On Friday Caan was going low, super low, at Meadow Gardens Golf Club in Pitt Meadows, British Columbia, with a potential eagle at the final hole giving Caan that rarest jewel of all: a 59. Luckily for Caan, he had a 40-footer for a shot at glory. Luckily for us, his friends had their cameras rolling. Because Caan converted the walk-off eagle, and proceeded to … well, produce the greatest 59 celebration in the history of golf.

 

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This is basically how Scottie Scheffler celebrated his 59, only the exact opposite.

“To non-golfers this number won’t mean much, but if you know … then you know,” Caan posted on Instagram post. “This could be my only chance to ever shoot 59 and it was one of the best golfing experiences of my life.”

For any Doubting Thomases out there, Caan posted his scorecard, highlighted by five birdies and two eagles over his final 10 holes.

 

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“I’m so happy to have done this with a great group of guys,” Caan continued. “Thank you guys for capturing a life long memory!”

No Mike, thank you, for giving us a hero in these troubled times.

The post This is it, this is the greatest 59 celebration in golf history appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Joel Beall
The reigning major winners in men’s golf—Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Collin Morikawa and Shane Lowry—are fine lads. However it’s hard to envision these fellas in the role that one of their female counterparts is taking on this week.

That would be Sophia Popov, whose out-of-nowhere win at the AIG Women’s British Open last year put Carl Spackler’s Cinderella story to shame. Popov, you may remember, had served as a caddie for friend Anne van Dam when the LPGA resumed its season last summer at the Drive On Championship. The following week Popov, a Symetra Tour player, got into the Marathon Classic and finished T-9 to gain entry into the Open at Royal Troon, where she ultimately shocked the world.

But lest you think that Popov’s breakthrough put an end to her caddie days, think again.

Popov’s caddie, boyfriend Max Mehles, is a fledgling professional golfer who is competing at one of the Mackenzie Tour qualifying tournaments this week. Given the importance of these events, Mehles needs someone on the bag he trusts. Which is why Mehles is turning to a familiar face:

Granted, the LPGA is off until the end of March, so technically Popov was free. That said, winning a major is supposed to bestow certain perks, and we’re guessing Popov thought one of those perks was never putting on another caddie bib.

To be fair Popov actually credited the caddie gig in her performance at Troon. “I did realize when I caddied for her, there are certain things about my game where I see similarities and course strategy-wise,” Popov said. “I think that helped me a lot. Because the next week, I thought about the course as a little bit more from a caddie perspective. I said, What is the smart decision to make here? You know, I’m someone who tends to be very aggressive. I go at pins. But do you have to be? No, not really. You can give yourself a lot of chances just with safer shots going for the middle of the green, and so definitely that helped me a lot.” So there’s a chance Popov gains further insight with her latest caddie venture.

But the main takeaway? People do the damndest things for the ones they love.

The post Why a major winner is caddying at Canadian Q-School this week appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Brian Wacker
With the COVID-19 pandemic having wiped out the seasons for PGA Tour Latinoamerica as well as the Mackenzie Tour in Canada and the PGA Tour’s developmental tour in China, the PGA Tour on Tuesday announced specifics for a replacement series of tournaments for players on those respective tours.

The series will consist of seven 54-hole stroke-play tournaments and a 72-hole event to end the season, beginning Aug. 4 at the Golf Club of Georgia and running through the end of October. The winner of the series-ending tournament and the top two players on the series points list will receive sponsor exemptions into a PGA Tour event in 2021.

As for the fields, each will consist of 144 players and will be made up primarily of those who are members of one of the aforementioned international tours. Purses for each event with a full field will be at least $100,000 with a $16,000 check to the winner.

The series-ending tournament will feature the top 78 players from the points list. LocaliQ, a data-driven marketing company for businesses, will sponsor the series.

