PGA Tour Brunch

The Travelers Tees-Off in Connecticut

June 24, 2021 by PGA Tour Brunch

PGA Tour “Travelers” to Nearby Cromwell, Conn

COURSE: TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Connecticut

ARCHITECT: Robert J. Ross/Maurice Kearney

YARDS/PAR: 6,841 yards/Par 70

PRIZE Money/First Place Winnings: $7,400,000 /$1,332,000

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Dustin Johnson (2020)

PAST RESULTS: (link)

PAST CHAMPIONS: (link)

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

SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @TravelersChamp

OFFICIAL SITE: (The Travelers)

TV COVERAGE: Today, June 24 and Friday, June 25: 3:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT) on Golf Channel.

On Saturday, June 26, Round 3 coverage 1:00pm to 3:00pm (EDT) on Golf Channel. CBS takes over from 3:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT). On Sunday, June 27: Golf Channel starts-off the coverage 1:00pm to 3:00pm (EDT) and CBS wraps it up from 3:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT).

STREAMING: Streaming coverage with Featured Groups via PGA Live from 6:45am to 6:00pm (EDT) today and Friday. PGA Live Coverage expands on the weekend with Featured Groups streaming 8:00am to 3:00pm (EDT) and Featured Holes 3:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT) on both Saturday and Sunday.

PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio returns for today and Friday coverage 12:00pm Noon to 6:00pm (EDT). Weekend coverage on PGA Tour Radio airs from 1:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT) or until conclusion. PGA Tour Radio is available on Sirius 208/XM 92) or online on PGATour.com

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

The Travelers: 2021 Notebook

Scheduled to compete in this week’s field are three of the four players with multiple wins this season: Bryson DeChambeau (2020 U.S. Open, Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard), Stewart Cink (Fortinet Championship, RBC Heritage) and Patrick Cantlay (ZOZO Championship @ Sherwood, the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday). With a victory on Sunday, one of the three could become the first player to win three titles during the 2020-21 season.

The 2021 Travelers Championship marks the beginning of the FedEx Cup playoff stretch. With only nine events remaining until the start of the playoffs, Jon Rahm moved to No. 2 in the FedExCup standings and within 137 points of leader Patrick Cantlay.

The Travelers Championship has a long history of awarding sponsor exemptions to up-and-coming players. Previous sponsor exemptions for some of the Tour’s biggest stars included: Webb Simpson, Rickie Fowler, Patrick Cantlay, Justin Thomas, Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Matthew Wolff, Viktor Hovland and Collin Morikawa.

In 2021, sponsor exemptions include PGA Tour University top-ranked players John Pak and Davis Thompson, Oklahoma State product Austin Eckroat, who is making his first Tour start as a professional, and Chase Koepka, who qualified on Monday before the 2020 Travelers Championship but withdrew as a precaution after COVID exposure.

The Basics:

Tournament Tee Times begin today at 6:45am (EDT) through 2:00pm (EDT).

Weather: Today’s forecast calls for sunny skies and a comfortable 67-degrees, low humidity at 46% and a 0% chance of rain. Winds 6-12 mph. Friday forecast calls for 30% chance of showers, temps 53-80-degrees with southerly winds, 7-14 mph.

PGA Tour: The Travelers Preview

June 23, 2021 by PGA Tour Brunch

First Look at The Travelers

COURSE: TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Connecticut

ARCHITECT: Robert J. Ross/Maurice Kearney

YARDS/PAR: 6,841 yards/Par 70

PRIZE Money/First Place Winnings: $7,400,000 /$1,332,000

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Dustin Johnson (2020)

PAST RESULTS: (link)

PAST CHAMPIONS: (link)

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

SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @TravelersChamp

OFFICIAL SITE: (The Travelers)

TV COVERAGE: Thursday, June 24 and Friday, June 25: 3:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT) on Golf Channel.

