Author: Johanna Lakämper

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Highlights Tours

US Open 2024 Tee Times: Scheffler Starts into his Final Day

Scottie Scheffler start his final US Open 2024 round alongside Tom McKibbin. (Image: Getty)
Scottie Scheffler start his final US Open 2024 round alongside Tom McKibbin. (Image: Getty)

For the world number 1 Scottie Scheffler, the US Open 2024 in North Carolina has not gone great thus far. After barely making the cut on day 2, Scheffler still hasn’t found to his form of the past months and had to settle for a 71 Moving Day round, which puts him at a total score of +6.

Currently sitting at T42, the American will start his round alongside Tom McKibbin. They will start at 10:20 AM local time.

US Open 2024 Live Scores

Tee Times US Open 2024 Round X

Tee Teetime Player 1 Player 2
1 7:30 am Seonghyeon Kim Gunnar Broin (a)
1 7:41 am Matthew Fitzpatrick Jackson Suber
1 7:52 am Brandon Wu Austin Eckroat
1 8:3 am Francesco Molinari Ben Kohles
1 8:14 am Dean Burmester Ryan Fox
1 8:25 am Sepp Straka Martin Kaymer
1 8:36 am Greyson Sigg Cameron Young
1 8:47 am Nico Echavarria Brendon Todd
1 8:58 am Justin Lower Sam Bennett
1 9:9 am Adam Scott Brian Campbell
1 9:25 am Matt Kuchar Frankie Capan III
1 9:36 am Adam Svensson Harris English
1 9:47 am Jordan Spieth Si Woo Kim
1 9:58 am Max Greyserman Sahith Theegala
1 10:9 am Daniel Berger Keegan Bradley
1 10:20 am Scottie Scheffler Tom McKibbin
1 10:31 am Brooks Koepka Tim Widing
1 10:42 am Nicolai Højgaard Emiliano Grillo
1 10:53 am Isaiah Salinda Christiaan Bezuidenhout
1 11:4 am Cameron Smith Wyndham Clark
1 11:15 am J.T. Poston Tommy Fleetwood
1 11:31 am Shane Lowry Zac Blair
1 11:42 am Billy Horschel Chris Kirk
1 11:53 am Denny McCarthy Min Woo Lee
1 12:4 pm Neal Shipley (a) Luke Clanton (a)
1 12:15 pm Sam Burns Stephan Jaeger
1 12:26 pm Brian Harman Mark Hubbard
1 12:37 pm David Puig Thomas Detry
1 12:48 pm Akshay Bhatia Russell Henley
1 12:59 pm Davis Thompson Xander Schauffele
1 1:10 pm Sergio Garcia Taylor Pendrith
1 1:26 pm Aaron Rai Tom Kim
1 1:37 pm Corey Conners Collin Morikawa
1 1:48 pm Tony Finau Tyrrell Hatton
1 1:59 pm Ludvig Åberg Hideki Matsuyama
1 2:10 pm Patrick Cantlay Rory McIlroy
1 2:21 pm Matthieu Pavon Bryson DeChambeau
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PGA Tour

From Spectator to Caddie: Four Caddies in just One Day for PGA Tour Player

C.T. Pan and spectator Paul Emerson, one of his four caddies. (Photo: Getty)
C.T. Pan and spectator Paul Emerson, one of his four caddies. (Photo: Getty)

C.T. Pan’s caddie ribbon adorned more than just one caddie at the RBC Canadian Open on Sunday and was passed on to new hands like a baton. In total, it was passed on three times, meaning that a total of four caddies were at the professional’s side.

Pan and his caddie Mike “Fluff” Cowan already had 54 holes behind them on the PGA Tour. The two have only recently become a team since “Fluff” parted company with Jim Furyk, at whose side he played golf tournaments for 25 years. The cut they made and their position in the top half of the leaderboard showed that they made a good team. On Sunday morning, however, the two parted ways: the caddie fell on the third hole and was unable to finish the round alongside Pan. A veritable relay race ensued.

