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Schauffele Leads at Olympic Golf

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SAITAMA – Austria’s Sepp Straka’s record-tying round of 8-under-par (63 )in Round One was matched by another as Xander Schauffele of the USA supplanted Straka atop the leaderboard during Friday’s second round of the men’s Olympic golf competition at Kasumigaseki Country Club.

Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama bounced back nicely from his opening round (69) and was six-under on his round through 16 holes. He stands (-8) and T-3 with three other players, including 18-hole leader Straka. Although there are no spectators allowed on the ground, reports show at least 100 people following Matsuyama around on the course, many credentialed volunteers along with media/photographers.

Mito Pereira of Chile, who shot a 65 in R-2 and is T-3, attended Texas Tech. Previously on the Korn Ferry Tour, Pereira recently won his second and third events of the 2020-21 season, to earn an immediate and automatic promotion to the PGA Tour. Over the past two weeks, he T-5 at the Barbosol Championship and T-6 at the 3M Open.

Rory McIlroy is not wearing a hat, as he usually does on the PGA Tour circuit, and it’s the talk of the sport. Why the change to “no hat?” “My head is so small that I have to get Nike to make me custom hats,” McIlroy told PGATour(dot)com. “So whenever I’m in a team event and the hats aren’t custom, they’re all too big.”

Olympic Leaderboard After 36 Holes (Partial Scores):

Xander Schauffele (USA) – 68-63—131 (-11)

Carlos Ortiz (Mexico) – 65-67—132 (-10)

Mito Pereira (Chile) – 69-65—134 (-8)

Alex Noren (Sweden) – 67-67—134 (-8)

Sepp Straka (Austria) – 63-71—134 (-8)

*Hideki Matsuyama Japan 69-x (-8 thru 16)

Weather Note: Stormy weather delayed the men’s golf tournament at the Tokyo Olympics. Due to dangerous weather (lightning) in the Saitama, Japan area, the second round was suspended at 5:20 pm (local). The second round will resume at 7:45 am Saturday (local time). Third-round tee times will be approximately 9:30-11:18 am (local) off the 1st and 10th tees in threesomes. Play suspended with 16 players set to finish round Saturday morning.

Third-round weather report is calling for some isolated thunderstorms with high humidity (91%) in the morning dropping to (56%) by 4:00pm (local). Saturday temperatures will range from 77-degrees (F) to 88-degrees by 4:00pm.

Sepp Straka Leads After 18 at Olympics

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SAITAMA – Sepp Straka became first Austrian-born player to earn his PGA Tour card in 2019. He played a bogey-free R-1 with four birdies on each side, shooting 32-31-(63). He was born in Vienna but his moved to Valdosta, Georgia, (USA) with his Austrian father and American mother when he was 14 but still stays connected to Austria. Both Sepp and his twin brother, Sam, played golf at the University of Georgia. Sam is carrying his brother’s bag at the Olympics.

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Straka MTC on six of his last seven PGA Tour starts.

Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand shot a bogey-free 33-31-(64) with seven birdies on the Kasumigaseki Country Club’s East Course. The 25-year-old, currently ranked 150 in the world, won his first Asian Tour title at the 2017 Bashundhara Bangladesh Open.

Thomas Pieters of Belgium carded his 35-30-(65) with a bogey-free round which included an eagle and four birdies (three of them on back nine).

Patrick Reed, the late replacement for the USA when Bryson DeChambeautested COVID-19+, and Xander Schauffele are currently the Americans in best position. Reed shot 33-35-(68) and Schauffele shot 34-34-(68). They’re T-12 with six other players.

American Collin Morikawa (T-20) shot two-under (69) and is among 11 players six strokes off the lead. Morikawa is coming off his major victory at The Open a couple weeks ago. Justin Thomas (USA) shot (71), even par for the day and is T-41 in the field of 60 players.