STREAMING: Streaming coverage with Featured Groups via PGA Live from 6:45am to 6:00pm (EDT) on Thursday and Friday. PGA Live Coverage expands on the weekend with Featured Groups streaming 8:00am to 3:00pm (EDT) and Featured Holes 3:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT) on both Saturday and Sunday.

PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio returns for Thursday and Friday coverage 12:00pm Noon to 6:00pm (EDT). Weekend coverage on PGA Tour Radio airs from 1:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT) or until conclusion. PGA Tour Radio is available on Sirius 208/XM 92) or online on PGATour.com

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

The Travelers: 2021 Notebook

The 2021 Travelers Championship field includes 99 PGA Tour winners, the most in an event since the 2021 PLAYERS Championship. Two-time Travelers Championship winner Phil Mickelson leads the pack with 45 wins, while the Tour’s most recent first-time winner, South Africa’s Garrick Higgo, will make just his second start since winning the Palmetto Championship at Congaree to earn PGA Tour membership.

Dustin Johnson will attempt to become the second player to successfully defend a Travelers Championship title. The 2020 win was Johnson’s first of three during the 2019-20 season and he went on to win the FedExCup, becoming the first player to win the Travelers Championship and the FedExCup title in the same season. Johnson relinquished the No. 1 position in the Official World Golf Ranking to U.S. Open champion Jon Rahm on Sunday, snapping a streak of 43 weeks as the world’s top-ranked player.

Three-time Travelers Championship winner Bubba Watson (2010, 2015, 2018) will make his 15th appearance and is seeking to tie Billy Casper for most wins in tournament history (4).

There were 27 rounds of (64) or better at the Travelers Championship in 2020, the most in a week since the event moved to TPC River Highlands in 1984. There were 1,774 birdies made in 2020, fifth-most of any event during the 2019-20 PGA Tour season.

The Basics:

Tournament Tee Times begin Thursday at 6:45am (EDT) through 2:00pm (EDT).

Weather: Thursday’s forecast calls for sunny skies and a comfortable 67-degrees, low humidity at 46% and a 0% chance of rain.

PGA Tour: Rahm Wins U.S. Open

June 21, 2021 by PGA Tour Brunch

SAN DIEGO – Spain’s Jon Rahm won his first major title with a one shot victory over South African Louis Oosthuizen at the 121st United States Open Golf Championship at Torrey Pines. The victory was particularly sweet, coming on Father’s Day, for the father of a newborn son.

Rahm tied for the best score in the field Sunday, with Patrick Reed and Branden Grace also shooting (67s).

Embed from Getty Images

Oosthuizen has won one major (2010 British Open) and he now has six runner-up spots in majors. That list includes tying for second at last month’s PGA Championship.

To defeat the South African, Rahm closed with two incredible pressure putts on 17 and 18 to earn the win. He won a cool $2,250,000 to start his son’s college fund. Not bad for the man who tested positive for COVID-19+ when he was six strokes up at the recent Memorial Golf Tournament and had to withdraw. Rahm cleared protocol for the U.S. Open with two days to spare.

Harris English finished third at 3 under, with his final-round (68) the only sub-70 score of the tournament. On Sunday, he had bogeys on three of the first four holes, but played the last five holes in 3 under.

Brooks Koepka (69), Collin Morikawa (70) and Italy’s Guido Migliozzi (68) were at 2 under to share fourth place.

Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler shot identical (283) for (-1) and T-7. Go figure.

Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau was two shots off the lead when the day began and was 2 under for the round through eight holes. He melted down and fell out of contention, playing Nos. 11-17 in 8 over to shoot a final round (77). His quadruple-bogey 8 on No. 17 was the ultimate damage. He finished T-26.

This Week: The Travelers Championship (Cromwell, Conn).