PGA Tour: A caddie’s bib as a baton

Shortly after “Fluff’s” fall, C.T. Pan’s flight partner Shane Lowry was carrying his own bag, and Lowry’s caddie Darren Reynolds was carrying Pan’s bag. This, of course, was not a permanent state of affairs and that’s where Paul Emerson came in, who quickly went from spectator to caddie. Emerson offered his help when Pan accompanied the injured man to the medics: “I helped Fluff get the bib off, threw it on and started walking up the hole,” said Emerson. However, he didn’t last long. After around 30 minutes, he gave up his task.

Good performance despite chaotic circumstances

From then on, the shirt adorned the upper body of a member of the caddie team, Michael Campbell. But even he was not to remain at Pan’s side for long. In the end, Al Riddell, Paul Barjon’s caddie, took over the shirt for the back nine and finished the final round of the RBC Canadian Open together with Pan. Player and caddie knew each other from before. Despite all the circumstances, Pan played a 69 and finished tied 35th. The highlight of his round: an eagle on the par-4 12th.

At the start of the back nine, Shane Lowry laughingly remarked that Pan was probably setting a record with this round.

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LPGA Tour

Lexi Thompson Announces the Retirement of her Golf Career

The radiant smile of Lexi Thompson. (Photo: Getty)
The radiant smile of Lexi Thompson. (Photo: Getty)

Lexi Thompson, a true golfing great, is retiring from active sport. The 29-year-old collected eleven LPGA Tour victories in 17 years, one Major title, took part in the Olympics twice and was a member of the US Solheim Cup team six times. She has also shown great commitment to the development of the LPGA Tour. There is hardly any way around Lexi Thompson.

Her journey to becoming one of the most famous female golfers began when she became the youngest ever participant in a US Women’s Open at the age of twelve. This week marks her 18th and final appearance at the championship. Always with her: ladybug earrings, which accompanied her on her first participation.

Lexi Thompson: One last year on the LPGA Tour

On Tuesday morning, Lexi Thompson announced that this will be her final year on the LPGA Tour as she plans to retire from professional golf at the end of the 2024 season. The 2024 Solheim Cup will be a fitting end to her 18-year career. At the 2024 US Women’s Open, Thompson, who has always avoided questions about her setbacks, spoke for the first time about the darker side of a golf career: “I just think, especially with what’s happened in golf, as of recently, too, a lot of people don’t realize what we go through as a professional athlete. I’ll be the last one to say, throw me a pity party. That’s the last thing I want. We’re doing what we love. We’re trying the best every single day. You know, we’re not perfect. We’re humans.”

In a video on Instagram, in which she looks back on her career in a total of over three minutes, Lexi Thompson explains: “Although this has been an amazing journey, it hasn’t always been an easy one. Since I was 12 years old, my life as a golfer has been a whirlwind of constant attention, scrutiny and pressure. The cameras are always on, capturing every swing and every moment on and off the golf course. Social media never sleeps, with comments and criticisms flowing in from around the world. It can be exhausting to maintain a smile on the outside while grappling with struggles on the inside.”

Commitment beyond sport

Lexi Thompson also made a name for herself in the golf world beyond her sporting achievements. She always made time for all her fans who asked for her autograph and signed balls, shirts and caps, even in tears after bitter defeats. Her mother gave her love and respect from an early age. She often told her that it was almost her duty to make at least one person’s day better every time she left the house. And that has driven Thompson throughout her career.

LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan also points to her strong commitment to women in golf in general and the LPGA Tour in particular. “Lexi’s impact extends far beyond the golf course. She embodies the spirit and dedication of our Founders – always showing up and engaging intentionally to help further the growth and impact of the LPGA,” he said. “She is beloved by fans, consistently seen signing autographs and interacting with them no matter the result that day. Lexi’s commitment to our partners has also been unparalleled. Throughout her career, she has continually made time to engage with partners, their employees and their clients, and truly has valued their tremendous support of women’s golf.”

“I wanted them to follow their dreams”

The US-American also made it her goal to inspire people. For example, it was particularly important to her to compete in the Shriners Children’s Open last year as only the seventh woman ever to compete on the PGA Tour: “It’s been something I grew up doing with my brothers and have wanted to do, but to also send a message out to the Shriners kids that no dream is too small, and they can go after what they want and follow their dreams,” said Thompson in her pre-tournament press conference at the Shriners Children’s Open. “If I can leave here inspiring others, and especially the kids, the Shriners kids, that’s what it’s all about and what this tournament is. There is more than just playing golf.”