Below is the schedule for the LocaliQ Series:

Aug. 4-7: The Golf Club of Georgia, Alpharetta, Ga.
Aug 10-13: Echelon Golf Club, Alpharetta, Ga.
Aug. 25-28: Callaway Resort & Gardens, Pine Mountain, Ga.
Aug. 31-Sept 3: Auburn University Club, Auburn, Ala.
Sept. 22-25: Hidden Hills Golf Club, Jacksonville, Fla.
Sept. 29-Oct. 2: Harbor Hills Country Club, Lady Lake, Fla.
Oct. 6-9: The Club at Weston Hills, Weston, Fla.
Oct. 26-30: TBD

The post PGA Tour announces eight-tournament series for players from smaller circuits appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Joel Beall
A new, albeit temporary, series is in the works from the PGA Tour.

In an email sent to members of its feeder system circuits—the Mackenzie Tour, PGA Tour Latinoamerica and PGA Tour China—the PGA Tour is gauging player interest in an American-based league this summer. The letter, obtained by Golf Digest, outlines a series of six tournaments, each 54 holes with a 36-hole cut, starting in August.

“This idea is very much in the exploratory phase,” tour Tour email says, “but we are trying to assess player interest before further developing a plan, contacting potential venues and trying to secure the appropriate sponsorship monies to help run the events.” The tournaments would likely be based in Florida, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Texas.

The Mackenzie Tour cancelled its season last week, while the China and Latin America circuits remain postponed. The series’ ambition is to give players make-up opportunities for those starts lost due to the coronavirus pandemic’s upheaval.

Players have until June 8 to return the survey. The PGA Tour and the Korn Ferry Tour resume their seasons on June 11.

The post PGA Tour preparing American-based replacement series for cancelled mini-tours appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

RELATED: Win Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, Omega Dubai Desert Classic and Omega Dubai Ladies Classic Pro-Am spots

Indeed, we got to learn how Hickok had worked his way to the Web.com Tour after a stint on the Mackenzie Tour in Canada, where he won twice and finished second three times to become the Order of Merit winner in 2017. And then in his first full year on the Web.com Tour, he finished 23rd on the season-ending money list, recording four top-10 finishes.

Most interestingly, however, we learned that Hickok has developed a close friendship with PGA Tour star Jordan Spieth. The two met when they arrived in Austin together as incoming freshman in the fall of 2011. Spieth would leave a year later to go pro, while Hickok stayed all four years, graduating in 2015 with a degree in geography.

After Hickok got out of school, Spieth approached him with an interesting offer as he began his own nascent pro career: Would you want to live together in Dallas?

Mind you, when a major champion asks if you want to be his roommate there really is only one answer you can give: Yes.

“It was either that or I was going to live with my mom and dad,” Hickok said.

We’re sure Mr. and Mrs. Hickok are wonderful people who you’d want to live with forever, but if you’re a recent college graduate trying to make your way in the world, going back in with the ’rents can cramp your style.

Here is a nicely edited video about the Spieth/Hickok friendship and what it’s meant to both guys to see Hickok set to join Spieth on the PGA Tour. It includes that gem from Hickok on either living with Spieth or mom and dad.

“It was either that, or I was going to go live with my mom and dad.”

A few years ago, @JordanSpieth invited former @TexasMGolf teammate @KramerHickok to move in with him.

Now, they’re soon-to-be @PGATOUR peers.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/bhjlyXXuLa

— Web.com Tour (@WebDotComTour) September 2, 2018

The post PGA Tour rookie-in-waiting explains why he took Jordan Spieth’s roommate offer appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Ever seen an 80-year-old grandpa hit a 400-yard drive?
You’re about to… #GrandpaJamie pic.twitter.com/5qeeQoJSCV

— Cleveland Golf (@ClevelandGolf) April 16, 2018

That looked like a fun thing to do. How did it come about?

Cleveland had the idea and they rolled around with it a bit with my agent. When they finally came to terms they pretty much told me what we were going to do and to start preparing. I didn’t have much say, but I thought it would be fun. And it was once I got out of my shell.