Final Leaderboard at The 121st U.S. Open

Jon Rahm – (-6) 69-70-72-67 (278)

Louis Oosthuizen – (-5) 67-71-70-71 (279)

Harris English – (-3) 72-70-71-68 (281)

Three Tied at (-2)

U.S. Open Golf: Final Round Notes

June 20, 2021 by PGA Tour Brunch

SAN DIEGO – Mackenzie Hughes, Louis Oosthuizen and Russell Henley share the lead entering today’s final round of the U.S. Open.

Hughes and Henley are seeking their first major championship victory while the other three players in the Top-5 have a combined six major wins.

Oosthuizen is 1-for-2 in major championships with the 54-hole lead/co-lead (won 2010 Open Championship and lost in a playoff in 2015 Open Championship).

Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau can become the eighth player to successfully defend U.S. Open title. He is only two strokes back.

Also two strokes back, 2011 U.S. Open winner Rory McIlroy is looking to become the 20th player to win five men’s major championships.

U.S. Open Leaderboard After 54 Holes

Mackenzie Hughes 73-67-68—208 (-5)

Louis Oosthuizen 67-71-70—208 (-5)

Russell Henley 67-70-71—208 (-5)

Rory McIlroy 70-73-67—210 (-3)

Bryson DeChambeau 73-69-68—210 (-3)

Saturday at the U.S. Open ⛳️

June 19, 2021 by PGA Tour Brunch

121st U.S. Open at Torrey Pines:

COURSE: Torrey Pines Golf Course (South), San Diego, CA

SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @USOpenGolf

OFFICIAL SITE: (U.S. Open Championship) – PGA Tour site (link)

TV COVERAGE: Today, June 19, Round 3 coverage 11:00am to 9pm (EDT) on NBC. For Sunday, June 20th’s final round, Golf Channel’s coverage runs from 10:00am to 12:00pm Noon (EDT) and NBC takes over from 12:00pm Noon to 9:00pm (EDT) (or conclusion).

STREAMING: Streaming coverage primarily will be provided by Peacock, USOpen.com and the U.S. Open app.

Round 3 today: Featured Groups: All day (Peacock, USOpen.com, U.S. Open App); Featured Holes (11, 12 and 13): All day (Peacock, USOpen.com, U.S. Open App).

Final Round on Sunday: Featured Groups: All day (Peacock, USOpen.com, U.S. Open App)’; Featured Holes (11, 12 and 13): All day (Peacock, USOpen.com, U.S. Open App)

PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: SiriusXM announced its schedule as the exclusive national radio broadcaster for the 121st U.S. Open Championship, played June 17-20 at Torrey Pines Golf Course. Coverage today begins at 10:00am (EDT) and will run through the completion of play both today and Sunday, including possible two-hole aggregate playoff. The U.S. Open Radio is available on Sirius 208/XM 92) or online on USOpen.com, the app and a link through from PGATour.com

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

U.S. Open at Torrey Pines: Notebook for Round 3

A month after his first European Tour win in his 478th start, 48-year-old Richard Bland became the oldest player to take a 36-hole lead/co-lead in the U.S. Open.

Russell Henley took the outright lead with birdie at his 17th hole, but dropped back into a tie after his only bogey of the day on his final hole.

Following his runner-up finish at the 2020 U.S. Open, Matthew Wolff enters the weekend just one stroke back.

Making his 15th U.S. Open start, Bubba Watson (T5/-3) made five birdies in a six-hole stretch on his outgoing nine to shoot a 4-under (67). Watson’s lone Top-10 finish, a T-5, came in his second start in the event in 2007. He missed the cut at the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines after opening with back-to-back 77s.

San Diego native Xander Schauffele (T-7) at (-2) followed a 2-under (69) in round one with an even-par (71). He’s finished inside the Top-10 in each previous U.S. Open start (T-5/2017, T-6/2018, T-3/2019, 5th/2020).

Notables to miss the cut: Matt Kuchar (+6), Tony Finau (+8), Webb Simpson (+10), and Justin Rose (+13).