Whether and, if so, how often we will encounter Thompson on the golf course remains to be seen in the coming years.

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Highlights Tours

PGA Championship 2024: Scottie Scheffler Experiences a Pitch-Black Day

Scottie Scheffler had a tough start in the third round of the 2024 PGA Championship. (Photo: Getty)
Scottie Scheffler had a tough start in the third round of the 2024 PGA Championship. (Photo: Getty)

Scottie Scheffler went into the PGA Championship 2024 as one of the most dangerous favorites and lived up to this position in the first two rounds despite being arrested in the meantime. On Moving Day, however, he had an extremely bad day by his standards, which dropped him down the leaderboard to 24th place.

Setback at the 2024 PGA Championship for Scottie Scheffler

Scottie Scheffler’s start to the round was a big surprise. The world number 1 initially moved down the leaderboard on Moving Day. After his tee shot on hole 2 landed in the fairway bunker, he also failed to play around and onto the green, meaning Scheffler recorded a 6 on the par-4. This was followed by two bogeys and a score that the world number one has rarely presented to us in recent months and years. Scheffler kept his head above water with two birdies on holes 5 and 7 before a fourth slip-up followed: Bogey number 3 on hole 8.

Scheffler was not spared from losing strokes on the back nine either. He made two more birdies, which were stifled by a bogey on the following hole. At least he finished his round with a birdie on the 18th. At two strokes over par, the favorite for the title lost touch with the leaders on moving day.

View all live scores for the PGA Championship 2024

Tension on the last 18 holes

With a total of seven strokes under par, Scottie Scheffler is tied 24th after 54 holes. He is therefore eight strokes behind the two leaders: Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa. The two golfers were already neck-and-neck on Saturday, so an exciting final can be expected. In addition, they are under pressure from a tight chasing pack that includes Bryson DeChambeau and Shane Lowry.

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Highlights Tours

PGA Championship 2024: Rory McIlroy Struggles With The Putter

Rory McIlroy in round 3 of the PGA Championship 2024. (Photo: Getty)
Rory McIlroy in round 3 of the PGA Championship 2024. (Photo: Getty)

Rory McIlroy experienced an up-and-down Moving Day, and although he posted a very good score on the first half of the round, he “only” managed a 68, three shots under par. He was unable to close the gap on the leader of the PGA Championship 2024 by much, so he will have to hope for a miracle in the final to have a chance of winning.

View all live scores for the PGA Championship 2024

PGA Championship 2024

Rory McIlroy’s start on Moving Day was a little bumpy. The Northern Irishman was shaken awake by a bogey on his very first hole, the par 4-1. What followed was a race to catch up, as we know it from McIlroy. A birdie on the 4th was followed by a birdie series of four birdies and thus a rise up the leaderboard. He suffered a setback on the par-3 14th when his tee shot clearly missed the green and McIlroy only sank the ball in the hole with his fourth shot. Another bogey followed on hole 16, but McIlroy still managed a conciliatory finish when he managed a final stroke gain on the final hole.

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Rory McIlroy: “I may rue that six-hole stretch where I wasn’t able to hole any putts”

Rory McIlroy sums up after the round: “Yeah, really got it going around the turn there to get to 4-under, and then I kept hitting good shots and had good looks at 11, 12 and 13, 15. Then I made two bogeys with a missed putt on 14, a three-putt. Yeah, there was a six-hole stretch there, seven-hole stretch where just sort of the putter cooled on me. Depending on what happens tomorrow, that’s sort of the – if I look back on the tournament, I may rue that six-hole stretch where I wasn’t able to hole any putts.” Nevertheless, he is confident: “I have to go out there and try to shoot a low one. I putted really well on Thursday, and then just the last couple days it’s sort of deserted me. Yeah, I need the putter to sort of heat up again, and with everything else it’s doing, there’s certainly another low one in me.”

