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The 150th Open Championship

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FIFE, SCOTLAND – The Old Course at St Andrews Links is playing host for this week’s Open Championship, the 150th edition of the championship and the 2022 season’s final major. This is the 30th time that St Andrews has hosted The Open.

Most recently, Zach Johnson won a three-man playoff over Marc Leishman and Louis Oosthuizen in 2015, the most recent playoff in The Open Championship. Other notable past champions at the Old Course include Sam Snead (1946), Peter Thomson (1955), Jack Nicklaus (1970, 1978), Seve Ballesteros (1984), Nick Faldo (1990) and Tiger Woods (2000, 2005).

Defending champion Collin Morikawa‘s most recent victory on Tour came at the 2021 Open. Morikawa, a five-time Tour winner, is winless in his last 19 starts, the longest drought of his PGA career (previous: 17). The last player to successfully defend a title in a major was Brooks Koepka at the 2019 PGA Championship, while the last player to do so at The Open was Padraig Harrington in 2008.

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82-time PGA Tour winner and 15-time major champion Tiger Woods is making his first start on Tour since the 2022 PGA Championship and 22nd in The Open (first since 2019/MC). Woods has won The Open three times (2000, 2005, 2006), with the first two coming at St Andrews. Woods is making his third start of the season, having made the cut in the first two majors. He finished 47th at the Masters Tournament and WD after the third round of the PGA Championship (74-69-79).

World No. 1 and FedEx Cup leader Scottie Scheffler has four wins this season, including his first career major championship title at the Masters. Ten players (17 instances) have won five or more times in a season including multiple majors. Most recently, Jordan Spieth did so in 2014-15 (5 wins, 2 majors). The last player to win five times in a season on Tour was Justin Thomas in 2016-17. Scheffler, who is making his 13th major start, finished T-8 in his Open Championship debut in 2021.

Jon Rahm is in search of his second career major championship title and second Tour win this season. Rahm, who became the first player from Spain to win the U.S. Open when he won in 2021, finished T-3 at the 2021 Open Championship. The only player from Spain to win The Open Championship was Seve Ballesteros (1979, 1984, 1988). Rahm enters the week having made the cut in each of his last 14 starts, the longest active streak on Tour. His last missed cut was at the season-opening Fortinet Championship).

Rory McIlroy, a four-time major champion, has not won a major since the start of 2015. McIlroy won the final two majors of 2014 (The Open Championship, PGA Championship) and has 16 Top-10s in majors since then, the most of any player in that span. McIlroy recently moved into a tie for 31st on the all-time PGA TOUR wins list with his 21st career title at the 2022 RBC Canadian Open.

Reigning FedEx Cup Champion Patrick Cantlay is the highest-ranked player in the Official World Golf Ranking (No. 4) without a major championship title.

The only player to win THE PLAYERS Championship and The Open Championship in the same year is Jack Nicklaus (1978).

2022 PLAYERS winner Cameron Smith can join him with a win.

Eleven players qualified for The Open Championship via the Open Qualifying Series at PGA Tour events this season: Chris Kirk and Talor Gooch at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard; Wyndham Clark and Keith Mitchell at the RBC Canadian Open; J.T. Poston, Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Emiliano Grillo at the John Deere Classic; Kurt Kitayama, Brandon Wu and Jamie Donaldson at the Genesis Scottish Open; and Trey Mullinax at the Barbasol Championship. Mullinax earned the final spot in The Open with his win last week which was the first of his PGA Tour career. He also earned a spot in next season’s Sentry Tournament of Champions, the PLAYERS Championship and PGA Championship.

The Old Course at St Andrews Links is playing host for this week’s Open Championship, the 150th edition of the championship and the 2022 season’s final major. This is the 30th time that St Andrews has hosted The Open.

