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Greg Norman Resurfaces and Optimistic

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MIAMI – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – LIV Golf CEO and commissioner Greg Norman broke his months-long silence on Thursday, expressing optimism about the future of the circuit and asserting that his role will remain unchanged.

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Norman hadn’t spoken since the PGA Tour announced on June 6 a preliminary agreement with LIV that would see the two organizations and the DP World Tour form a partnership.

LIV’s existence beyond this year was called into question, as was Norman’s position — especially since Norman was unaware that Yasir Al-Rumayyan, head of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund that bankrolls LIV, and its then-competitors were discussing an alliance.

Speaking on Thursday in Miami ahead of the season-ending LIV Golf Team Championship at Doral’s Blue Monster Course, Norman told reporters, “All indications are showing that the position of LIV has never been stronger and that the success of our players and our brand has never been in a better place.

“And as we look forward into 2024, we’ve got a full schedule. We’ve got some places we’ve been to before, but we’ve got some new venues as well and we’re reaching different regions.”

Norman added, “With each year that goes by, this is really going to (be) even more exciting for us. I’m definitely seeing a lot of FOMO (fear of missing out) out there. I know, personally I’m speaking to numerous players who want to come to LIV.”

As for his own position, Norman said he was never concerned, even when PGA Tour chief operating officer Ron Price told Congress in July, “If we reach a definitive agreement (with LIV), we would not have a requirement for that type of position (that Norman holds).”

Norman said, “I knew it wasn’t true. There is so much white noise out there. I pay zero attention to because I know sitting in this seat today, I know every step I’ve made has been for the right reasons, right reasons for the game of golf. …

“I knew LIV was always going to exist. I didn’t need to be involved in the framework agreement because the success was happening here. … “I don’t see LIV going anywhere but up. That’s all I can tell you.”

–Field Level Media

PGA Tour: Three Share Lead at Shriners

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SUMMERLIN – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Tom Kim of South Korea and Adam Hadwin of Canada posted monster rounds Saturday to vault into a three-way tie with Lanto Griffin atop the leaderboard of the Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas.

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Kim fired a 9-under-par 62, one better than Hadwin’s 63 to sit at 15 under after 54 holes. Kim jumped 25 spots up the leaderboard on moving day while Hadwin improved 19 spots. Griffin, the co-leader after two rounds, shot 68.

Three players are one shot back in a tie for fourth and another four golfers sit T7 just two shots off the lead, including Switzerland’s Callum Tarren, who matched Kim’s 62 for low round of the day. Tarren vaulted 41 spots up the leaderboard and into contention.

Another seven players are just three back T11.

Adding to Kim’s phenomenal round is that he carded two bogeys — and an eagle — to go with nine birdies.

Hadwin, meanwhile, turned in a clean card with his eight birdies.

Second-round co-leader Cameron Champ shot 74, falling into a T24 at 9 under.

–Field Level Media

Ryder Cup, “Same As it Ever Was”

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ROME – There’s one thing to digest if you’re reading your feasting on your early morning PGA Tour Brunch:

It’s a massive 9 1/2 to 2 1/2 lead for Team Europe as the Saturday afternoon four ball session begin.

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Even with a formidable showing in the matches now underway, the Sunday Singles will be the USA’s only way to recover and with the way Team Europe is playing, the possibility of a Team USA comeback is as “Thin as a slice of Prosciutto.”

In its 3-1 session victory, Europe set an all-time Ryder Cup record on Saturday morning when 2023 FedEx Cup champion Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg of Europe defeated the USA’s No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and LIV Golf star Brooks Koepka, 9 & 7. That is – excuse the description – the biggest ass-kicking in the history of the matches.

The previous worst loss in a foursomes match was 7 & 6, which happened three times, most recently by Americans Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson OVER current European team captain Luke Donald and Lee Westwood in 2012.

14 1/2 is the target number for Team Europe to gain possession of the coveted Ryder Cup. Four points are on the line now and TV commentators as stating, “The USA Must Sweep to have a Chance.”

**** At tee-off for these afternoon matches, there were 16 more points to be had and the USA must win 11 1/2 to retain possession of the Ryder Cup.

