The post Jim Furyk Expected to Miss 2016 Masters appeared first on Golf.

The post Jim Furyk Expected to Miss 2016 Masters appeared first on Golf.

Furyk, who is still out after secondary wrist surgery from earlier this year, said he is expecting a May return as he continues rehab. If that’s the case, he’ll also miss the 2016 Masters. This all comes according to a report from Nate Palm of WJBF, the local ABC affiliate in Augusta, Georgia, who was attending the media day for the RBC Heritage Open on Monday. Furyk is the defending champion at the RBC.

This would be the first Masters Furyk would miss since 2004 and just the second major he’s missed since the 1995 British Open.

Jim Furyk says he’s expecting a May return following his wrist surgery from four weeks ago. Expected to miss Masters pic.twitter.com/9SLKTVbiUW

— Nathan Palm (@NathanPalmWJBF) February 29, 2016

Another reporter, Alan Blondin, reported that Furyk is working on his short game.

Jim Furyk says @RBC_Heritage media day that 4 wks after wrist surgery he is chipping & putting, about 4 wks from hitting balls. #RBCHeritage

— alan blondin (@alanblondin) February 29, 2016

The post Jim Furyk Expected to Miss 2016 Masters appeared first on Golf.

The post Jim Furyk Wins Playoff at RBC Heritage Over Kevin Kisner appeared first on Golf.

The post Jim Furyk Wins Playoff at RBC Heritage Over Kevin Kisner appeared first on Golf.

Furyk was ahead by a stroke when Kisner birdied the 72nd hole to force the playoff, the fourth in the last six tournaments at Harbour Town Golf Links. On the first extra hole, Kisner rolled in a second straight birdie putt on the 18th. But Furyk, the 2003 U.S. Open champion, answered with a birdie to keep the playoff going.

After Kisner missed his birdie try on No. 17, Furyk sank a 12-foot putt for his 17th career PGA Tour win. He dropped his putter and punched the air in celebration.

LEADERBOARD: Full Scores From the RBC Heritage

Furyk shot a 63 and Kisner a 64, leaving them both at 18-under 266. Third-round leader Troy Merritt was at 16 under after a 69. Defending champion Matt Kuchar (68) was at 14 under, and Masters winner Jordan Spieth (70) was eight shots back.

It was an odd tournament for Furyk, who had come close to breaking his victory drought so many times – he was 0-9 holding 54-hole leads since his last victory.

He looked as if he’d get left behind early, making 18 pars in the first round to fall five shots back. Furyk found his game Friday with eight birdies on the way to a 64. He had a 68 Saturday, yet knew he needed to fire himself as he did Friday to have a chance.

Boy, did he ever.

You may also like 2015 RBC Heritage at Harbour Town

Furyk had six birdies on his first nine holes, including a 48-footer on the par-4 eighth that moved him in front. A bogey on the 11th dropped Furyk into a four-way tie for first, but he responded with birdies on three of the next four holes and looked as if he’d have an easy time.

Instead, Kisner matched Furyk’s on-target irons to chase him down on the back nine. He had birdies on the 14th and 15th to move within a stroke and stuck his approach on the signature lighthouse hole at No. 18 within 7 feet for a tying birdie.

Kisner kissed his wife, Brittany, and 10-month old daughter Kathleen on the way to the scoring trailer to prepare for more golf.

Furyk is used to such grinding at Harbour Town. When he won there in 2010, Brian Davis tied him on the final hole to force a playoff – won by Furyk when Davis struck a loose impediment on his swing and called a penalty on himself.

Merritt fell to third after a third 69 this week. His other score was a course-record tying 61 in the second round Friday. Merritt couldn’t keep up with Furyk’s charge and lost his chance after hitting out of bounds on No. 12 and taking double bogey. Merritt made up for it a few holes later with an eagle-2 on No. 16.

Spieth closed an amazing five-tournament stretch. He won the Valspar Championship a month ago and followed that with seconds at the Texas and Houston opens before matching Tigers Woods’ record of 18 under at Augusta National. For Spieth, 19 of his past 20 rounds have been under par.

Spieth had a whirlwind media tour in New York on Monday and Tuesday before arriving at Hilton Head. Now the 21-year-old Texan wants to get back to Dallas in time to attend the Academy of Country Music Awards. He’ll return to golf in two weeks at the World Golf Championship Match Play event.

For more news that golfers everywhere are talking about, follow @golf_com on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and subscribe to our YouTube video channel.

The post Jim Furyk Wins Playoff at RBC Heritage Over Kevin Kisner appeared first on Golf.

The post Jordan Spieth’s near-miss, Rory McIlroy’s absence, one dangerous golf house | Monday Finish appeared first on Golf.