PGA Tour: The Barracuda Preview

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TRUCKEE – The Barracuda Championship field, like last week’s Barbasol Championship, is comprised of players from both the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. There are 50 places available for the top players from the DP World Tour priority ranking. The Barracuda Championship winner will receive benefits on each Tour:

  • FedExCup points: 300
  • DP World Tour Rankings points: 710
  • PGA TOUR exemption (for current PGA TOUR members): thru 2024
  • PGA TOUR exemption (for non-members): thru 2022-23
  • DP World Tour exemption: thru 2024

The last six winners of the Barracuda Championship were first-time PGA TOUR winners, the longest active streak on TOUR (2016/Greg Chalmers, 2017/Chris Stroud, 2018/Andrew Putnam, 2019/Collin Morikawa, 2020/Richy Werenski, 2021/Erik van Rooyen).

Four weeks remain in the FedEx Cup Regular Season, with the Barracuda Championship providing an opportunity for players to make a run towards one of the 125 spots in the FedEx Cup Playoffs. Six players have qualified for the FedEx Cup Playoffs in each season since the inception in 2007, including Charley Hoffman, who is currently outside the top 125 at No. 173 in the FedEx Cup standings.

The Barracuda Championship | Tournament Facts

COURSE: Old Greenwood at the Tahoe Mountain Club, Truckee, CA

YARDS/PAR: 7,480 yards/Par 72

ARCHITECT: Jack Nicklaus

PRIZE Money – Purse: $3,600,000/$666,000

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Erik van Rooyen

PAST RESULTS: (link)

PAST CHAMPIONS: (link)

FEDEx CUP Points to Winner: 300

SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @CudaChamp

TV COVERAGE: All four rounds (July 14-17) are scheduled for TV coverage from 6:00pm to 9:00pm (ET) on Golf Channel.

HOW to WATCH: (link)

Sometimes, You Just Need a Win

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BOSTON – On Saturday night, the Boston Red Sox needed a win more than Boston Harbour needed a Wynn. The Red Sox and manager Alex Cora needed a win more than Patrick Ewing and the 2021 Georgetown Hoyas needed a win. Sox starter Kutter Crawford needed a win more than the imprisoned WNBA star Brittany Griner needs a win. The Sox were jammin’ on the 4th of July, 10 games over .500. But on Saturday night, after starting AAA level pitchers for four consecutive games, the Boston Red Sox earned their much-needed win with a come-from-behind and eventually walk-off 6-5 win over the AL East division-leading New York Yankees.

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The glory went to Boston left-fielder Alex Verdugo who hit a game-tying single in the 8th inning and the game-winning, two-run single in the bottom of the 10th. The win was a step in salvaging a four-game series against the Yankees, now with a chance to split the series when the teams play Sunday night. As importantly, the big 6-5 win quelled an anger emanating from loyal Red Sox fans, frustrated with Triple A rookies staring in place of injured rotation pitchers, like Nathan Eovaldi (might be back this week), Michael Wacha, Rich Hill, Garrett Whitlock, along with relievers Matt Barnes, Tyler Danish, and Josh Taylor.

Four straight starts rather than the Red Sox feasting on opponents with ace Chris Sale on the mound. Four straight rookie starts, a mark Boston hasn’t set since the last four games of the 1945 season instead of having off-season signee Jim Paxton on the mound. Sale’s been rehabbing at Triple-A Worcester and Double-A Portland (New Hampshire), hoping to get back to the mothership before the All-Star break.

Paxton, signed for a cool $10 million a year but Tommy John surgery in April 2021 set him back until his recent trio of bullpen sessions showed glimmers of light for the lefty.Should he return to form, the Sox rotation might improve over Sunday starter Nick Pivetta, a bunch of rookies trying their best to make enough of an impact to stick in the majors when the dust settles and there’s no more need for a late-game a mound appearance by Jackie Bradley Jr. like that of  thismpsdt                                                                                                                                     on Friday night.

Schauffele Leads at Scottish Open

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NORTH BERWICK – Following a 4-under (66), Xander Schauffele holds a two-stroke lead over Rafa Cabrera Bello at the Scottish Open. Schauffele holds his sixth third-round lead/co-lead on the PGA TOUR and is one-for-five in converting to a win to date.