U.S. Open Leaderboard After 36 Holes

Russell Henley 67-70—137 (-5)

Richard Bland 70-67—137 (-5)

Louis Oosthuizen 67-71—138 (-4)

Matthew Wolff 70-68—138 (-4)

36-hole cut: 71 players at 4-over (146) from a field of 147 professionals and nine amateurs

Henley Leads with Oosthuizen at Side

June 18, 2021 by PGA Tour Brunch

U.S. Open at Torrey Pines: Round 2 Notebook

Russell Henley carded his sixth career score of (67) or better in a major championship and his first since the 2018 PGA Championship (65/R-2). To date, Henley’s best finish in 26 career major championship appearances was a T-11 at the 2017 Masters Tournament.

Louis Oosthuizen is one of three players to finish in the Top 10 at the U.S. Open in 2019 (T-7) and 2020 (3rd). The others were Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele. He is currently T-1 with Henley at (-4) but is only through 16 holes in R-1.

Brooks Koepka shot 2-under (69) and he extended his tournament-record streak of rounds in the 60s to six and now ties Sam Snead for most consecutive sub-par rounds in tournament history (6).

Partial Round 1 Leaderboard

Russell Henley 67 (-4)

Louis Oosthuizen -4 thru 16*

Francesco Molinari 68 (-3)

Rafa Cabrera Bello 68 (-3)

Note: The start of the 1st round was delayed 1 hour, 30 minutes due to fog and began at 8:15am (PDT). The first round was suspended due to darkness with 36 players left on the course and will resume today at 6:50 am (PDT).

Let the U.S. Open Begin

June 17, 2021 by PGA Tour Brunch

The 2021 U.S. Open Golf Championship

COURSE: Torrey Pines Golf Course (South), San Diego, CA

ARCHITECT: William Bell/1957, Rees Jones/2002/2019

YARDS/PAR: 7,685 yards/Par 71

PRIZE Money/First Place Winnings: $12,500,000 /$2,250,000

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Bryson DeChambeau (2020)

PAST RESULTS: (link)

PAST CHAMPIONS: (link)

FEDEx CUP Points Winner: 600

SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @USOpenGolf

OFFICIAL SITE: (U.S. Open Championship) – PGA Tour site (link)

TV COVERAGE: Today, June 17: 9:45am to 12:30pm (EDT) on Peacock Network. 12:30pm to 7pm (EDT) on Golf Channel and 7:00pm to 10pm (EDT) on NBC. Round 2 coverage, Friday, June 18: 9:45am to 12:30pm (EDT) on Peacock Network, 12:30pm to 6:00pm (EDT) on Golf Channel, and 6:00pm to 9pm (EDT) on NBC.

On Saturday, June 19, Round 3 coverage 11:00am to 9pm (EDT) on NBC. For Sunday, June 20th’s final round, Golf Channel’s coverage runs from 10:00am to 12:00pm Noon (EDT) and NBC takes over from 12:00pm Noon to 9:00pm (EDT) (or conclusion).

STREAMING: Streaming coverage primarily will be provided by Peacock, USOpen.com and the U.S. Open app. Fans can catch exclusive early coverage of Rounds 1 and 2 on Peacock, as well as the final hour of coverage up to the last putt for the two opening days of play. Featured Group and Featured Hole coverage of holes 11-13 can also be found on Peacock, USOpen.com and the U.S. Open.

Round 3 on Saturday: Featured Groups: All day (Peacock, USOpen.com, U.S. Open App); Featured Holes (11, 12 and 13): All day (Peacock, USOpen.com, U.S. Open App).