The post Jordan Spieth’s near-miss, Rory McIlroy’s absence, one dangerous golf house | Monday Finish appeared first on Golf.

FIRST OFF THE TEE

Beware the Slice House.

Let’s start with a peek behind the curtain: I’m typing this beginning section on a plane from Charleston to Seattle — which is, incredibly, a direct flight, shoutout to Alaska Airlines — coming off a multi-day bachelor party. In addition to the emotional comedown that hits after a memorable buddies trip, there’s a two-year-old sitting directly behind me who is alternating between shrieking and kicking. And because I’ve consumed my body weight in water this morning I’m desperate for a bathroom run — but the couple next to me just got snack boxes and double Bloody Marys (everyone is coping with the shrieking in their own ways) which means I can’t legally ask to get out of the row until they make solid progress.

It’s not all doom and gloom, though: I’m streaming the final few holes of the RBC! The decrease in cost and increase in effectiveness of in-flight wifi has been one of the greatest small joys of my last 12 months. Jordan Spieth is in good position. I’ll let you know by the end of the article how he ends up doing.

The real reason I mentioned this bachelor party, though, is because we booked a rental house on a golf course and the experience was an eye-opener. I’ve read plenty of horror stories about homes abutting courses; there are plenty of fascinating lawsuits from angry neighbors. But when we’d booked we had no idea that our home was just over 200 yards off the tee down the right side of a par-4. Per a USGA study, the average male golfer hits driver 215 yards. And per a GOLFTEC study, at least 60 percent of golfers battle a slice. In other words, we were in the kill zone.

On Friday morning we found a few strays from the day before. It didn’t take long before more came whizzing overhead. The first clipped a tree and came tumbling through, landing just beside a group of us. The next flew into a group of trees some 10 yards ahead. The whole thing made for terrific people-watching — we cheered a few recovery shots from our yard — but did add an element of uncertainty to the whole thing. After one ball careened off the roof and into the pool and then, just seconds later, another came through the trees and onto the deck (presumably from the same offender, quickly re-teeing) a little uneasiness joined the entertainment value.

Two quick takeaways:

1. We threw back most of the balls that came through, hoping to build up good-bounce karma for future rounds. But not once did a golfer seem to suspect that they’d gotten a favorable bounce from an outside agency, despite their ball mysteriously appearing 30 yards left of where it left their sight. Instead they just played on, no questions asked. Golf’s punishing enough that we take the lucky breaks where we can and move on.

2. If you live in this type of situation, I see you. I feel for you. And unless you put a cage over your entire house, I’m just not sure what you’re supposed to do. Golf’s slicers are many, they are powerful, and they’re coming for your sliding-glass door.

WINNERS

Who won the week?

It’s hardly a rags-to-riches story, but it’s a pleasant and satisfying one nonetheless: Matthew Fitzpatrick has always wanted to win at Hilton Head. He and his family used to come here “on holiday” and they’d watch golf and play golf, too. He loves the course. He loves the tournament. Other than the majors, it’s the one he wants most. And he’s said that if he could just win it he’d retire happy. After a dreamy conclusion to his Sunday — birdies at 15 and 16 and then a bold line on a flagged shot at 17, even though he missed the putt — he ultimately finished off Jordan Spieth on the third playoff hole by nearly holing a 9-iron. That’s dream stuff and, I hope, immensely satisfying for Fitzpatrick and for his family.

His post-round reaction? “I think I can retire now,” he said. We don’t think he will just yet, though.

The LPGA jetted to Hawaii where Grace Kim won the LOTTE Championship in just her third start as a rookie. The 22-year-old Australian birdied her 72nd and 73rd holes and then triumphed in a three-way playoff with a birdie on the first extra hole, the par-5 18th. She jumped up to No. 80 in the Rolex Rankings and booked herself a spot in this week’s Chevron, the first major of the season, plus a winner’s check for $300,000. Not a bad haul for a trip to Oahu.

Spencer Levin won on the Korn Ferry Tour. It was his first victory in a PGA Tour-sanctioned event (it was his 343rd try) and his first win anywhere since he played the Canadian Tour in 2008. Levin, now 38, has achieved cult-hero status from wearing his heart on his sleeve, javelining flagsticks, making bold birdies and plenty more (one collection of stories is here) but he’s looking for a different type of status, too: PGA Tour status. Levin hasn’t been on the big Tour since the 2016-17 season but the win moved him up to No. 11 on the KFT money list and in position to make his return.

“She’s almost 2. And the first thing she said is she pointed out the window and said, ‘Bird. Bird. Bird.’ So I knew it was probably good vibes,” Levin said. He made eight total against zero bogeys (while still wielding a Happy Gilmore-style putting stroke to stave off anything yippy) for a final-round 63 and a one-shot win. Good for him.