Travelers Championship winner Schauffele is attempting to win in back-to-back starts for the second time in his career.

First- and second-round leader Cameron Tringale trails by four strokes following a 4-over (74).

Four-time DP World Tour winner Rafa Cabrera Bello (2nd) is seeking his first PGA Tour victory in his 138th start. He has four third-place finishes on Tour, most recently at the 2019 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard.

The top three players not otherwise exempt who finish in the Top 10 this week gain entry into The Open Championship.

Scottish Open | Leaderboard After 54 Holes

Xander Schauffele 72-65-66—203 (-7)

Rafa Cabrera Bello 69-69-67—205 (-5)

Jordan Spieth 68-72-66—206 (-4)

Ryan Palmer 67-72-67—206 (-4)

Jordan Smith 68-69-69—206 (-4)

Full Leaderboard: (link)

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes – July 10

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By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – The Boston Red Sox started the season (0-2) and that evolved to a spring tailspin and an (11-20) record on May 12. Boston fought back to (27-27) by June 5 at Oakland and kept plugging along until they were 10 games over the .500 mark, at (41-31) by June 25. While they were righting the ship and rising from fifth place in the American League East to second place, the New York Yankees were cruising on the Circle Line to a 13-game lead in the rough-tough division.

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When the Tampa Bay Rays came into Fenway on the 4th of July, the Red Sox handed them a 4-0 loss and returned to second place in the AL East, again 10 games over the coveted .500 mark. The AL Wild Card was a very reasonable goal, as the Yankees still maintained a 13-game division lead.

In the six days since the 4th, as short a period of time as it is, the bottom fell out for Boston. Starting pitchers like Nathan Eovaldi, Michael Wacha, Rich Hill and Garrett Whitlock, never mind ace Chris Sale and free agent bust James Paxton, all sidelined with injury on the 10 or 15 game Injured List, or worse.

In their place came the rookie brigade from Triple-A Worcester, the Woe-as-Me Sox, including starting pitchers Brayan Bello, Josh Winckowski, Connor Seabold and Kutter Crawford. The Sox were forced to throw rookies in five of seven games, including four in a row. Not since the dog days of September 1945 had the Red Sox started four rookie pitchers and that came on the final four days of the season.

If you’re keeping score at home, the Red Sox have lost each of their last four games, heading into Saturday night’s nationally televised game against the New York Yankees. It’s the Sox first time losing more than two consecutive games since dropping a season-high five straight from May 4-8. … After a productive May and early June, the Sox are 2-6 in their last eight games and 10-10 in their last 20 games, beginning June 19.

Although it’s only early July and the MLB All-Star break is just around the corner, the games being played now, against AL East opponents and other teams with plus-.500 records will likely decide the season for Boston.