Final Round on Sunday: Featured Groups: All day (Peacock, USOpen.com, U.S. Open App)’; Featured Holes (11, 12 and 13): All day (Peacock, USOpen.com, U.S. Open App)

PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: SiriusXM announced its schedule as the exclusive national radio broadcaster for the 121st U.S. Open Championship, played June 17-20 at Torrey Pines Golf Course. Coverage today and Friday begins at 6:45am local/9:45am (EDT) and continues through the completion of play. On the weekend, SiriusXM’s on-course coverage will begin at 10:00am (EDT) and will run through the completion of play both Saturday and Sunday, including possible two-hole aggregate playoff. The U.S. Open Radio is available on Sirius 208/XM 92) or online on USOpen.com, the app and a link through from PGATour.com

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

U.S. Open at Torrey Pines: Notebook

The U.S. Open returns to its traditional month of June after being played in September 2020 due to the pandemic. The U.S. Open marks the third and final tournament to be contested twice in the 2020-21 PGA Tour Season (Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship, Masters) and the second-to-last opportunity for a winner to earn 600 FedExCup points before the start of the FedExCup playoffs.

Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau won the 2020 U.S. Open in September at Winged Foot Golf Club (NY). Entering the week at No. 2 in the FedExCup standings, DeChambeau seeks to become eighth player to successfully defend a U.S. Open title (Most recent: Brooks Koepka, 2018).

Four-time major champion and two-time U.S. Open winner Brooks Koepkais coming off a missed cut in his most recent PGA TOUR start (Palmetto Championship at Congaree), but also missed the cut at the AT&T Byron Nelson the week before his runner-up at last month’s PGA Championship.

San Diego native Xander Schauffele finished T-2 at the 2021 Farmers Insurance Open, his best finish in his first six starts. Schauffele has six Top-fives in 16 career major starts.

During his title defense at the Memorial Tournament two weeks ago, Jon Rahm was up by six strokes when he was forced to withdraw after 54 holes due to a positive COVID-19 test. Rahm has been medically cleared to play and will seek his first major win at the site of first PGA Tour victory (2017 Farmers Insurance Open).

PGA Tour: 121st U.S. Open – 1st Look

June 16, 2021 by PGA Tour Brunch

COURSE: Torrey Pines Golf Course (South), San Diego, CA

ARCHITECT: William Bell/1957, Rees Jones/2002/2019

YARDS/PAR: 7,685 yards/Par 71

PRIZE Money/First Place Winnings: $12,500,000 /$2,250,000

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Bryson DeChambeau (2020)

PAST RESULTS: (link)

PAST CHAMPIONS: (link)

FEDEx CUP Points Winner: 600

SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @USOpenGolf

OFFICIAL SITE: (U.S. Open Championship) – PGA Tour site (link)

TV COVERAGE: Thursday, June 17: 9:45am to 12:30pm (EDT) on Peacock Network. 12:30pm to 7pm (EDT) on Golf Channel and 7:00pm to 10pm (EDT) on NBC. Round 2 coverage, Friday, June 18: 9:45am to 12:30pm (EDT) on Peacock Network, 12:30pm to 6:00pm (EDT) on Golf Channel, and 6:00pm to 9pm (EDT) on NBC.

Round 3 on Saturday: Featured Groups: All day (Peacock, USOpen.com, U.S. Open App); Featured Holes (11, 12 and 13): All day (Peacock, USOpen.com, U.S. Open App).

Final Round on Sunday: Featured Groups: All day (Peacock, USOpen.com, U.S. Open App)’; Featured Holes (11, 12 and 13): All day (Peacock, USOpen.com, U.S. Open App)

PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: SiriusXM announced its schedule as the exclusive national radio broadcaster for the 121st U.S. Open Championship, played June 17-20 at Torrey Pines Golf Course. Coverage on Thursday and Friday begins at 6:45am local/9:45am (EDT) and continues through the completion of play. On the weekend, SiriusXM’s on-course coverage will begin at 10:00am (EDT) and will run through the completion of play both Saturday and Sunday, including possible two-hole aggregate playoff. The U.S. Open Radio is available on Sirius 208/XM 92) or online on USOpen.com, the app and a link through from PGATour.com

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

U.S. Open at Torrey Pines: Notebook

This week the PGA Tour stops in San Diego, California for the 121st United States Open Golf Champion ship. This year marks the second time that Torrey Pines GC will host the U.S. Open. The previous Open was in 2008 and it was Tiger Woods who took the honors in a playoff victory over Rocco Mediate. Torrey Pines regularly plays host on the PGA Tour to the Farmers Insurance Open. Patrick Reed is the defending champ at that tournament which was last held this past January 28-31st.