Jon Rahm remains a winner given he still has that green coat from the Masters he won last week. He got extra credit for keeping his commitment to the RBC Heritage and playing to a T15. He got extra-extra credit for sticking around after his round and joining the CBS broadcast, where he brought smarts, insight, playfulness and personality to a couple segments including a strange Patrick Cantlay chip shot. He also brought the best out of the CBS crew, including this year’s popular addition to the booth, Trevor Immelman. But Immelman freely admitted he was relieved Rahm doesn’t want his job.

And the Designated Events model was reinforced as a winner by the way it elevated this particular event on a distinctly different style of course. Harbour Town has produced a wide variety of winners, but by the end of the weekend it was a large group of thoroughbreds competing for the top spot. Getting those names together on top of the leaderboard is the best thing the PGA Tour can do. I’m still unsure about the anti-climax of a tournament the week after the Masters but perhaps there’s something to be said for building on existing momentum?

ALMOST-WINNERS

If you’re not first you can still be second — or third!

Jordan Spieth played well enough to win. It’s actually tough to get much closer to winning than Spieth did, given his birdie putt on the first playoff hole was, like, basically in until wiggling just far enough right to miss. Spieth lost his hat and his putter and eventually lost to Fitzpatrick’s heroics. But he’s playing as well as he’s played in years, logging five top-six finishes in eight starts and jumping to No. 9 in the world. It’s been a while since we’ve seen him in front of good pal Justin Thomas in the World Ranking, but JT is down at No. 14, no doubt with some extra motivation to get climbing.

Yu Liu and Yu Jin Sung finished tied at 12 under alongside Grace Kim but fell to T2 when she birdied the first playoff hole. Still, it was the best LPGA result of Sung’s career and matched one other T2 for Liu.

“It was a bit unexpected, to be honest,” Liu said after her closing 64. “I felt [like] I overachieved today. if I knew starting off the day I knew I would end up in a playoff, I would be definitely very happy.” Sounds like she’s leaving happy. That’s almost-winner stuff.

NOT-WINNERS

Blergh.

Rory McIlroy skipped the RBC after a surprising missed cut at the Masters, possibly forgoing $3 million and inviting plenty of scrutiny in the process. I’m not particularly interested in passing judgment on McIlroy’s decision until we hear from him, but his absence was strange in the context of the last year. He’s the one who popularized the Tom Brady metaphor, where he knew if he turned on the Tampa Bay Bucs game, Brady would be playing. And McIlroy is media-savvy enough to know that he’d get crushed from some corners for no-showing Hilton Head. The fact that he did so anyway suggests he really didn’t feel like he could play.

Christina Kim made her first LPGA start of 2023 and it went incredibly well for about 59 holes; she’d reached nine under par for the event and would have finished T6 if she’d played even-par golf the rest of the way. Instead she made five bogeys and a triple for a disappointing 78. While she took plenty of positives from the week — and her T31 finish is better than any result from 2022 — there’s no doubt some heartbreak mixed in there, too.

Russell Wilson opened himself up to an internet’s-worth of jokes about turnovers, Arrowhead and his “let’s ride” catchphrase. The embarrassment of flipping a golf cart was probably enough before any of the rest of that, but here we are. Not a winner.

NEWS FROM SEATTLE

The 50-50-50 days.

I’ve been trying to dial in a theory on a specific type of early-spring Seattle day, and I think I’ve hit it: there are a fair number of days that are forecast for about a 50-50 chance that it’ll hit 50 degrees. If the drizzle hangs in and we never hit 50, it’s not great activities weather. But if the clouds burn off, the sun starts rocking and that temperature climbs over 50? People take to the streets. Walking. Running. Hiking. Eating. Drinking. Spreading good vibes. And yes, playing golf. We’re looking at a bunch of 50-50-50 days coming up. Wish us luck.

WHAT’S NEXT

3 things to watch this week.

1. Major Szn

After a half-century in the Coachella Valley, this week’s Chevron (formerly the Dinah Shore and the ANA) begins a new era in Houston at Carlton Woods. The good news? According to the tournament director it’ll still be safe for the winner to make the jump into the pond adjacent No. 18.

2. Zurich’s Defending Champs

Patrick Cantlay has been in the spotlight the last two weeks for some good reasons — he contended at both Augusta National and Hilton Head — but has also been catching heat for how long he spends over the ball. His playing partner Xander Schauffele is coming off top-10s at those two events, too. They’re No. 4 and No. 5 in the world. And they’re the defending champs. Can anyone beat ’em in New Orleans?

3. LIV Down Undah

LIV Golf’s trek to Australia promises a proper party. This is expected to be a big week for LIV’s in-person experience, having sold plenty of tickets to a golf-starved region that seems ready to get rowdy. How will that translate to TV viewers and international buzz? We’ll see how it goes down this weekend.

