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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)

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)

 

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.

 

Poston Leads John Deere

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SILVIS – After 54 holes of play, “J.T.” is usually in position to win a tournament, but this week it’s not PGA TOUR superstar Justin Thomas topping the leaderboard, it’s J.T. Poston who will begin the final round with a three-stroke lead at the John Deere Classic.

John Deere Classic

Poston is positioning for his second career PGA Tour title, the first and only at the 2019 Wyndham Championship, following a fifth consecutive round of (67) or better.

Scott Stallings carded a bogey-free 7-under (64) on Saturday, his 21st consecutive round of par-or-better at the John Deere Classic and sixth consecutive round in the 60s on the Tour this season. He is T-2.

Emiliano Grillo birdied four of his last five holes in bid for second career Tour title and first since the 2015 Fortinet Championship. Grillo is T-2 with three players.

John Deere | Leaderboard After 54 Holes

J.T. Poston 62-65-67—194 (-19)

Scott Stallings 67-66-64—197 (-16)

Emiliano Grillo 68-64-65—197 (-16)

Denny McCarthy 66-65-66—197 (-16)

Callum Tarren 68-65-65—198 (-15)

Poston Leads at John Deere

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SILVIS – Coming off a T-2 at last week’s Travelers Championship, J.T. Poston opened his fifth John Deere Classic with a (62). It was his second straight week of opening a tournament with a score of (62) and he became the first player on record (since the record was kept – 1983) to open consecutive PGA Tour events in 62 or better.

John Deere Classic

After missing the cut in his first start at last year’s John Deere Classic, Canada’s Michael Gligic opened with a bogey-free 7-under (64) and is only two shots back.

In his bid for a third Top 10 finish at the John Deere Classic, Vaughn Taylorcarded a 6-under (65), his 46th score of par or better in 49 rounds at TPC Deere Run.

Playing on a sponsor exemption in his third start as a professional, Christopher Gotterup offset two bogeys with eight birdies – good enough for 6-under (65) and he is T-3.

John Deere Classic Board member, 2012 champion and USA Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson carded a 2-under (69) in 20th consecutive appearance at the tournament.

John Deere | Leaderboard After 18 Holes

J.T. Poston 62 (-9)

Michael Gligic 64 (-7)

Vaughn Taylor 65 (-6)

Christopher Gotterup 65 (-6)

PGA Tour: John Deere Preview

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SILVIS – John Deere Classic favorite, Steve Stricker, WD from the tournament after a runner-up outing in last week’s Senior U.S. Open. He shot (-9) 275 and fell one stroke behind tournament champion Padraig Harrington.

The John Deere Classic has a long history of successful outings by Sponsor Exemptions. Players competing on sponsor exemptions this year that have not yet been a PGA Tour member include:

  • Luke Gannon: 3rd career PGA TOUR start (MC at 2021 John Deere Classic and 2022 U.S. Open); PGA TOUR Canada member
  • Patrick Flavin: 8th PGA TOUR start this season (five as Open Qualifier); 76 non-member FedEx Cup points
  • Christopher Gotterup: 5th PGA TOUR start this season (best: T-7/Puerto Rico Open); 2022 Division I Player of the Year
  • Quinn Riley: PGA TOUR debut (MC at 2022 REX Hospital Open on Korn Ferry Tour); No. 1 in 2021-22 APGA Collegiate Ranking

Daniel Berger, the highest ranking PGA Tour pro entered this week, withdrew

John Deere Classic

from the John Deere Classic and stated via Twitter: “Gutted to have to withdrawal from the @JDCLASSIC this week. I am working on getting back to 100% but do not feel prepared to tee it up on Thursday. I want to wish all the players luck and thank @JohnDeere for their continued support.”

In his 3rd start at the John Deere Classic this week, Illinois native Nick Hardywill tee-it-up at TPC Deere Run on the heels of his career-best finish of T-8 at last week’s Travelers Championship.