Olympic Leaderboard After 18 Holes:

Sepp Straka (Austria) – 63

Jazz Janewattananond (Thailand) – 64

Thomas Pieters (Belgium) – 65

Carlos Ortiz (Mexico) – 65

Olympic Games: Men’s Golf Preview

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Men’s Golf Preview at the Tokyo Olympic Games

COURSE: Kasumigaseki Country Club (East Course)

LOCATION: Saitama, Japan

ARCHITECT(S): Tom and Logan Fazio, redesign 2016

YARDAGE: 7,447

PAR: 71

DEFENDING OLYMPIC CHAMPION: Justin Rose (GBR), Gold Medal, 2016

SOCIAL MEDIA: #OlympicGames #Olympics @OlympicGolf #Tokyo2020

OFFICIAL SITE: International Golf Federation (link)

Olympic Golf Tournament Format

The Olympic golf competition consists of a 72-hole individual stroke play tournament for men’s and women’s events (four rounds scheduled over four consecutive days). Scores are cumulative from round to round. The players with the lowest aggregate scores will be awarded the gold, silver and bronze medals respectively.

There are 60 players each in the men’s and women’s events for a total of 120 athletes.

There is no cut.

If necessary, playoffs shall be on a hole-by-hole basis immediately following the conclusion of the final round, or on the following day if the IGF chief referee determines that darkness, weather or other conditions preclude conducting a playoff on the day of the final round. The play-off shall commence on a sequence of holes as approved by the IGF Chief Referee and identified prior to the competition beginning.

If two players are tied for the first position, a play-off will be conducted to determine the gold and silver medals. If three or more players are tied for the first position, a playoff will be conducted to determine the gold, silver and bronze medals. If two or more players are tied for the second position, a playoff will be conducted to determine the silver and bronze medals. If two or more players are tied for the third position, a play-off will be conducted for the bronze medal. In any case, only one gold, one silver and one bronze medal will be awarded.

Gold, silver and bronze medals are the prizes for Olympic success. There is no prize money awarded.

The tournament is considered an official event on the PGA’s European Tour and a victory calls for full status. The winner of the tournament receives a one-year exemption into the major championships and the PGA Tour Players Championship.

How to Watch

TV COVERAGE: NBC Sports has exclusive US rights to the Tokyo Olympics. Since the Golf Channel is owned and operated by NBC, the sport of Olympic Golf will air on Golf Channel, live in the USA.

(Broadcast times converted to (EDT)

Wednesday, July 28: 6:30pm (EDT) to Thursday 3:00am (EDT) – Golf Channel

Thursday, July 29: 6:30pm (EDT) to Friday 3:00am (EDT) – Golf Channel

Friday, July 30: 6:30pm (EDT) to Saturday 3:00am (EDT) – Golf Channel

Saturday, July 31: 6:30pm (EDT) to Sunday 3:30am (EDT) – Golf Channel

Field Update, Tee Times, Leaderboard

Bryson DeChambeau (USA)/out – Patrick Reed (USA)/in

Jon Rahm (ESP)/out – Jorge Campillo (ESP)/in

Field of Olympians: (link)

Tee Times: (link)

Leaderboard: (link)

Tee Times are local. Saitama, Japan is 13 hours ahead of (EDT).

Champ is Champ at 3M Open

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BLAINE (MINN) – Cameron Champ picked-up his third PGA Tour victory in his just his 76th start and moved to No. 49 in the FedExCup standings. Champ joined Collin Morikawa, Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau as players aged 27 or younger to win in each of the last three seasons on Tour.

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Louis Oosthuizen has 12 runner-up finishes on Tour and four have come in his last seven starts.

Jhonattan Vegas picked-up the third runner-up finish of his career with all coming this season.

Charl Schwartzel (T2) posted his second Top-three finish in as many starts at the 3M Open (T3/2020, T2/2021). This tournament marked his second runner-up finish of the season.

3M Open Final Leaderboard

Cameron Champ 69-67-67-66—269 (-15)

Louis Oosthuizen 68-68-69-66—271 (-13)

Jhonattan Vegas 64-69-70-68—271 (-13)

Charl Schwartzel 67-68-68-68—271 (-13)

Keith Mitchell 69-70-66-67—272 (-12)

Full Leaderboard (link)

PGA Tour: Tringale Leads at 3M Open

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3M Open at TPC Twin Cities: Notebook After 54 Holes

BLAINE (MINN) – Cameron Tringale posted a bogey-free 5-under (66) in his attempt to win his first career PGA Tour title in his 307th start.

Gary Woodland overcame a double bogey at the first hole and converted birdies on five of his next six to post 4-under (67). He’s T-2 with Maverick McNealy. McNealy closed in on third Top-5 finish of the season and fifth consecutive Top-30 finish.

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Pat Perez followed a bogey-free 6-under (65) in R-2 with a bogey-free (66) in R-3.