The post Jordan Spieth’s near-miss, Rory McIlroy’s absence, one dangerous golf house | Monday Finish appeared first on Golf.

The post Winner’s bag: Matt Fitzpatrick’s gear at the 2023 RBC Heritage at Hilton Head appeared first on Golf.

The post Winner’s bag: Matt Fitzpatrick’s gear at the 2023 RBC Heritage at Hilton Head appeared first on Golf.

Take a closer look at his mixed equipment setup. Keep scrolling for a closer look and links to purchase.

All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy a linked product, GOLF.COM may earn a fee. Pricing may vary.

DRIVER

Titleist TSR1, TSR2, TSR3 and TSR4 Drivers (9 degrees)

$600-800

Click through to purchase a new Titleist TSR driver from Fairway Jockey.

Buy Now

DRIVER SHAFT

Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Orange Wood Shaft

$350

A material improvement. TENSEI 1K Pro Orange builds on the legacy of CK Pro Orange by incorporating 1K Carbon Fiber into the shaft’s construction. The result is Mitsubishi Chemical’s most premium counterbalanced offering ever, a shaft that features even lower torque and tighter dispersion than its renowned Carbon Kevlar predecessor.

Buy Now

WEDGE

Titleist Vokey SM9 Tour Chrome Custom Wedge

$179.99

For every shot, every lie, every course, there’s a grind fit for your swing. Finding the right grind to match your swing and playing conditions will give you the best turf interaction, contact and shot performance. Master Craftsman Bob Vokey has spent decades crafting, developing and improving his tour proven grinds to fit players of all levels.

Buy Now

IRON SHAFT

True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue Iron Shaft

$44.99

The True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue is ideal for the player looking for a low launch, low spin shaft designed for optimum control and accuracy. You can buy the True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue built to your required specifications.

Buy Now

PUTTER

Bettinardi 2023 Putter

$444.99

The Studio Stock series is completed with our Diamond Blast finish on the topline and body to provide a glare-resistant view from address, while the face and sole are polished giving it a luxurious presence on the greens.

Buy Now

BALLS

Titleist 2023 Pro V1x Golf Balls

$54.99

Pro V1x is the optimal premium performance choice for players looking for maximum distance, who need higher flight and more stopping power.

Buy Now

Want to overhaul your bag for 2023? Find a fitting location near you at GOLF’s affiliate company True Spec Golf. For more on the latest gear news and information, check out our latest Fully Equipped podcast below.

The post Winner’s bag: Matt Fitzpatrick’s gear at the 2023 RBC Heritage at Hilton Head appeared first on Golf.

The post 2023 RBC Heritage money: Here’s how much every player made at Harbour Town appeared first on Golf.

The post 2023 RBC Heritage money: Here’s how much every player made at Harbour Town appeared first on Golf.

The question had been posed a few times to Jon Rahm this weekend. It was OK to at least wonder. He had won the Masters last week. He was exhausted. Likely no one would have blinked had he chosen to withdraw from this week’s RBC Heritage. 

Except maybe him. 

“It’s my job, right?” Rahm said Friday. “… People pay their hard-earned money to watch me perform. It’s my job to perform. They don’t care if I slept good or bad, I feel good or bad. It doesn’t matter. As a competitor, I’m not ducking anything, in that sense. I’m going to go out and try to shoot low.

“… My intention is to try my hardest, and that was it.”

That being said … 

Three point six mill to the winner ain’t bad either. 

You can find a complete list of the 2023 RBC Heritage payouts for each player below. In all, players were playing for a $20 million purse. 

How much every player made at the 2023 RBC Heritage 

1. Matt Fitzpatrick $3.6 million

2. Jordan Spieth $2.18 million

3. Patrick Cantlay $1.38 million

4. Xander Schauffele $980,000

T5. Sahith Theegala $772,500
Hayden Buckley $772,500

T7. Brian Harman $607,500
Sungjae Im $607,500
Emiliano Grillo $607,500
Cam Davis $607,500

T11. Scottie Scheffler $445,000
Chez Reavie $445,000
Taylor Moore $445,000
Mark Hubbard $445,000

T15. Sam Burns $335,000
Jon Rahm $335,000
Rickie Fowler $335,000
Tommy Fleetwood $335,000

T19. Christiaan Bezuidenhout $237,000
Tyrrell Hatton $237,000
Carson Young $237,000
Patrick Rodgers $237,000
Russell Henley $237,000
Matt Kuchar $237,000

T25. Justin Thomas $160,500
Denny McCarthy $160,500
Justin Rose $160,500
Jimmy Walker $160,500

