hutchinson sits atop the NJCAA Div. I poll, while Kirkwood CC is No. 1 in the latest the NJCAA Div. II poll.

Here are the Top 25 rankings for NAIA, NJCAA Division I and NJCAA Division II.

NAIA

Rank University (First-place votes) Points Previous
1 Point University (9) 250 1
2 Keiser 240 2
3 Wayland Baptist (1) 230 3
4 College of Coastal Georgia 220 4
5 South Carolina Beaufort 210 10
T-6 Dalton State 180 T-5
T-6 Texas Wesleyan 180 T-11
8 Morningside 162 T-5
9 Campbellsville University 160 T-13
10 Ottawa (AZ) 150 9
T-11 Oklahoma City 140 9
T-11 Mobile 140 15
13 Lindsey Wilson College 120 T-16
14 Bellevue University 119 7
15 Southwestern Christian University 114 T-13
T-16 Kansas Wesleyan 100 T-18
T-16 The Masters University 100 T-11
T-18 Tennessee Wesleyan 80 21
T-18 Southeastern (FL) 80 NR
20 Cumberland University 64 T-16
21 Reinhardt 50 22
22 Our Lady of the Lake 49 NR
T-23 Mount Marty 18 NR
T-23 Webber International 18 NR
25 Montana Tech 15 NR

Dropped from ranking: Central Baptist (20); Grand View (24); Midland Univ. (23); Rocky Mountain College (25); Taylor (T-18).

Others receiving votes: Grand View, 14; Midland Univ. 12; Taylor, 12; William Carey, 9; Sterling, 5; Bethany College (KS), 3; Northwestern College (IA), 3; St. Ambrose, 3; Columbia College, 2; Truett-McConnell, 2; Faulkner, 1; Holy Cross College, 1; Oklahoma Wesleyan Univ., 1; SCAD Savannah, 1.

NJCAA Div. I

Rank University (First-place votes) Points Previous
1 Hutchinson (7) 70 1
2 Odessa 53 2
3 Indian Hills 51 4
4 Midland 50 5
5 Eastern Florida State 40 3
6 Western Texas 32 7
7 Iowa 28 6
8 Central Alabama 22 8
9 McLennan 16 9
10 Jefferson State 11 10

Dropped from ranking: None.

Others receiving votes: Dodge City, 7; Ranger, 5.

NJCAA Div. II

Rank University (First-place votes) Points Previous
1 Kirkwood CC (4) 66 1
2 South Mountain (3) 53 3
3 Mississippi Gulf Coast 50 2
4 Des Moines Area 45 4
5 Parkland CC 37 7
6 Northeast Mississippi 31 6
T-7 Meridian 22 8
T-7 Iowa Central 22 9
9 Walters State JC 21 5
10 Metropolitan CC 16 NR

Dropped from ranking: Tyler JC (10).

Others receiving votes: Tyler JC, 6; Glendale CC, 5; Hawkeye, 4; Paradise Valley CC, 4; Seminole 2; Cleveland State CC, 1.

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Corey Conners loves the 16th hole at Bay Hill, leads API

Corey Conners loves the 16th hole at Bay Hill, leads API

Golfsolutions March 05, 2021
Corey Conners loves the 16th hole at Bay Hill, leads API https://ift.tt/3kMY8K2

Corey Conners is making mincemeat of the 16th hole at Bay Hill Club and Lodge.

The 29-year-old Canadian stuffed his second shot at the par 5 to five feet on Thursday and made eagle. On Friday, his putter had to do a little more work as he canned a 24-footer, but it was an eagle all the same. Six strokes at 16 through two rounds will go along way on the scorecard and it has helped vault Conners to the top of the leaderboard early in the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Florida. Conners backed up his opening 66 with a workman-like 3-under 69 on Friday morning to open up a two-stroke lead over Viktor Hovland.

“It was really solid today,” Conners said. “I didn’t hit as many shots close to the hole as I did yesterday, to give myself as many birdie chances, but I was really happy with how I grinded out a bunch of pars today. I was in some tricky spots and, yeah, overall really solid day and nice to finish off with a strong back nine.”

Conners took off like a rocket ship on Thursday, bolting to 6 under through his first seven holes, but he never started thinking about shooting a 59.

Arnold Palmer Invitational: Leaderboard | Photos

“I know this golf course can sneak up on you if you get a little too relaxed,” he said.

But it did bring up a good story about the time he threatened golf’s magic number while playing at his home course in Florida, Dye Preserve.

“I left a putt right on the front lip and ended up shooting 60,” he said.