Sperry, Iowa native Charles Jahn will make his PGA TOUR debut at the John Deere Classic this week. Jahn holed a 40-foot putt for birdie at the third extra hole to advance in a 6-for-1 playoff on Monday.

There are eight events over the next six weeks remaining until the start of the FedEx Cup Playoffs. With 76 of the top 125 in the FedExCup standings not competing this week, the John Deere Classic provides an opportunity for players outside the Top 125 to make a move before the end of the FedEx Cup Regular Season.

Schauffele vs Cantlay | Final at Travelers

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CROMWELL – Xander Schauffele is seeking his sixth career PGA Tour title today and his first individual stroke-play victory since the 2019 Sentry Tournament of Champions. Patrick Cantlay, who partnered with Schauffele to win this season’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans, is in pursuit of his eighth career Tour victory and seventh Top-5 finish of the season after carding the low score of the day on Saturday with a (63).

Schauffele and Cantlay will play in the final round together for the second time in their careers on Tour.

After making his professional debut at the 2020 Travelers Championship (MC), Sahith Theegala seeks his first career Tour title in his 38th start. He can become the second rookie winner on Tour this season.

In only his third PGA Tour start, 20-year-old amateur Michael Thorbjornsen(T-7) is playing to become first amateur to win on Tour since Phil Mickelsonat 1991 Northern Telecom Open.

Travelers Championship | Leaderboard After 54 Holes

Xander Schauffele 63-63-67—193 (-17)

Patrick Cantlay 64-67-63—194 (-16)

Sahith Theegala 67-65-64—196 (-14)

Kevin Kisner 67-64-66—197 (-13)

Schauffele Leads Going Into Hot Weekend at The Travelers

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PGA Tour Stop at TPC River Highlands Stacked with Talent

CROMWELL – Coming off a T-14 at last week’s U.S. Open, Xander Schauffele made big strides towards his sixth career PGA Tour title and first individual stroke-play victory since the 2019 Sentry Tournament of Champions by shooting his second straight (63) at TPC River Highlands. He leads Patrick Cantlay by five strokes heading into the weekend.

Reigning FedEx Cup Champion Patrick Cantlay (T-2/-9) opened his eighth Travelers Championship in (64-67). In his first start at TPC River Highlands in 2011, Cantlay posted a second-round 10-under (60), which still stands as his career-low score. Cantlay, who partnered with Schauffele to win this season’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans, closes in on a seventh Top-5 finish of the season.

Harris English will attempt to become the second player to successfully defend a Travelers Championship title (Phil Mickelson/2002) and fifth player to successfully defend a title in the 2021-22 season.

Travelers Championship | Leaderboard After 36 Holes

Xander Schauffele 63-63—126 (-14)

Patrick Cantlay 64-67—131 (-9)

Harris English 66-65—131 (-9)

Nick Hardy 67-64—131 (-9)

Cam Davis 65-66—131 (-9)

Kevin Kisner 67-64—131 (-9)

Full Leaderboard: (link)

PGA Tour Swings Into Hartford

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CROMWELL – World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler headlines a very strong field which includes six of the Top-15 players in the Official World Golf Ranking; Scottie Scheffler (1), Rory McIlroy (2), Patrick Cantlay (6), Sam Burns (9), Jordan Spieth (11) and Xander Schauffele (15).

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A would-be seventh of that group, Justin Thomas (5), withdrew from the tourney.

Longtime Travelers favorite and former champion, Bubba Watson, is not in the field as he’s still recuperating from surgery.

With a win (RBC Canadian Open) and T-5 (U.S. Open) in his last two starts, McIlroy moved to No. 2 in the Official World Golf Ranking, his highest ranking since July 25, 2020.

Harris English returns to TPC Highlands as the defending champion as he defeated Kramer Hickok in an eight-hole playoff to win his fourth PGA Tour title at the 2021 Travelers Championship. After playing in the West Coast Hawaii swing earlier this year, English underwent right hip surgery in February but returned to action in June at the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday (MC). In his most recent start, he finished T-61 at the U.S. Open.