Keith Mitchell became the fourth player since 2003 to begin a round with seven straight sub-par scores.

Rickie Fowler (T-29) at (-6) was 6-under through 10 holes before bogeys at 13 and 14 and a triple-bogey-8 at the par-5 18th resulted 1-under (70). Fowler’s score at No. 18 marked the highest score of his career to finish a round. Through three rounds, he has played Nos. 1-12 in 11-under par and Nos. 13-18 in 5-over par.

Past 3M Open champions: Matthew Wolff (T-22) at (-7) and Michael Thompson (T29) at (-6).

3M Open Leaderboard After 54 Holes

Cameron Tringale 67-68-66—201 (-12)

Gary Woodland 69-66-67—202 (-11)

Maverick McNealy 67-67-68—202 (-11)

Eight players 10-under 203

Armour, Hadwin Lead at 3M Open

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BLAINE (MINN) – Following a season-best T-5 finish in last week’s Barbasol Championship, Ryan Armour holds his fifth 36-hole lead/co-lead, tied with Adam Hadwin. Armour is 1-for-4 to date. Hadwin holds his second PGA Tour 36-hole lead/co-lead and is 1-for-1 to date converting to victory.

Bo Hoag recorded lowest 36-hole score of his PGA Tour career (133), two days before his 33rd birthday.

Chez Reavie (T-3) at (-9,) recorded rounds of (66) and (67). He recently opened with (133) at the 2021 John Deere Classic (131) but finished T-18.

World No. 2 Dustin Johnson missed the cut after rounds of (70)-(72).

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3M Open Leaderboard After 36 Holes

Adam Hadwin 67-65—132 (-10)

Ryan Armour 67-65—132 (-10)

Bo Hoag 67-66—133 (-9)

Chez Reavie 66-67—133 (-9)

Jhonattan Vegas 64-69—133 (-9)

Roger Sloan 64-69—133 (-9)

Cut: 72 players at 2-under (140) from a field of 155 professionals and one amateur.

Fowler, Merritt, Vegas Lead at 3M Open

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BLAINE – (MINN) – The first round of the 3M Open was suspended at 11:28am (local), due to lightning in the area. Play resumed at 1:52pm (local), following a delay of 2 hours, 24 minutes. Play was suspended due to darkness at 8:54pm (local). The first round will resume at 8 am, with the second round beginning as previously scheduled.

Following missed cuts in his last two starts on Tour, Troy Merritt birdied his last two holes, and eight holes total on the round, to begin his 3M Open with a 7-under (64) and is T-1 with Rickie Fowler.

In his 3M Open debut, Rickie Fowler made seven birdies and had no bogeys to post (64), his first bogey-free round since Round-1 of the 2021 Rocket Mortgage Classic when he T-32.

3M Open Leaderboard After 18 Holes

Rickie Fowler – 64 (-7)

Troy Merritt – 64 (-7)

Jhonattan Vegas – 64 (-7)

Scott Stallings – 65 (-6)

Adam Schenck – 65 (-6)

Roger Sloan – (-6) through 16 holes

PGA Tour: 3M Open Preview

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BLAINE (MINN) – This week’s 3M Open marks the third year for the tournament. Both Matthew Wolff (2019) and Michael Thompson (2020) will be on hand to attempt to repeat their prior 3M Open championships.

TPC Twin Cities is the 10th TPC venue to host a PGA Tour event this season.

World No. 2 Dustin Johnson is returning to the 3M Open after having to WD from the 2020 event after a first round (78).

The Par 3 17th at TPC Twin Cities had the distinction of having the most balls (118) in the water of any hole on Tour.

The Basics:

Tournament Tee Times begin Thursday at 7:50am (EDT)/6:50am (local) through 3:12pm (EDT)/2:12pm (local).

Weather: Thursday’s forecast in the Twin Cities area is for partly cloudy skies, 82-degrees with 56% humidity and a 20% chance of rain. Winds blowing South at 13 mph.

The Home Stretch – 3M Open Preview

COURSE: TPC Twin Cities (Blaine, Minn)

ARCHITECT: Arnold Palmer

YARDS/PAR: 7,431 yards/Par 71

PRIZE Money/First Place Winnings: $6,600,000/$1,188,000

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Michael Thompson (2020)

PAST RESULTS: (link)

PAST CHAMPIONS: (link)

FEDEx CUP Points Total/Winner: 2,989/500

SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @3MOpen

OFFICIAL SITE: (The 3M Open)

 

TV COVERAGE: Thursday, July 22 and Friday, July 23: From 2:30am to 6:30pm (EDT) on Golf Channel.