T29. Wyndham Clark $140,000
Michael Thompson $140,000

T31. Beau Hossler $107,400
Adam Schenk $107,400
Tony Finau $107,400
Nate Lashley $107,400
Ben Griffin $107,400
Gary Woodland $107,400
Collin Morikawa $107,400
Adam Scott $107,400
Corey Conners $107,400
Patton Kizzire $107,400

T41. James Hahn $71,000
K.H. Lee $71,000
Ben Martin $71,000
Adam Svensson $71,000
Nick Taylor $71,000
Chris Kirk $71,000
Lee Hodges $71,000

T48. Garrick Higgo $53,400
Aaron Rai $53,400
Keegan Bradley $53,400

T51. Kevin Streelman $49,133
Cameron Young $49,133
Brendon Todd $49,133

T54. Zach Johnson $47,200
Doug Ghim $47,200

T56. Danny Willett $46,200
Ernie Els $46,200
Scott Stallings $46,200

T59. Matthew NeSmith $44,800
Viktor Hovland $44,800
Andrew Putnam $44,800
Adam Long $44,800

T63. Harris English $43,200
Max McGreevy $43,200
Lucas Herbert $43,200
Davis Thompson $43,200

67. Luke Donald $41,600
Jim Herman $41,600
Shane Lowry $41,600
Austin Smotherman $41,600

71. Justin Lower $40,600

72. Kramer Hickok $40,200

73. Justin Suh $39,800

Golf Magazine

Subscribe To The Magazine

Subscribe

The post 2023 RBC Heritage money: Here’s how much every player made at Harbour Town appeared first on Golf.

The post 2023 RBC Heritage purse: Payout info, winner’s share in Hilton Head appeared first on Golf.

The post 2023 RBC Heritage purse: Payout info, winner’s share in Hilton Head appeared first on Golf.

It’s a bustling crew leading things on Sunday at Harbour Town, a group that includes a former major winner seeking a redemptive victory (Matthew Fitzpatrick, -14), a former major winner seeking a career-altering victory (Jimmy Walker, -11), a former major winner seeking a bounceback win (Jordan Spieth, -12) and a former major winner seeking to stoke a monthslong hot streak (Scottie Scheffler, -11).

And those are just the major winners!

Within striking distance, there’s also Patrick Cantlay (-13), Tommy Fleetwood (-11) and Rickie Fowler (-10) — all of whom would have a remarkable victory story of their own to tell at the RBC Heritage.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt the jam-packed leaderboard to learn there’s a massive sum of cash on the line. The latest of the PGA Tour’s “designated events,” the winner in Hilton Head will take home a chunk of a massive $20 million purse pool, the second-largest such payout on the PGA Tour calendar. That works out to a stunning $3.6 million for the winner, more than Masters champion Jon Rahm took home from Augusta National last weekend.

Below, find everything you need to know about the RBC Heritage purse, including payout information and winner’s share. Coverage can be found all day on CBS.

RBC Heritage payout information, winner’s share

Win: $3.6 million

2: $2.18 million

3: $1.38 million

4: $980,000

5: $820,000

6: $725,000

7: $675,000

8: $625,000

9: $585,000

10: $545,000

11: $505,000

12: $465,000

13: $425,000

14: $385,000

15: $365,000

16: $345,000

17: $325,000

18: $305,000

19: $285,000

20: $265,000

21: $245,000

22: $225,000

23: $209,000

24: $193,000

25: $177,000

26: $161,000

27: $155,000

28: $149,000

29: $143,000

30: $137,000

31: $131,000

32: $125,000

33: $119,000

34: $114,000

35: $109,000

36: $104,000

37: $99,000

38: $95,000

39: $91,000

40: $87,000

41: $83,000

42: $79,000

43: $75,000

44: $71,000

45: $67,000

46: $63,000

47: $59,000

48: $55,800

49: $53,000

50: $51,400

51: $50,200

52: $49,000

53: $48,200

54: $47,400

55: $47,000

56: $46,600

57: $46,200

58: $45,800

59: $45,400

60: $45,000

61: $44,600

62: $44,200

63: $43,800

64: $43,400

65: $43,000

66: $42,600

67: $42,200

68: $41,800

The post 2023 RBC Heritage purse: Payout info, winner’s share in Hilton Head appeared first on Golf.

The post What it’s like hanging out in one of the PGA Tour’s most iconic vantage points appeared first on Golf.

The post What it’s like hanging out in one of the PGA Tour’s most iconic vantage points appeared first on Golf.

“I like coming up here because honestly, there aren’t really many places, you get this view to see way down there to South Beach and all the other things like the boats and the water,” John, a junior golfer himself, said from atop the lighthouse Saturday. “It’s just iconic.”

For more than 50 years, the lighthouse has dominated the horizon from Harbour Town Golf Links’ 18th hole.