Pairings for Saturday’s afternoon Four ball, now being played (as of 7:11am ET, the fourth match has teed-off)

Match 1: Sam Burns-Collin Morikawa (USA) vs. Viktor Hovland-Ludvig Åberg (Europe)

Match 2: Max Homa-Brian Harman (USA) vs. Tommy Fleetwood-Nicolai Højgaard (Europe)

Match 3: Justin Thomas-Jordan Spieth (USA) vs. Justin Rose-Robert MacIntyre (Europe)

Match 4: Patrick Cantlay-Wyndham Clark (USA) vs. Matt Fitzpatrick-Rory McIlroy (Europe)

Saturday, Sept. 30 Results

Session Three: Foursomes

Europe – USA – Result

R.McIlroy/T.Fleetwood vs. J.Thomas/J.Spieth – Team Europe won 2 & 1

V.Hovland/L.Åberg vs. S.Scheffler/B.Koepka – Team Europe won 9 & 7

S.Lowry/S.Straka vs. M.Homa/B.Harman – U.S. Team won 4 & 2

J.Rahm/T.Hatton vs. P.Cantlay/X.Schauffele – Team Europe won 2 & 1

Friday, Sept. 29 Results

Session Two: Four Ball

United States Europe Results

Thomas/Spieth Hovland/Hatton Tied

Scheffler/Koepka Rahm/Hojgaard Tied

Homa/Clark MacIntyre/Rose Tied

Morikawa/Schauffele McIlroy/Fitzpatrick 5 & 3 EU

Session One: Foursomes

United States Europe Results

Scheffler/Burns Rahm/Hatton 4 & 3 EU

Homa/Harman Hovland/Aberg 4 & 3 EU

Fowler/Morikawa Lowry/Straka 2 & 1 EU

Schauffele/Cantlay McIlroy/Fleetwood 2 & 1 EU

Ryder Cup Preview

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2023 Ryder Cup | Preview and Schedule

BOSTON – Gone are Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood – the elder statesmen of European golf and mainstays of victory for past Team Europe wins on their home soil. In their place, the likes of Nicolai Hojgaard and Ludvig Aberg.

Gone are LIV golfers (other than Brooks Koepka). Whether they are Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson or Bryson DeChambeau of the USA or Ian Poulter, GraemeMcDowell, Martin Kaymer or Henrik Stenson, in addition to Garcia and Westwood – the formation of the Saudi-based LIV Tour has changed the face of the 2023 Ryder Cup more than anything in the history of the competition, dating back to 1927 when it was played right down the Mass Pike from here in Boston in Worcester, Mass.

In place are two talented rosters of Team USA and host Team Europe players, anchored by FedEx Cup champion Viktor Hovland of Norway, Rory McIlroy of N. Ireland and Jon Rahm of Spain for the Europeans and Scottie Scheffler, PatrickCantlay and the formidable team of Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas of the United States.

Odds-makers have the USA slightly favored even though Team USA hasn’t won on Euro-soil since 1993 – before most of the current US team members were born.

Team Rosters

Europe 🇪🇺

Team Europe Page (link)

Captain: Luke Donald

Rory McIlroy

Jon Rahm

Robert MacIntyre

Viktor Hovland

Tyrrell Hatton

Matt Fitzpatrick

Tommy Fleetwood

Sepp Straka

Justin Rose

Shane Lowry

Nicolai Hojgaard

Ludvig Aberg

USA 🇺🇸

USA Team Page (link)

Captain: Zach Johnson

Sam Burns

Patrick Cantlay

Wyndham Clark

Rickie Fowler

Brian Harman

Max Homa

Brooks Koepka

Collin Morikawa

Xander Schauffele

Scottie Scheffler

Jordan Spieth

Justin Thomas

Ryder Cup Odds

USA (-115)

Europe (+100)

Draw (+1100) – Cup would remain with USA

(As of 9/27) – Odds by Digital Sports Desk – Betting Hero

The Basics

COURSE: Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, Rome, Italy

ARCHITECT: European Golf Design in cooperation with Tom Fazio II (2018-2021

YARDS/PAR: 7,181/71

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Team USA (19 to 9)

PAST RESULTS: Last Ryder Cup played at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin, USA (Link)

SOCIAL MEDIA: #RyderCup @PGA #RyderCupUSA #GoUSA @RyderCupEurope #TeamEurope

OFFICIAL SITE: (Ryder Cup)

FORMAT: Each of the first two days includes one four-match session of fourball and one four-match session of foursomes. The final day is reserved for 12 singles matches.