The 2008 U.S. Open and Woods’ victory over Mediate is one of the most memorable events in history, many comparing it to the 1986 Masters win by Jack Nicklaus. “That U.S. Open was three full days of incredible scenes. It topped ’86, absolutely,” said the esteemed Tommy Roy, longtime Executive Producer and a man on-site for all the big time and weekly tournaments with his role for NBC Sports and The Golf Channel.

The layout for Torrey Pines this week reads 7,685 yards on the Par-71 (35-36) making the “South” course play as one of the longest US Open history. There are some 82 bunkers in play off the tee and on approach, but only one hole – the signature 18th – has water in play.

Jon Rahm of Spain is cleared to play in the U.S. Open after a quarantine because of his COVID-19+ test while he was six strokes ahead at the recent Memorial tournament in Dublin, Ohio. Rahm was forced to withdraw.

Phil Mickelson, coming off a stunning and improbable victory at the PGA Championship last month, needs to win the U.S. Open to complete his career Grand Slam.

All 30 of the Top 30 FedExCup points leaders are in the field this weekend at Torrey Pines.

Second Time’s a Charm for Higgo

June 14, 2021 by PGA Tour Brunch

RIDGELAND SC – South Africa’s Garrick Higgo, 22, won the Palmetto Championship at Congaree by one stroke, earning his first PGA Tour title in his second career start. Higgo, a three-time winner on the European Tour, is immediately eligible for PGA Tour membership through the 2022-23 season and the 2021 FedExCup Playoffs.

Embed from Getty Images

According to the PGA Tour Communications department and Elias Sports(h/t), Garrick Higgo’s win at the Palmetto Championship in just his second career PGA Tour start allows him to join Jim Benepe as the only golfers since 1970 to win one of their first two career PGA Tour events.

Chesson Hadley bogeyed the final three holes and finished (in a six-way) T-2, becoming the first player to fail to convert a 54-hole lead of four strokes or more on the Tour since Justin Thomas at the 2019 Genesis Invitational.

With his T-2, Bo Van Pelt earned his best result on Tour since a solo-second at the 2012 Quicken Loans National.

Final Leaderboard at The Palmetto

Garrick Higgo 68-69-68-68—273 (-11)

Hudson Swafford 68-70-70-66—274 (-10)

Doc Redman 65-72-70-67—274 (-10)

Jhonattan Vegas 66-72-69-67—274 (-10)

Tyrrell Hatton 71-68-67-68—274 (-10)

Bo Van Pelt 69-71-66-68—274 (-10)

Chesson Hadley 65-66-68-75—274 (-10)

PGA Tour: Final Round at Palmetto

June 13, 2021 by PGA Tour Brunch

PGA Tour Brunch: Sunday at The Palmetto

*Play was suspended at 8:00pm EDT with only two groups who completed their 17th hole. Round 3 will resume at 7:30am (EDT) today and final round tee times will range from 8:05am – 1:50pm (EDT) off the first tee..

Chesson Hadley is closing in on second title on the PGA Tour but has to wait to complete his third round as play was suspended with the final two groups on the 18th hole at the Palmetto Championship at Congaree.

Hadley (-14) was (-3) through 17 holes, four shots ahead of playing partner Harris English (-4 through 17) with a partial score of (-10 – 136). Hadley had missed nine cuts in his last 11 outings.

Bo Van Pelt shot a third round five under (66) to move into a tie for fifth place with Tyrrell Hatton who carded four under (67).