The instantly recognizable, 90-foot, candy cane-painted structure sits just on the other side of the Harbour Town Marina from the 18th green. The lighthouse is not just a symbol of the golf course (it is the logo) and Sea Pines resort, it’s become a beacon for the island of Hilton Head itself.

The lighthouse was originally built by the resort in 1969 as a private navigational aid, but it soon grew to become a public asset. Today, the area surrounding the lighthouse has a full restaurant and rooftop bar. The interior of the structure also includes a museum.

Most of us won’t get to drive down Magnolia Lane to Augusta National, walk across the Swlican Bridge at St. Andrews or hit a tee shot onto the island-green 17th at TPC Sawgrass. But during tournament week, $5.75 earns you admission into the lighthouse and access to climb 114 steps to the top of it.

And tournament week might even be the best time of the year to do it. Views of the expansive 18th green and surrounding golf course make the top of the lighthouse one of the best spectating areas on the course. And with car access even more limited to Sea Pines this week — there is a fee normally to enter the resort if you’re not staying there or playing golf — the viewing area is restricted to only those who can reach the lighthouse by foot.

A museum worker told me the lighthouse’s busiest days see around a thousand people climb up to the top. But even on Saturday at the RBC Heritage, she only expects 300-400.

The museum part of the lighthouse starts immediately with the climb up as each level and landing on the staircase is filled with either maritime, nautical or other memorabilia with explainers about the history of Hilton Head and Harbour Town. But the real treasures are found on level eight, just a few feet from the top, where the artifacts and photos from the area’s golf history are located.

“If you’re sitting at home watching the last day of the tournament and they show the shot down 18 and the lighthouse in the background,” he said. “It’s always neat to say you could physically climb to the top of that and you could look out at that vantage point back on the 18th as something that you can’t necessarily do at every other tournament.”

That is John Gorsuch’s favorite stop on the climb.

“I think that one is what really made this lighthouse popular and like more of an attraction,” he said. “So I think that really drew a lot of attention to this. I think that’s a good one to read about.”

In the “Legacy of Golf” exhibit, you’ll find all kinds of photos and memorabilia. On one side, there’s a replica of the tartan jacket awarded to winners of the Heritage, while on another there are photos of Heritage winners like Arnold Palmer and Payne Stewart.

From there it’s only a few more steps to the top and breathtaking views of the Calibogue Sound and the 18th hole, where you might even discover something new. For instance, one of the info boards on the observation deck explains how the 18th fairway at Harbour Town became the widest on the PGA Tour. The fault for that, it seems, is owed to a dredging accident.

You can see the aftermath of that incident far off in the distance, just as you can see Harbour Town’s famed 18th green. In fact, spend long enough looking and you’ll realize there’s not much you can’t see from up here.

There are worse views.

The post What it’s like hanging out in one of the PGA Tour’s most iconic vantage points appeared first on Golf.

The post ‘Patrick Cantlay, he’s just like us’: World No. 4 chunks pitch — into a tree  appeared first on Golf.

The post ‘Patrick Cantlay, he’s just like us’: World No. 4 chunks pitch — into a tree  appeared first on Golf.

He birdied 15, 16 and 17 on Friday at Harbour Town Golf Links, his sixth, seventh and eighth holes after starting on the back nine during the RBC Heritage’s second round. He birdied the 5th. There was more. 

On the 200-yard, par-3 7th, Cantlay got home in one. On the swing, he held the finish. He club-twirled. At the green, his ball dropped about 20 feet short. And his ball rolled the rest of the way for the ace. In typical Cantlay style, he played it cool. One arm up. A smile. Some hand slaps. On to the next one. They call him Patty Ice, after all. All of it was part of a six-under 65 round that put four back of leader Jimmy Walker. 

Afterward, Cantlay even had some fun with the trolls. Over the past week, since his group was called out by Brooks Koepka for slow play during Sunday’s final round of the Masters, Cantlay’s pace has been picked apart some. He was asked about it earlier in the week. But the hole-in-one gave him the best response:

“Playing faster,” he wrote on Twitter.

Good one.   

But back to the beginning, where recovery suggests a stumble. Though if you’ve hit a bad shot or a dozen in your life, you can relate. 

To begin, on the 184-yard, par-3 14th, Cantlay double-crossed his tee shot left and toward trees, before settling a few yards behind one and in a waste bunker, about 25 yards from the hole. The play was clear, though problematic: The world’s fourth-ranked player needed to avoid the tree, but also land his ball exactly enough that it would settle close, but avoid water over the green. 

“Cantlay is going to try to chisel away at this one,” announcer Jeff Eisenbrand said on the PGA Tour Live broadcast. “He also has to worry about the water beyond the green. There’s a lot of factors here.”