FOUR-BALL: In four-ball, each member of a two-man team plays his own ball, so four balls are in play on every hole. Each team counts the lowest of its two scores on each hole, and the team whose player has the lowest score wins the hole. If the low scores are tied, the hole is halved.

FOURSOMES: In foursomes, each two-man team plays one ball per hole with the players taking turns until each hole is complete. Players alternate hitting tee shots, with one leading off on odd-numbered holes, and the other hitting first on even-numbered holes. The team with the low score on each hole wins that hole. If their scores are tied, the hole is halved.

SINGLES: In singles, each match features one player from each team. The player with the lower score on each hole wins that hole. If their scores are tied, the hole is halved.

SCORING: Each match is worth one point, with matches ending in a tie worth ½ point to each side. The first team to reach 14 ½ points wins the Ryder Cup. If the matches end in a 14-14 tie, the team holding the Ryder Cup (USA) retains it.

The Schedule

NBC and USA NETWORK will provide TV coverage of the 2023 Ryder Cup with lengthy telecasts all three days of the tournament. Check out the full TV schedule below.

  • Thursday, Sept. 28: 10am-1pm ET (Opening Ceremonies on Golf Channel)
  • Friday, Sept. 29: 1:30am-12am ET (USA)
  • Saturday, Sept. 30: 1:30-3am ET (USA); 3am-12 Noon ET (NBC, Peacock)
  • Sunday, Oct. 1: 5:30am -1pm ET (NBC, Peacock)

What They’re Saying

An Event Like No Other (RyderCupCom) – (Jim Nantz, does that sound familiar)?

Rory: European LIV Golfers Will Miss Ryder Cup (SkySports)

Comprehensive Preview and Coverage by NBC Sports/Golf Channel (GolfChannel)

Ryder Cup Preview by Golf Magazine (GolfCom)

Ryder Cup Preview, Predictions (ESPNCom)

Ryder Cup: Expert Opinions, Picks (CBS SportsCom)

Why Each Team Can Win (PGATourCom)

On This Day in Golf History

September 27, 2015 – Jordan Spieth completed his magical break-through season on the PGA Tour by winning the year-end Tour Championship at East Lake GC in Atlanta – and with that – the FedEx Cup title. Spieth shot a final round of (69) to beat Henrik Stenson by four strokes. Then 22-year old Spieth won a cool $12.03 million for the tournament and FedEx Cup prize money to bring his season total to $22 million as he also took the purse at The Masters and the U.S. Open. Courtesy of Randy Walker, Author of On This Day in Golf History, available via Amazon.com and by clicking HERE

PGA Tour: Fortinet Championship

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PGA TOUR

LAST TOURNAMENT: Tour Championship (Viktor Hovland)

THIS WEEK: Fortinet Championship, Napa, Calif., Sept. 14-17
Course: Silverado Resort, North Course (Par 72, 7,123 yards)
Purse: $8.4M (Winner: $1.512M)
Defending Champion: Max Homa
FedExCup Champion: Viktor Hovland

HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Thursday-Sunday, 6-9 p.m. ET (Golf Channel)
Streaming: Thursday-Friday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Twitter: @FortinetChamp

YouTube player

NOTES: This is the first event of the new FedEx Cup Fall, a series of seven events that will finalize eligibility for the 2024 PGA Tour season. The top 50 players following the Tour Championship locked in their positions. Nos. 51 and beyond carry their FedEx Cup points through the Fall. Those who finish Nos. 51-60 will qualify for two Signature Events in 2024: the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Genesis Invitational. … Players who have locked in spots inside the top 50 will earn FedEx Cup points during the fall, but the points will not be redistributed. For example, if Homa (No. 6) finishes in second place, the third-place finisher will receive third-place points rather than moving into second place. … Ryan Gerard and Peter Kuest, who have earned Special Temporary Membership, are in this week’s field. So, too, is Aaron Baddeley, who will make his 500th career start on tour. … 2023 NCAA Division I National Championship winner Fred Biondi will make his professional debut. … Hayden Springer earned a sponsor exemption by finishing first in the Fortinet Cup standings on PGA Tour Canada.