Conners came back to Earth on Thursday, posting 66 en route to sharing the overnight lead with Rory McIlroy. Conners is playing at Arnie’s Place for just the third time and had missed the cut in his previous two starts, but it didn’t diminish his affection for Bay Hill.

“When I was a junior golfer I actually came and watched a few times,” he said. “I always loved the place, such great condition, visually like the golf course a lot off the tee. You got to be really precise with your shots.”

He’s put on his usual ballstriking clinic through two rounds, ranking first this week in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green and second in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green. It’s no surprise that he’s at 9-under 135 through 36 holes given that he’s also third in SG: Scrambling and sixth in SG: Putting (118th for the season). Conners started his second round with a bogey at the second hole, but got back to even for the day by sinking a nine-foot birdie putt at 7. He wedged to eight feet at the par-5 12th hole for another birdie before the eagle landed again at 16.

Conners, who is expected to finally get to defend his lone PGA Tour title at the Valero Texas Open next month, had made nine cuts in a row and been a model of consistency with seven top-25 finishes until he missed the cut at his previous start. Asked what’s been the difference for Conners so far this week at Bay Hill, he said, “I think I just had a little more rest leading up to the event this year and had a week at home last week, so feeling fresher coming in here and, yeah, definitely excited to have a good start and excited for the rest of the week.”

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Fitness with Averee: Spinal rotation with hip bridge

Fitness with Averee: Spinal rotation with hip bridge

Golfsolutions March 05, 2021
Fitness with Averee: Spinal rotation with hip bridge https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

As golfers we want to be mobile, but stable. A hip bridge with spinal rotation is a great drill for working on mobility and stability.

Most golfers are surprised to learn that the lower back is not designed for rotation. Building stability in the lower spine is a key component in having a consistent golf swing. Creating better mobility in the hips and upper back is beneficial for optimizing power.

In the latest episode of “Fitness with Averee,” Averee Dovsek explains how to do a hip bridge with a thoracic spine rotation. To make this exercise a bit more functional, try placing a medicine ball in between your knees.  

Combine what you learn through “Fitness with Averee” with Steve Scott’s instruction series and you will be a different golfer on and off the course.

Watch this episode of “Fitness with Averee” above and check here for previous episodes.

Golfweek‘s latest newsletter, Get Better which covers everything Instruction and Fitness related, is up and running. Sign up for Get Better here.

 

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Nick Faldo's mea culpa: Cheap shot at Rickie Fowler was just meant to be motivation

Nick Faldo's mea culpa: Cheap shot at Rickie Fowler was just meant to be motivation

Golfsolutions March 05, 2021
Nick Faldo's mea culpa: Cheap shot at Rickie Fowler was just meant to be motivation https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Two days after taking a cheap shot at Rickie Fowler, Nick Faldo walked his words back with a social media apology.

On Tuesday, Faldo quote-tweeted a response to a tweet that noted that Fowler has yet to qualify for the Masters in April, writing, “Good news is if he misses the Masters he can shoot another six commercials that week!”

That was a serious burn and it didn’t take long to go viral. (Faldo, a six-time major winner, also doubled down with the following tweet that noted his three victories at the Masters.)

In a video, Faldo, a World Golf Hall of Famer and CBS Sports’ lead golf analyst explained that he’s actually an admirer of Fowler’s and he was just trying to spur Fowler on.

“Like everybody, we want him to find his game as soon as possible,” Faldo said. “So, five years ago now, he was voted by the players as the most overrated player on Tour. It motivated him to go and win the Players literally the next week. So, a couple years later when things were gone quiet, I said to Rickie, ‘Hey, I need to give you a bit of needle, mate, to motivate you.’ And he said to me, ‘Bring it on.’

“OK, it’s years later, so hopefully he still remembers that.”

Fowler has been mired in a slump and hasn’t won since the 2019 Waste Management Phoenix Open. He hasn’t posted a top-10 finish since last year’s American Express and entered the week ranked No. 65 in the world. Fowler is in danger of missing his third cut in his last four starts at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Faldo isn’t the first to criticize Fowler’s over-exposure in commercials.

“I wish Rickie well,” Faldo continued. “I want him to play great, get out there, play to the top of the leaderboard, and that will all be fantastic for all of us.”

Faldo also blamed his British style of humor, saying, “in the future, I’ll restrain from digging in a little too deep.”

In Faldo’s mea culpa, he also conceded the comment “was probably born out a little bit out of jealousy.” He noted that unlike Fowler’s seemingly endless list of blue-chip sponsors, he only has one television commercial.

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