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Highlights Tours

PGA Championship 2024: Shane Lowry Misses Century Score by a Few Centimeters

Close story: Shane Lowry on the 18th green. (Photo: Getty)
Close story: Shane Lowry on the 18th green. (Photo: Getty)

Shane Lowry’s score became more and more incredible from hole to hole, turning the golfer into the early star of the 2024 PGA Championship on Moving Day. In the end, the Irishman gave a flawless performance that almost made major history. After playing over 130,000 major rounds, Lowry was given the chance to finish with the lowest round ever achieved in a major. He missed the score of 61 strokes by just a few centimeters.

View all live scores for the PGA Championship 2024

Shane Lowry impresses at the PGA Championship 2024

Shane Lowry secured his ticket for the weekend with two solid rounds of 69 in the first two rounds of the second major of the year. Shane Lowry was on top form early on Moving Day. With a birdie on hole 2, he kicked off a round of golf that almost went down in the history books at the end of the day. His first birdie was followed by three more in succession. Two more birdies on holes 7 and 9 led the 37-year-old to record a 29 on the front nine. Up to this point, Lowry had made no mistakes and would remain so until the end of his round.

He added three more stroke gains on the back nine (on holes 13, 14 and 17), giving him the chance to bring his score to ten strokes under par, a 61, on the 18th. Although he missed the fairway with his first two shots, he managed a masterful approach from a challenging position. However, he failed to sink the putt from just over three meters into the hole, resulting in a 62.

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The golfer summed up his round: “I enjoyed it. I enjoyed every minute of it, obviously. Probably the most disappointed anyone can ever be shooting 62. I knew what was at stake. Just didn’t hit the ball hard enough. Had it on a good read and just broke away from the hole. Look, I went out there with a job to do today, and my job was to try to get myself back in the tournament, and I definitely did that.” Continue: “I knew I just really wanted to hole it. Probably too much. Yeah, it was just — I kind of stood back and allowed myself to enjoy the moment. It was a pretty cool moment to have. It would have been a pretty cool moment to kind of seal the deal and do it. But at the end of the day, I knew even if I didn’t do it that I done what I needed to do today, and I’m pretty happy with that.”

A 62 has been played four times so far in golf’s 100-year major history. Although he missed the record score, Shane Lowry’s third round at the 2024 PGA Championship deserves the utmost respect.

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Highlights Tours

Invitation Accepted: Tiger Woods to Play the US Open 2024

Tiger Woods last played the 2024 US Masters (Photo: Getty)
Tiger Woods last played the 2024 US Masters (Photo: Getty)

It is the first time in almost 30 years that Tiger Woods has not automatically qualified for a major tournament. Thanks to his countless successes, Woods has not missed a single major qualification since the 1996 PGA Championship, in which he took part as an amateur. In 2024, he will have to rely on a special permit for the first time.

While he enjoys a lifetime entry into the US Masters and the PGA Championship and is allowed to play in the British Open until the age of 60, his eligibility to play in the US Open expired this year. He last received a five-year exemption for the US Open following his victory at the 2019 US Masters, but this expired at the beginning of the year.

Tiger Woods plays the US Open 2024 thanks to special permit

Tiger Woods celebrated his last major success in 2019. His victory at the 2019 US Masters was considered the greatest comeback in golf history – since then, Woods has been plagued by various injuries that have repeatedly made it impossible for him to play golf. He has since competed in several major tournaments again. He has announced about one start per month for this season. This includes participation in the US Open 2024.

However, Tiger Woods needed special permission to do so: “The U.S. Open, our national championship, is a truly special event for our game and one that has helped define my career. I’m honored to receive this exemption and could not be more excited for the opportunity to compete in this year’s U.S. Open, especially at Pinehurst, a venue that means so much to the game.”

Will Tiger Woods make history once again?

Woods last won the tournament in 2008 and this year, from June 13-16, it will be decided whether the 15-time major champion will triumph once again. “The story of the U.S. Open could not be written without Tiger Woods,” USGA chief championships officer John Bodenhamer said in a statement. “From his 15-stroke victory at Pebble Beach in 2000 to his inspiring win on a broken leg at Torrey Pines in 2008, this championship is simply better when Tiger is in the field, and his accomplishments in the game undoubtedly made this an easy decision for our special exemption committee.”