BEST BETS: Homa (+750 at BetMGM) is the highest ranked player in the field at No. 7 as he attempts to become the first player to win the same event three consecutive years since Steve Stricker at the John Deere Classic in 2009-11. … Justin Thomas (+1400) has top-10 finishes in each of his three previous event starts. He tees it up for the first time since the Wyndham Championship and missing the playoffs for the first time in his career. … Sahith Theegala (+1800) didn’t qualify for the Tour Championship but did post top-15 finishes at the BMW and FedEx St. Jude. … Cam Davis (+2500) has three top-10s in his past four starts, but did miss the cut here last year. … Eric Cole (+3000) is still seeking his maiden victory on tour but is the only rookie who advanced to the BMW Championship this year.

LONGSHOT PICK: Kevin Kisner (+25000) makes his first start since withdrawing during the first round of the Travelers Championship.

NEXT UP: Ryder Cup, Rome, Sept. 29-Oct. 1

Zach Johnson Prep for Ryder Cup

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ROME – (Staff and U.S. Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson and vice captain Stewart Cink have their team of 12, and now the time for scouting the course and penciling mock pairings has arrived.

There’s chemistry between teammates to consider, such as Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele’s dominance together as match-play partners. But what stands out to Johnson and Cink about this Ryder Cup in particular is the demanding nature of Marco Simone Golf Course.

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“It’s probably the most — the most demanding, physically, of any Cup course I’ve ever seen that I’ve been a part of,” Cink said Tuesday ahead of the PGA Tour’s Fortinet Championship.

“No question,” Johnson said. “In my time, for sure.”

Johnson headed to Rome earlier this month with nine of the team’s 12 players to scout Marco Simone. Only Jordan Spieth, Cantlay and Schauffele could not make the trip.

“We’re starting to get into some possible pairings to see what’s best for that golf course and what’s best for our team,” Johnson said.

“I think the golf course is going to solve some of that problem because it’s so hilly and the temperature could be pretty hot, too, that I think guys are going to be happy to probably rest,” Cink chimed in. “There’s not going to be a lot of disappointment for not playing.”

Johnson agreed, noting it was “a brutal walk.”

The host team gets to set up the course to its liking, and the United States has not fared well overseas, last winning a Ryder Cup in Europe in 1993.

Johnson and Cink will spend some time at the Fortinet Championship with two of their team members, Max Homa and Justin Thomas. Homa is the event’s defending champion, while Thomas is competing for points in the first-ever FedEx Cup Fall series.

When making their lineup decision, the captain and vice captain aren’t going to weight Homa’s and Thomas’ week in Napa, Calif., too heavily.

“Four days of stroke play is vastly different than five sessions of match play in three days,” Johnson said.

Cink already figures that whatever Homa and Thomas accomplish this week “will be overstated to the good or to the bad.”

“I hope they both win. I don’t think that’s possible, but I hope they both win,” Cink said. “That would be great for their confidence alone … I just think for us internally, it would probably be — we hope that they have confidence coming out of this week and that would be a great thing.”

–Field Level Media

PGA Tour: FedEx Cup Finale

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ATLANTA – Viktor Hovland recorded a third-round (66) in his fourth consecutive start at the TOUR Championship. Hovland has qualified every year since joining the TOUR in 2020 and now holds a six stroke lead to tie the largest 54-hole lead in the FedExCup starting strokes era. The previous best: Scottie Scheffler/2022/Finished T-2).

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Hovland moved to No. 2 in the FedEx Cup standings after winning last week’s BMW Championship, his fifth career TOUR victory. He can become the fourth player in history to win the BMW Championship and FedExCup in the same season, joining Tiger Woods (2007, 2009), Billy Horschel (2014) and Patrick Cantlay (2021).

Making his seventh consecutive start at the TOUR Championship, Xander Schauffele (2nd/-14) posted a (68) for his 24th under-par score in 27 career rounds at East Lake Golf Club. He has finished inside the Top 10 in all six TOUR Championship appearances, including his victory in 2017.

The 36-hole co-leader – Collin Morikawa (T3/-13) – struggled to a (73) after sitting bogey free through 36 holes; career-best finish in the FedEx Cup: 6th/2020

In his first TOUR Championship appearance since 2018, Keegan Bradley (T3/-13) posted even par with birdies on two of his final four holes.

Morikawa, Hovland Surge to Lead after 36

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ATLANTA – With birdies on his final two holes, Collin Morikawa opened with rounds of 61-64 –(125) to break the TOUR Championship 36-hole scoring record of 127, previously set by Tiger Woods in 2007.