On Saturday, July 24, Round 3 coverage 1:00pm to 3:00am (EDT) on Golf Channel. Then, CBS takes over from 3:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT). On Sunday, July 18: Golf Channel opens final round coverage 1:00pm to 3:00am (EDT) and CBS wraps it up from 3:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT).

PGA TOUR LIVE STREAMING: Streaming coverage on Thursday and Friday, from 7:45am (EDT) to 6:30pm (EDT) on PGA Tour Live. On Saturday and Sunday, PGA Tour Live will stream 7:45am (EDT) to 6:00pm (EDT).

PGA TOUR RADIO COVERGAE: SiriusXM Radio will have live radio calls of The Open with Thursday and Friday coverage 2:00am (EDT) to completion of play. Weekend coverage on Sirius XM Radio begins at 4:00am (EDT) until conclusion. The Open Radio is available on Sirius 208/XM 92)

How to Watch: In case of changes, visit: (PGATourCom)

Morikawa Wins Open Championship

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SANDWICH – American Collin Morikawa won his second major title (2021 Open Championship, 2020 PGA Championship) in his eighth major championship appearance and became the first player to win two different majors in his first attempt.

Morikawa scored his fifth PGA Tour title and moved to No. 1 (FedExCup) and No. 3 (Official World Golf Ranking).

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The 2017 Open Champion Jordan Spieth finished as runner-up for his 11th Top-4 in a major. Spieth tied the lowest total score by a runner-up at The Open: (267) in 2016 by Phil Mickelson.

2010 Open Championship winner Louis Oosthuizen, who held the solo-lead after each of the first three rounds, recorded his third consecutive Top-3 in a major this season: (PGA Championship/T2, U.S. Open/2, The Open/T3).

2021 U.S. Open winner Jon Rahm finished T-3.

Three players recorded four rounds in the 60s: Collin Morikawa (1st), Jordan Spieth (2nd), Mackenzie Hughes (T6). Spieth and Hughes join list of seven players to record four rounds in the 60s and not win The Open with the most recent being Rickie Fowler at the 2014 Open Championship.

Final Leaderboard at The Open

Collin Morikawa 67-64-68-66—265 (-15)

Jordan Spieth 65-67-69-66—267 (-13)

Jon Rahm 71-64-68-66—269 (-11)

Louis Oosthuizen 64-65-69-71—269 (-11)

Dylan Frittelli 66-67-70-68—271 (-9)

Final Leaderboard at the Barbasol

Seamus Power 65-68-67-67—267 (-21)*

J.T. Poston 65-66-66-70—267 (-21)

Anirban Lahiri 68-67-68-65—268 (-20)

Sam Ryder 66-69-68-65—268 (-20)

*defeated J.T. Poston with a par-4 on the sixth playoff hole (No. 18)

Oosthuizen Still Leads at The Open

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SANDWICH – Sunday marks exactly 11 years since Louis Oosthuizen’s win at The Open in 2010, his lone PGA TOUR title. Oosthuizen holds the seventh 54-hole lead/co-lead of his PGA TOUR career, fourth in a major and third at The Open (1-for-7 to date).

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2020 PGA Championship winner Collin Morikawa is making his tournament debut at The Open. No pro golfer has ever won two different majors in their first attempts.

Three-time major champion and 2017 Open Championship winner Jordan Spieth played the final two holes in 2-over and enters the final round trailing by three strokes (3rd place (-9). Spieth has two come-from-behind wins on Tour (2013 John Deere Classic, 2015 Valspar Championship).

Defending Open champion Shane Lowry stands T-12 after a third-round (69) as he attempts to become the first player to successfully defend his title at The Open since Padraig Harrington in 2008.

Amateurs to make the cut: Matthias Schmid (T-44 at (E), Yuxin Lin (T-71 at (+5).

The Open Leaderboard After 54 Holes

Louis Oosthuizen 64-65-69—198 (-12)

Collin Morikawa 67-64-68—199 (-11)

Jordan Spieth 65-67-69—201 (-9)

Corey Conners 68-68-66—202 (-8)

Scottie Scheffler 67-66-69—202 (-8)