Boston has had success against lefties, winning 10-12 (not including the Saturday night tilt against Yankees’ lefty Jordan Montgomery), but with eight pitchers on the injured list and only hope for Sale and Whitlock to return in the short-term, a AAA rotation will not get the job done. Bello, a Top 50 prospect, is rightfully being featured in the MLB Futures game, as he was in 2021. With just the one MLB start against the Yankees (7-1, loss), he’s not ready for the majors just yet.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: As hard as we all try to keep obituaries out of the weekly Sunday Notes missive, it seems both death and taxes remain common denominators in our lives, unless of course you’re in that 1% but then you still cope with death and Otis Birdsong’s jump shot. … Suffice to say, it was a rough week. The most brutal, by far, was the assassination of former Prime Minister of Japan and longtime friend of the USofA, Shinzo Abe. Gone too soon are former NBA ref Hugh Evans, actor Tony Sirico (The Soprano’s Paulie Walnuts), actor Larry Storch (F-Troop’s Corporal Agarn), which came only a day after the great James Caan (Brian’s Song, The Godfather) passed away. Also, popular radio host and sports (mostly NFL football) gambling tout Hank Greenberg passed away. He was 82. … They were all representatives from all walks of life who all made their marks in different but effective ways. … The NBA force felt the blow when the family of the late Hugh Evans, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the NBA announced his passing Friday morning. The legendary NBA referee was 78 and was about to be enshrined as a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame along with the class of 2022 this September… “The NBA mourns the loss of Hugh Evans, one of the league’s most accomplished referees and a 2022 Basketball Hall of Fame inductee,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in a statement on Twitter. “Hugh officiated more than 2,000 games, including 35 NBA Finals games. We send our condolences to his wife, Cathy, and all his loved ones. … “The Basketball Hall of Fame family mourns the loss and celebrates the life of Hugh Evans,” said John Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “Hugh was a trailblazer; in 1972, he became the first NBA Official from an HBCU, coming from North Carolina A&T University. He was also known for holding himself and other Officials to the highest standard. The game is in a better place for having had him involved as an Official and later as a Supervisor of Officials for 30 years.” … Evans served as an NBA official for 28 consecutive years (1973-2001), tallying over 2,000 regular season games, 170 playoff games, 35 NBA Finals games and four NBA All-Star Games. In 1972, Evans became the first NBA official from an HBCU. Following his on-court officiating career, Evans worked as the NBA Assistant Supervisor of Officials (2001-03). He was a recipient of the Each One Teach One Community Service Award and was enshrined in the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame as well as the North Carolina A&T Hall of Fame.
David Nastor and Bob Delaney (r) enjoy a good laugh during podcast taping (File)

PODCASTS ‘R US: Here’s an interesting three-part series of interviews conducted by David Nastor with former NBA referee Bob Delaney, a good friend of his mentor in the late Hugh Evans. … The subject matter is broken up nicely as the three parts address Delaney’s life as a 23-year old New Jersey State Trooper going undercover to infiltrate the crime mob, then his life as an NBA official, climbing out of the stress related to being undercover for so long. Lastly, the third segment covers Delaney’s recent work (and his two books – Surviving the Shadows and Heroes Are Human (out in September, 2022). The latter addresses the post traumatic stress and all issues thrust upon our first responders as they continue to deal with the global COVID+ pandemic.

Podcast interviews with Bob Delaney segmented here into 3 parts:

No. 253: https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/6251035b-a55b-40f2-a729-6d5fc577241b/id/23610473

No. 254: https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/6251035b-a55b-40f2-a729-6d5fc577241b/id/23610734

No. 255: https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/6251035b-a55b-40f2-a729-6d5fc577241b/id/23611871

For other Nastor podcasts, under the catchy “You Just Have to Laugh”tagline, see: https://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/6251035b-a55b-40f2-a729-6d5fc577241b

Celtics Make Roster Moves

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BOSTON – As expected, the Boston Celtics re-signed reserve forward Sam Hauser and reserve 7-2 center Luke Kornet. Boston was pleasantly surprised to have Kornet return to the club. “We are thrilled that Luke chose to come back,” noted Celtics President of Basketball Operations, Brad Stevens. “Luke is a skilled big who can play off the roll and is a good rim protector on defense. On top of that, he’s always added value as the consummate pro who puts team above self.”

The Celtics also signed 2022 second round draft pick J.D. Davison to a two-way contract in time to have him participate in the annual NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. A 19-year old out of Alabama, Davison (6-3, 195), competed in 33 games (six starts) as a freshman in 2021-22, averaging 8.5 points on 46.3% shooting (30.1% 3-PT), 4.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.0 steals in 25.8 minutes. He made the Southeastern Conference All-Freshman Team.

In a final transaction before the NBA Summer League began, the Celtics confirmed what was widely reported on NBA Draft night and made public their acquisition of guard Malcolm Brogdon from the Indiana Pacers in exchange for reserve center Daniel Theis, guard/forward Aaron Nesmith, forwards Malik Fitts and Juwan Morgan, shooting guard Nik Stauskas and a conditional 2023 first round draft choice.