Remember this? After matching pars with Kramer Hickok on the first seven extra holes of the 2021 Travelers Championship, Harris English made birdie on the eighth hole of sudden death (No. 18) for the win. The 2021 playoff is tied for the second longest playoff in Tour history.

While the TPC River Highlands annually attracts an amazing field, no matter if it’s positioned before or after the U.S. Open, this year the tournament comes smack in the middle of a newfound controversy as both Abraham Ancer and Brooks Koepka announced this week that they will switch to the LIV Golf circuit. The two players were suspended by the Tour.

To counter the lure of the LIV, the PGA TOUR announced it will undergo significant changes, including staging and additional six tournaments with $20 million-plus purses.

“These changes will further strengthen the FedExCup and create a strong, coordinated global schedule,” Monahan wrote, detailing a condensed FedExCup season that will run from January to August, “offering a more compelling product for our players, fans and partners.

“While different than it’s been in the past, I think it’s going to be very exciting for fans and I think will create great energy in the fall,” said Monahan, who added that he expects the fall events to be “very consequential, very meaningful.”

“There is more work to be done and details to confirm,” Monahan said in a lengthy press conference at TPC River Highlands, “but implementing substantial changes to our schedule gives us the best opportunity to not only drive earnings to our players, but also improve our product and create a platform for continued growth in the future.”

In his pre-tournament press conference at the Travelers Championship, two-time FedExCup champion Rory McIlroy reflected on the impact that the PGA TOUR has on the communities it plays in while also reflecting on the organization’s future.

“I think it’s not lost on me what PGA TOUR events … can do for the communities that they’re played in,” he said. “I think that’s not lost on the players that when they come and play PGA TOUR events they’re helping to do something really good in the community … and I think that’s important.”

 

Wet and Wild at the U.S. Open

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BROOKLINE – Will Zalatoris and Matt Fitzpatrick, the two highest-ranked players in the Official World Golf Ranking without a win on the PGA Tour, share the lead at the U.S. Open entering today’s final round.

Last player to earn first PGA Tour win at a major championship was Danny Willett, at the 2016 Masters while the last player to earn first PGA Tour win at the U.S. Open was Graeme McDowell in 2010.

At the recent PGA Championship, Zalatoris and Fitzpatrick both entered the final round T-2. Fitzpatrick played in the final pairing and finished T-5 while Zalatoris went on to lose in a playoff.

Fitzpatrick won the 2013 U.S. Amateur at The Country Club.

Defending champion Jon Rahm made a double bogey at No. 18 and will enter the final round one stroke back. The last player to successfully defend title at a major championship was Brooks Koepka, 2019 PGA Championship.

Scottie Scheffler (T-4), Sam Burns (T-7) and Rory McIlroy (T-7), who have combined for nine TOUR wins this season, are within three strokes of the lead.

36-hole leader Collin Morikawa carded a 7-over (77), tying his highest score on the PGA Tour, his second score of (77) in his last four rounds on Tour.

U.S. Open Leaderboard | After 54 Holes

Will Zalatoris 69-70-67—206 (-4)

Matt Fitzpatrick 68-70-68—206 (-4)

Jon Rahm 69-67-71—207 (-3)

Keegan Bradley 70-69-69—208 (-2)

Adam Hadwin 66-72-70—208 (-2)

Scottie Scheffler 70-67-71—208 (-2)

Full Leaderboard: (link)

Final round Tee Times at The Country Club start at 8:49am (ET) and go to 2:45pm (ET) when 54-hole leaders Matt FItzpatrick and Will Zalatoris tee-off on No. 1.

Weather: Sunday morning rain and cloudy skies will greet the patrons and golfers for the final round of the 2022 U.S. Open at The Country Club. Chilly temperatures from 52-to-63 degrees. Showers diminish between 11am and 1:00pm while winds drop from 14 to 9 mph.