News

“At this point, I don’t think he’s really worried about the water,” analyst Andres Gonzales said. “I don’t think he’s trying to get it all the way there. Just trying to find the right line and land it where he might be able to get …”

And then Gonzales paused. 

Maybe you did too. 

Cantlay pitched his ball straight into the tree. 

“And that was worst-case scenario,” Eisenbrand said on the PGA Tour Live broadcast. 

Cantlay was now about a yard from the tree. He looked down. He shrugged his right arm slightly. He took a swipe at the sand. It appeared he simply chunked it. “Came off almost 30 degrees where he was looking to hit it,” Gonzales said on a replay. 

“Patrick Cantlay, he’s just like us, on rare occasions like that,” Eisenbrand said. 

And here, the bounce back began.   

Cantlay backed away. He took another club from caddie Matt Minister. He took one practice cut. He hit to 11 feet. He made the putt, and he was on his way. 

“Nice recovery,” Gonzales said on the broadcast. 

Golf Magazine

Subscribe To The Magazine

Subscribe

The post ‘Patrick Cantlay, he’s just like us’: World No. 4 chunks pitch — into a tree  appeared first on Golf.

The post Why Rory McIlroy’s WD from the RBC Heritage cost him millions appeared first on Golf.

The post Why Rory McIlroy’s WD from the RBC Heritage cost him millions appeared first on Golf.

The disenchantment began on Saturday, when McIlroy’s Masters came to an abrupt (and unceremonious) end after only two rounds of play at Augusta National. It was then, around noon ET, that the four-time major champ officially missed the cut at the 2023 Masters, ending months of anticipation surrounding his chances of completing the career grand slam.

It was a heartbreaking loss for McIlroy, who looked dejected as he walked off the 18th green having signed a 77 on his scorecard. But as it turned out, that would only be the beginning of his misfortune for the week.

On Monday morning, with the ink still fresh on Jon Rahm’s green jacket victory, McIlroy withdrew from this weekend’s RBC Heritage without explanation. At first, the decision to skip out on the tournament was seen as understandable; a choice well within his rights as a touring pro with the freedom to choose his own schedule. But as more details emerged about the WD, it became apparent that McIlroy’s decision not to travel to Hilton Head also came at a precipitous financial cost.

As a result of his decision to WD from the RBC, he not only lost out on his chunk of the weekend’s $20 million designated event purse, but also lost some $3 million in bonus money guaranteed to him at the beginning of the 2023 season, per PGA Tour guidelines.

The bonus money ties back to the Tour’s highly controversial Player Impact Program — a prize pool given to players who finish top amongst a series of Tour metrics measuring popularity. In 2022, McIlroy was a highly popular Tour pro, winning a colossal $12 million payout from the fund for finishing second in its annual rankings.

But as part of larger changes at the start of the 2023 season, the Tour changed its methodology for paying out PIP winners. Under the new rules, 75 percent of those who earned a PIP payout would be paid out upon the start of the 2023 season at the Sentry Tournament of Champions. The remaining 25 percent, however, would be paid out for those who met the Tour’s qualifying threshold of playing in 17 of the year’s 18 designated events.

At the time, the decision seemed aimed at ensuring those who won the Tour’s PIP money (and by extension were counted amongst its top players) had ample incentive to participate in the designated event format. While it was an unpopular decision amongst many of the game’s top players — who place a heavy emphasis on the freedom to choose their own schedule — it was seen as an important piece of the Tour’s overall positioning to require player attendance at top events. At the time, McIlroy himself seemed to agree.

“When I tune into a Tampa Bay Buccaneers game I expect to see Tom Brady throw a football. When I tune into a Formula 1 race I expect to see Lewis Hamilton in a car,” he said. “Sometimes what’s happened on the PGA Tour is we all act independently and we sort of have our own schedules, and that means that we never really get together all that often.”

But after missing the Sentry Tournament of Champions in order to compete in the Dubai Desert Classic earlier in the season, McIlroy didn’t have the leverage to miss another event. When he WD’d from the RBC Heritage, he was violating the Tour’s rule, which meant that 25 percent of PIP winnings was suddenly out the window. For McIlroy, that remaining 25 percent amounted to some $3 million in lost earnings.

Now, it’s fair to point out that McIlroy doesn’t exactly want for money. Various websites list his net worth as between $175 million and $600 million. But $3 million is $3 million; an amount that Rory apparently viewed as worth parting with for the peace of mind found in an extra week off.

News

It’s been a difficult 2023 season for McIlroy already, who has once again found himself as the pro game’s go-between for PGA Tour structural changes. He also MC’d at the Players Championship in March after spearheading a tense players meeting that outlined future changes to the designated events structure. At the time, he said he looked forward to stepping away from the limelight in the near future.