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Tying Morikawa on the leaderboard, but not with a TOUR record-setting performance, Viktor Hovland recorded a second-round 64 in his fourth consecutive start at the TOUR Championship and sits (68-64 and -16) after starting at (-8) and the No. 2 slot in the FedEx Cup standings after winning last week’s BMW Championship.

Scottie Scheffler (3rd place) enters the weekend two shots back, marking the second time in the FedEx Cup starting strokes era that the No. 1 seed entering the week has not held at least a share of the 36-hole lead (Justin Thomas/2019).

With two great rounds in the 60s (63-67), Travelers Championship winner Keegan Bradley sits in 4th place heading into the weekend. The favorite son of New England plays well in the Georgia sun.

Making his seventh consecutive start at the TOUR Championship, Xander Schauffele (T5) carded a second-round (64) to reach 12-under, recording his 23rd of 26 career rounds under par in the event.

With a 3-under 67, three-time FedExCup champion Rory McIlroy (7th) recorded his 30th consecutive round at par or better on TOUR, the longest active current streak. McIlroy is looking to become the first back-to-back FedEx Cup champion.

Whole Lotta Golf is ahead and they’ll tee it up for third round at 12:21pm today at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta,

TOUR Championship | Leaderboard After 36 Holes

T1 Viktor Hovland – 68-64 (-16)

T1 Collin Morikawa – 61-64 (-16)

3 Scottie Scheffler – 71-65 (-14)

4 Keegan Bradley – 63-67 (-13)

Full Leaderboard: (link)

Morikawa, Hovland Lead TOUR Champ

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ATLANTA – With birdies on his final two holes, Collin Morikawa opened with rounds of 61-64 –(125) to break the TOUR Championship 36-hole scoring record of 127, previously set by Tiger Woods in 2007.

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Tying Morikawa on the leaderboard, but not with a TOUR record-setting performance, Viktor Hovland recorded a second-round 64 in his fourth consecutive start at the TOUR Championship and sits (68-64 and -16) after starting at (-8) and the No. 2 slot in the FedEx Cup standings after winning last week’s BMW Championship.

Scottie Scheffler (3rd place) enters the weekend two shots back, marking the second time in the FedEx Cup starting strokes era that the No. 1 seed entering the week has not held at least a share of the 36-hole lead (Justin Thomas/2019).

With two great rounds in the 60s (63-67), Travelers Championship winner KeeganBradley sits in 4th place heading into the weekend. The favorite son of New England plays well in the Georgia sun.

Making his seventh consecutive start at the TOUR Championship, Xander Schauffele(T5) carded a second-round (64) to reach 12-under, recording his 23rd of 26 career rounds under par in the event.

With a 3-under 67, three-time FedExCup champion Rory McIlroy (7th) recorded his 30th consecutive round at par or better on TOUR, the longest active current streak. McIlroy is looking to become the first back-to-back FedEx Cup champion.

Whole Lotta Golf is ahead and they’ll tee it up for third round at 12:21pm today at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta,

TOUR Championship | Leaderboard After 36 Holes

T1 Viktor Hovland – 68-64 (-16)

T1 Collin Morikawa – 61-64 (-16)

3 Scottie Scheffler – 71-65 (-14)

4 Keegan Bradley – 63-67 (-13)

Full Leaderboard: (link)

Morikawa Leads TOUR Championship

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ATLANTA – Collin Morikawa opened with career-low (61) in only his 98th PGA TOUR start. He set the tournament record for lowest opening round in this event. Morikawa has not won on TOUR since the 2020-21 season.

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Keegan Bradley, winner of the 2023 Travelers, recorded his lowest score in 17 rounds at the TOUR Championship, shooting (63).

Viktor Hovland stroked his second first-round lead/co-lead in individual stroke play events on TOUR, but is 0-for-1 in converting to victory. He moved to No. 2 in the FedEx Cup standings after winning last week’s BMW Championship, his fifth career TOUR victory.

Adam Schenk’s (63) lifted him to No. 5 on the Leaderboard. He is (-8) and only two strokes off the lead.

TOUR Championship | Leaderboard After 18 Holes

T1 Collin Morikawa 61 (-9)

T1 Keegan Bradley 63 (-7)

T1 Viktor Hovland 68 (-2)

4. Scottie Scheffler 71 (+1)

Full Leaderboard: (link)

FedEx Cup Standings: (link)