Tringale Maintains Lead in Scotland

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NORTH BERWICK – One day after his career-best (61), Cameron Tringale maintained a three-shot lead following a 2-over (72). Tringale holds his third second-round lead/co-lead on the PGA Tour but is 0-for-2 converting.

Two of the last three winners on Tour turned in the best rounds of the day on Friday, highlighted by Travelers Championship winner Xander Schauffele(65) and U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick (66).

With his ace on the par-3 17th hole, Jordan Smith won a Genesis GV70 while his caddie, Sam Matton, was gifted a GV60 from the tournament sponsor.

World No. 1 and FedExCup leader Scottie Scheffler missed the cut with rounds of 73-72. Also, a week prior to defending his title at The Open Championship, Collin Morikawa missed the cut with rounds of 71-74. Additional notables to miss the cut: included defending champion Min Woo Lee, Justin Thomas, Will Zalatoris, Hideki Matsuyama, and Viktor Hovland.

Scottish Open | Leaderboard After 36 Holes

Cameron Tringale 61-72—133 (-7)

Gary Woodland 64-72—136 (-4)

Doug Ghim 67-69—136 (-4)

Kurt Kitayama 66-71—137 (-3)

Jordan Smith 68-69—137 (-3)

Xander Schauffele 72-65—137 (-3)

Matt Fitzpatrick 71-66—137 (-3)

Full Leaderboard: (link)

 

Legendary NBA Official Hugh Evans, 78

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SPRINGFIELD – The family of the late Hugh Evans, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the NBA announced the passing of Evans, legendary NBA referee at the age of 78. Mr. Evans was set to be enshrined as a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame along with the class of 2022 in September.

“The NBA mourns the loss of Hugh Evans, one of the league’s most accomplished referees and a 2022 Basketball Hall of Fame inductee,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in a statement on Twitter. “Hugh officiated more than 2,000 games, including 35 NBA Finals games. We send our condolences to his wife, Cathy, and all his loved ones.”

“The Basketball Hall of Fame family mourns the loss and celebrates the life of Hugh Evans,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “Hugh was a trailblazer; in 1972, he became the first NBA Official from an HBCU, coming from North Carolina A&T University. He was also known for holding himself and other Officials to the highest standard. The game is in a better place for having had him involved as an Official and later as a Supervisor of Officials for 30 years.”

Evans served as an NBA official for 28 consecutive years (1973-2001), tallying over 2,000 regular season games, 170 playoff games, 35 NBA Finals games and four NBA All-Star Games. In 1972, Evans became the first NBA official from an HBCU. Following his on-court officiating career, Evans worked as the NBA Assistant Supervisor of Officials (2001-03). He was a recipient of the Each One Teach One Community Service Award and was enshrined in the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame as well as the North Carolina A&T Hall of Fame.

Scottish Open: Perfect Tuneup for Open

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NORTH BERWICK – Fourteen of the top 15 players in the Official World Golf Ranking will tee-it-up this week at the Scottish Open, the first time the pre-Open Championship tune-up is an official co-sanctioned event by the PGA Tour. Only Rory McIlroy is sitting the tournament out.

“If you throw out the Majors, I would have to think that this is going to be one of the two, three, four best fields that we play the entire year,” said Justin Thomas.

The last three Scottish Open tournaments have been decided by playoffs, including last year’s, when Min Woo Lee beat Matt Fitzpatrick and Thomas Detry on the first playoff hole. Fitzpatrick is comfortable at this course and on the DP World Tour in general, where his first seven professional victories came before the U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline last month.

No American has won this event since Rickie Fowler in 2015. Of the past six winners, five were ranked 83rd in the world or lower entering the week.

In the sleeper category for this week, Frenchman is 3-for-3 (making cut) with a T-14 (2020) at The Renaissance Club. He’s not far removed from a spirited run that got him into the U.S. Open which included a win at the Dutch Open just six weeks ago.