“I’d love to get back to being a golfer, yeah,” he said at the time. “Look, it’s been a busy couple of weeks, and it’s been — honestly it’s been a busy sort of six or eight months. But as I said at the start of the week, everything has sort of been announced now, and the wheels have been put in motion, so it should obviously quiet down from here.”

McIlroy has played only two events in the month since that start — the Dell Technologies Match Play in Austin and last week’s Masters. Now it seems he’ll have at least two more weeks off before his next scheduled appearance at the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, N.C.

That time should prove ample for a proper recharge — the kind Rory hasn’t had since at least the conclusion of the 2022 Tour season. It’s anyone’s guess how his game will look upon his return.

Here’s hoping it’s better than his bank account.

The post Why Rory McIlroy’s WD from the RBC Heritage cost him millions appeared first on Golf.

The post After Masters win, one moment moved Jon Rahm to tears appeared first on Golf.

The post After Masters win, one moment moved Jon Rahm to tears appeared first on Golf.

“I remembered Seve’s quote, I think it was here at the Masters, right, when he four-putted,” Rahm said.

He’s right — Seve Ballesteros had a famous four-putt at Augusta National in 1990. And, the legend goes, he gave it a classic Seve description. “I miss, I miss, I miss, I make.“

News

“I just kept thinking to myself, ‘Well, I miss, I miss, I miss, I make,’” Rahm said after Thursday’s round. It was the perfect response and a sign of maturity in real time; he rebounded with an incredible seven birdies and an eagle to share the overnight lead after a seven-under 65.

There were signs of Seve everywhere. Because Rahm was the 49th player to register, his caddie Adam Hayes got bib No. 49. Sunday’s final round came on April 9th, 4/9, Seve’s birthday. Sunday also marked decades to the day since Seve’s second Masters title. That meant a good day for Rahm to win his first.

“It still hasn’t really sunk in yet,” he said in his winner’s press conference. “I’m looking at the scores and I still think I have a couple more holes left to win. Can’t really say anything else. This one was for Seve. He was up there helping, and help he did.”

Even if he’d wanted to ignore the echoes of time and country, Rahm wouldn’t have stood a chance: Cries of Do it for Seve! followed him around Augusta National. And when he finished off his win with a wild 18th hole that included a drive that bounced out of the woods, a slicing 4-iron layup and a lengthy up-and-down, Rahm had a phrase at the ready.

“That was a Seve par,” he said.

WHEN RAHM ARRIVED at Harbour Town, site of this week’s RBC Heritage, he received a fitting welcome. Everyone — from fans to pros to caddies to tournament staff — came up offering congratulations. He got an enthusiastic greeting from Scott Piercy. A dap-up from Taylor Montgomery. An eager hug from an eager Tommy Fleetwood. Hayes fielded congratulations of his own; he’s been a well-respected pro looper for two decades, including six-plus years with Rahm. The Masters was the first event he ever attended when he scored tickets as an eighth-grader. He’s made new memories there now.

Nobody would have blamed Rahm for skipping this week’s competition. Surely the let-down after winning the green jacket would supersede any prior commitment? But he didn’t win the Masters by accident. The climb to World No. 1 wasn’t a fluke. He looked to be in his comfort zone as he moved to a hole on the practice green and set up a short putting drill. Rahm must have been exhausted, but he practically floated around property Tuesday, gliding from the putting green to the driving range, where he hit a series of characteristic baby fades into the afternoon sun. He looked happy. How could he not?

How do you celebrate a Masters title? Rahm spent Monday with his family — just being a dad, he said — and caught up with friends over the phone.

“I had some really cool messages from people. A lot of great pictures, too,” he said.

One in particular stood out: someone had sent Rahm a picture, originally posted by Golf Digest, of Rahm shaking hands with Seve on the 18th green. It was a Photoshop job, but the meaning behind it was enough. Rahm had held it together during the win and throughout a joyous celebration with Team Rahm — “Once I made the putt and saw Adam, I think we were both holding it back,” he said — but later, in a quiet moment, that photo hit home.

“They sent it to me, Kelley saw me. I looked at her, I looked down at the phone and the next time she looked I just had tears on my face, instant bawling, crying. I don’t even know where I got it from, but yeah. That picture of Seve really got to me.”

Rahm’s week began with a Spanish Masters champion when he transcended golf’s PGA Tour-LIV divide and played a practice round with 2017 champion Sergio Garcia. He finished the week with another Spanish Masters champion when he fell into the arms of Jose Maria Olazabal behind the 18th green.

But Rahm is a golf historian. He’s a man of passion. And he’s eager to find meaning in the world. Which meant that he thought of Seve often throughout the week. And that meant Seve was with him the entire time.

The post After Masters win, one moment moved Jon Rahm to tears appeared first on Golf.