Have you ever seen Kyrie Irving’s Uncle Drew?

I have. I watched a lot of those and they were funny. I’ll never be a great actor but I watched those videos just to see what he did and took some cues from his voice and some different mannerisms. They were well done and funny and I was hoping we could do the same.

Have you ever done any acting before, even grade-school play type stuff?

Nothing. I’ve always shied away from it because it’s really not in any of my fibres to do this. I’ve done commercials and since 2007 I’ve done a fair amount of stuff in front of a camera. But something like this, where I have a producer in my ear telling me to go over to some guy and tell him his breath stinks, well, that’s not something you can really prepare yourself for. I’m not totally new to it, but it’s a different experience for sure.

How long did the makeup process take?

It took about five hours. It was pretty gruelling and then to take it off afterwards took about another 90 minutes. It doesn’t happen overnight. I don’t know how actors in Hollywood do that every day for months on end as they shoot their movies. That’s beyond me. It’s not easy to deal with. That said, I was stunned by the transformation. When they first put the face mould on and other pieces it looked good, but once they did all the small touches and final makeup, the nose hair, the dots, the moustache, it was very meticulous.

Did you pattern any of the mannerisms after anyone you know?

Being a grumpy old man is almost protocol at country clubs and I’m a country club guy so I’ve seen those guys that go out at 7:30 in the morning to get out before everyone else and are pretty set in their ways. So I think some of that came out. Also being around my grandparents and seeing how cranky my grandpa can be was good material.

How cool was it to be in character and just being able to go off and say whatever you wanted to people?

It’s kind of fun being that person that can say anything they want to and have a free pass. So I used that up a little bit. No repercussions or anything? Yeah, I liked that. I had a couple vodkas to start the day to calm my nerves because I’m shy and quiet and for this to happen I needed a little liquid courage to loosen me up. By the middle of the shoot, I was feeling pretty good and let’s just say there’s some pretty classic stuff that ended up on the cutting room floor that I probably shouldn’t have said.

Did anyone catch on pretty quick that it was you?

When I first got to the range I sat down behind a young kid who was hitting balls and his younger brother was there and he kept staring at me. I was messing with his brother for a little bit and then walked away and he followed me. After I hit a shot he asked me, “Are you Jamie?” and of course I said I had no idea what he was talking about. But he said he had only seen one swing like that and that was Jamie Sadlowski’s swing. So yeah, he knew right away from the golf swing. He was only 13 so he must have watched a lot of YouTube videos.

What was the reaction of people in general?

The younger generation honestly didn’t seem all that impressed. The older folks were like, “Did you see that?” But the younger kids couldn’t care less. There was one group of three I tried to join and they were like, “No, we’re good.” Then I hit a tee shot in front of them and it was dead downwind and probably went 430 yards and they didn’t bat an eye, then just got in their cart and kept driving. So there was a difference in reaction.

Did you have to watch yourself to remind you to do something, or not overdo it?

It’s weird when you are in character. There were sometimes when I would realize I was walking normal and be like, “Oh man, I have to walk slowly, use my cane and be a bit of a jerk to people.” But for the most part, I was able to stick with it. If there’s a “Grandpa II” I’ll do a better job.

Now back to the day job. How’s the transition been going from Long Drive to playing professional golf for a living?

Last year was my first full year playing the Mackenzie Tour and I learned a lot about my game. Since late September I’ve been working hard in Arizona with Peter Kostis doing some fine-tuning. Last week I had Q School again after missing my card by a few hundred bucks and finished tied for ninth, so we’re good to go for another year in Canada and hopefully get one of those five cards for the PGA Tour. From now until summer it will be play, play, play. I think it will be a good year. My game is a lot better and I’ve cleaned up a lot of stuff. My wedge game is much tighter and I have enough knowledge to where I can play with confidence.

The post Jamie Sadlowski takes us behind the Grandpa Jamie shoot and discusses his budding pro career appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.