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Highlights Tours

The Masters Tournament 2024 Live Blog: Scottie Scheffler’s Way to Victory

Live Blog: Scottie Scheffler during The Masters Tournament 2024. (Photo: Getty)
Live Blog: Scottie Scheffler during The Masters Tournament 2024. (Photo: Getty)

2022 was Scottie Scheffler’s finest hour. The young up-and-coming player first appeared on the radar of the golf world when he won four tournaments in the space of six weeks. Among these four victories, he celebrated the biggest success of his career: Scottie Scheffler won the Green Jacket at the Masters Tournament.

Scottie Scheffler and the Masters Tournament

2022 was not Scheffler’s first time taking part in golf’s most traditional major tournament. He had already made his debut two years earlier in 2020, where he finished tied 19th, improved to tied 18th the following year and 2022 ultimately celebrated one of his greatest triumphs. The then 25-year-old beat the experienced Rory McIlroy by three strokes to secure not only the famous Green Jacket but also his position at the top of the world rankings.

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With four rounds under par (Scheffler was the only one to achieve this that year), he proved that he could cope with the extraordinary challenges of Augusta National Golf Club. Scottie Scheffler makes no secret of his love for the tournament. In his acceptance speech after his 2022 victory, he reveals: “I love this place. I love this golf course. If I had to choose one tournament to win, it would be this one.”

Scheffler’s chances at the Masters Tournament 2024

Last year, the now 27-year-old was unable to defend his title and was beaten by Spaniard Jon Rahm. However, the American has nothing to hide with his tied tenth place and records his fourth top 20 finish in his fourth Masters start. This year, the cards will be reshuffled.

Scottie Scheffler will once again start the race as the world number 1 and is therefore one of the favorites. Having been in top form for several years now, he will go into the first major of the year in a stronger position and will certainly be in for an exciting battle with his strongest rivals. He has also impressed with his performance in the current season. In eight starts, Scottie Scheffler has finished in the top 20 eight times and won two of the tournaments. Among his two victories, the Players Championship was the unofficial “fifth major” of the PGA Tour – there could not have been a better dress rehearsal for Scheffler.

Besides his Masters victory in 2022, Scottie Scheffler has yet to win another major, but has finished in the top 25 at every single major since 2020. Last year, he finished three out of four majors in the top 10.

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Highlights Tours

The Masters Tournament 2024: Prize Money without Making the Cut?

Who gets prize money at the Masters Tournament? (Photo: Getty)
Who gets prize money at the Masters Tournament? (Photo: Getty)

As a rule, the following applies to all tournaments on the PGA and DP World Tour: after two rounds of play, there is a cut that only the 65 best players and equals survive. This selection fights for the final ranking in two further rounds. The total prize money that can be won at a tournament is divided among all players who have survived the cut – the players who had to go home after two rounds go home empty-handed. However, the rules are different at Augusta.

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Missed the cut: Who gets prize money at the Masters Tournament 2024?

Starting with the size of the starting field: in the majority of events, around 150 players take part – in Augusta, the field is limited to around 80 to 90 players. There are also special conditions for qualifying for the Masters Tournament. This year, there were a total of 19 different, strictly regulated ways to qualify. Starting with the Masters champions, who receive a ticket for life, to champions and top-ranked players from other majors and big tournaments, who qualify for certain periods of time, such as five years. In addition, current PGA Tour winners and the 50 leaders of the official world rankings, which are published in the week before the current Masters tournament, will start. Various amateur champions will also have the opportunity to play in Augusta.

Follow Scottie Scheffler at the Masters Tournament live

The Masters Tournament is the first major tournament of the year and probably the biggest highlight of the season for many golfers and fans. Only the crème de la crème are allowed to compete in the tournament at Augusta National and fight for the Green Jacket. The rules of the tournament are slightly modified compared to the usual tournaments of the leading tours in golf.

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Although the cut is also made after 36 holes have been played, only the 50 best and equals are entitled to a ticket for the weekend. This means that the Major journey is already over for more players than usual on Friday. However, there is another change that comes into effect at the Masters Tournament: all players, even those who miss the cut, are entitled to prize money. Anyone who has played two rounds will receive 10,000 US dollars in prize money. The only exceptions are the amateurs in the starting field.