 

On 4th of July, Sox Check the Standings

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Red Sox Open Series vs Tampa with 4-0 Win


By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – It’s far too early to do any scoreboard watching, but on the 4th of July, every baseball fan in the land should buy a newspaper and clip-out the standings. It is like breaking a fortune cookie and reading about your future. For the Boston Red Sox – tailspinning at (2-4) over their last six games entering today’s games- but coming off an important seven-game win streak before that – the 2022 MLB season will be decided now, as in July.

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Now, as in the next 16 games when the Red Sox play against the American League East only as they close-out the first half of the 2022 season with 17 consecutive game days before the annual All-Star break. Looking further, past the break, the Red Sox will play 27 of their next 28 home games against teams with winning records (as of today). Only an August 11th game against the division cellar-dwelling Baltimore Orioles will be the exception.

Now, as on a wonderful, humidity-free, 82-degree, sunny 4th of July day game, a game which began that gauntlet of “put-up or shut-up” for the Sox who earned a home game on the 4th  at Fenway Park for the first time since 2016.

Now, as in today, the Red Sox defeated division rival Tampa, 4-0, with impressive pitching performances by opener Austin Davis (second career start) who was followed by Worcester WooSox call-up Kutter Crawford. Davis threw 30 pitches over the first two innings, walked one batter and struck-out two before giving way to Crawford. With a name like “Kutter,” you better be able to deliver and that he did. The Sox top pitching prospect, No. 24 in all of baseball, went 5.1 IP, allowing only two hits of shutout baseball while striking-out eight Rays batters. Reliever John Schreiber came in for the final 1.2 innings and kept the sheet clean, earning his third save of the season.

On the offensive side, Boston second-baseman Trevor Story had the game-winning hit, his 13th home run of the season, a solo blast, which came in the fourth inning. Boston scored a run in the fifth when shortstop Christian Arroyo led-off with a double and scored on a Rafael Devers infield hit and 46th RBI of the season.

Boston added two insurance runs in the eighth inning when third baseman Devers, DH J.D. Martinez and catcher Christian Vazquez each singled to load the bases before left-fielder Alex Verdugo reached base on a fielding error by Tampa’s relief pitcher Josh Fleming, scoring Devers. Boston right-fielder Franchy Cordero delivered a timely base hit to score Martinez to make it 4-0 to hand Fleming (2-4) his fourth loss of the year.

Crawford earned the win, his second of the year against two losses. The Rays were held scoreless for the sixth time this season after being shutout only eight times all of 2021.

The opening of the series win marked the 12th time of their last 16 series that Boston took a series lead as they are 11-4-1 when they take a series opener. Boston is 17-7 (.708) over their last 24 games and undefeated in their last five home games. The pressure remains, however, as Boston is 0-7-0 in series against the AL East while 12-3-3 against all others.

The Red Sox are now 13 games behind the division-leading New York Yankees, who somehow had the 4th of July as an off-day. Boston is bunched up with these Rays and the Toronto Blue Jays with only two games separating the trio when you peruse those standings.

After a horrendous 10-19 start through early May, Boston is now 10 games over .500 for the second time this season. They’re amongst the best four teams in baseball (NYY, HOU and ATL) since May 10th, and they’re staying 10-games over .500 with starting pitchers Chris Sale, Nathan Eovaldi, Rich Hill, and James Paxton on the injured list, along with relievers Garrett Whitlock, Matt Barnes and Josh Taylor.

Sale has been ramping-up with a four-inning, 52-pitch, four-hit, one-run outing for AA Portland last Thursday. He’ll do another rehab assignment this Wednesday, upping the competition to AAA Worcester.

Notes: Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts sat out today as he recovers from a six-stitch thigh laceration suffered during the series vs. the Chicago Cubs. … Boston’s Nick Pivetta (8-5, ERA 3.23) is scheduled to pitch against Tampa’s lefty Jeffrey Springs (3-2, ERA 2.25) July 5 at 7:10pm at Fenway. … A starter for Boston on Wednesday has yet to be determined while the Rays will throw righty Corey Kluber (3-5, ERA 3.91). … Boston will go on to host the NY Yankees from July 7-10.