Jon Rahm’s Tee Times for The Masters Tournament

The trip to Augusta therefore not only brings the fulfillment of a dream and memories of a very special tournament for all players, regardless of how they fared, but also guaranteed prize money of 10,000 US dollars. An icing on the cake that makes participation in the Masters Tournament even more attractive.

Other majors are similar

At the PGA Championship, in which no amateurs take part, every player who misses the cut receives prize money of 4,000 US dollars. The US Open pays out the same amount as the Masters: 10,000 US dollars go to those who miss the cut. The British Open staggers the prizes: The ten best golfers who missed the cut, for example, receive 7,200 US dollars. The worse the performance, the less money the players are entitled to.

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Highlights Tours

The Masters Tournament 2024: Scottie Scheffler makes a flawless start to the tournament

Scottie Scheffler in the first round of the Masters Tournament 2024. (Photo: Getty)
Scottie Scheffler in the first round of the Masters Tournament 2024. (Photo: Getty)

Despite the challenging wind in Augusta, Scottie Scheffler makes a promising start to the tournament. Scheffler won the Masters Tournament two years ago and was beaten by Jon Rahm last year. So far this season, Scottie Scheffler has delivered one top performance after another – expectations of the 27-year-old are correspondingly high. Scheffler withstood the pressure in round 1.

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Bogey-free start to the 2024 Masters Tournament

The scorecard of your dreams: Scottie Scheffler was unimpressed by the course and the atmosphere at Augusta on the first day. Undeterred, the 2022 Masters champion played the first 18 holes in a joint flight with Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele. He made two birdies on the front nine: On the 2nd and 6th. Scheffler then ignited his turbo on the back nine. He conquered the infamous “Amen Corner” with two birdies and delivered two more birdies on holes 15 and 16. The American did not allow himself a single mistake and thus played the first bogey-free round of his still young career at the Masters Tournament. With a total of six strokes under par, he finished his round in second place, one stroke behind Bryson DeChambeau, who was leading at the time.

Scottie Scheffler about his round

Due to the weather conditions, Scheffler was just as surprised by his score as he was by Bryson DeChambeau’s good round (-7): “

When I was walking up to the first tee, I was fairly surprised with how many people were under par already. Going into today with the forecast the way it was supposed to be, and I’ve played this tournament once before in some pretty high winds, and it’s an extremely challenging golf course.

And, yeah, I felt like today I just did a really good job of — Teddy, I would say, did a really good job of kind of guessing the wind correctly, if that makes sense. You know, we stole a few shots on the par 3s, I felt like, and then I played the par 5s well.”

The fact that DeChambeau produced such a low score did not distract the world No. 1 from the essentials: “

Yeah, I wasn’t really thinking too much about my score out there. I mean, it’s the first day of the tournament. Like I said, I was just trying to hit good shots and stay patient out there. You cannot force yourself into making birdies around this golf course. It just doesn’t really lend itself to that, especially with the high winds.

And so, I mean, I saw that he shot 7-under, and I thought to myself, wow, that’s a really good round of golf, and I kind of put my head down and focused on what I was doing.”

The course at Augusta has a total of four par-3s. Scheffler scored birdies on three of them. After the round, Scheffler sums up his game on the par-3s despite the strong wind: “

Yeah, I felt like I definitely stole some shots there on the par 3s today. Like you said, you do have to take advantage of the par 5s out here. Most of them are reachable. So you definitely have to do your best to take advantage of those.

Today, yeah, definitely stole a couple shots there. All that’s going through my head is just trying to execute, and like it all really depends on the pin location and setup. Like No. 4 is a good example. The tee box was up today, and it’s a challenging pin, but I put myself in a good spot there under the hole.

Then No. 6, we got the wind right, and our goal was just challenging the top of the slope. And that’s exactly what we did, and it stayed up there on top and made a nice putt.

No. 12, hit a good shot, and doesn’t hit the green. That happens out here.

16, we had a good wind direction and the pin was, you know, down low, which made that hole significantly easier, and was just able to hit a nice shot in there.”

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