By Ryan Herrington
Sequels often take some time to come together. But in the case of the Maridoe Samaritan Fund Invitational, organisers needed just a few days to set MSFI 2.0 in motion.

When tour pros and college players lauded the upscale private club outside Dallas for pulling off its initial 54-hole event (April 28-30)—raising more than $20,000 for the club’s caddie fund and showing how manageable it was to compete while following various social distancing guidelines—the club decided to hold a second event, May 19-21.

Once more, carts and caddies will be prohibited and no bunker rakes will be out on the course (a walking scorer with each group will stay on the cart path and rake bunkers when needed). Each participant can only have one guest, can arrive no earlier than 30 minutes before tee times and is asked to avoid coming within six feet of fellow competitors. The clubs range will converted into a par-3 course and available for players to warm up quickly before their rounds.

This time, the 76-player field (which reportedly has a waiting list that’s 30 players deep) is expected to have even more PGA Tour representation. In addition to Scottie Scheffler and Viktor Hovland, the winner and third-place finishers in the inaugural event, Jordan Spieth, who played as a marker last month and was robbed of a hole-in-one by a foam spacer in the hole, will be a full competitor. Abraham Ancer, Ryan Palmer, Beau Hossler, Will Zalatoris, Harry Higgs, John Senden, Doc Redman, Sebastian Munoz, Talor Gooch and Austin Cook are all expected to play, as is former Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo.

“This was a beautiful opportunity to contribute to the Maridoe Samaritan Fund and help those caddies who have been affected,” Maridoe owner Albert Huddleston said in a statement. “Simultaneously, it provides opportunity for tremendous pleasure and support when playing the sport I enjoy most. If you do things correctly, follow guidelines, and all things required under the Dallas County order, then golf is a perfect sport to play.”

Several top-ranked college and amateur golfers are preparing to compete as well, including recently named Fred Haskins Award winner Sahith Theegala, U.S. Amateur runner-up John Augenstein and U.S. Junior Amateur champ Preston Summerhays. When college golfers competed last time, it led to the NCAA reviewing its policy about whether student-athletes could play in events before their scheduled spring college seasons had concluded. Ultimately, the NCAA ruled in favour of allowing the golfers to compete.

Other college standouts slated to participate include Oklahoma’s Quade Cummings, Oklahoma State’s Austin Eckroat, Texas’ Cole Hammer, Baylor’s Cooper Dossey and SMU’s Noah Goodwin. The interest from the top amateurs is understandable. Not only are they competing against top professionals, but they’re getting an early look at the course that is still scheduled to hold the Southern Amateur, July 15-18.

Scheffler earned $9,000 for his one-stroke win over Zalatoris last month, and donated it back to the caddie fund. The winner of the second edition of the event will earn $10,000 to be given to the charity of his choice.

The post Jordan Spieth among several PGA Tour pros set to play in second event at Maridoe Golf Club outside Dallas appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The three-time major champ appeared to make a hole-in-one while playing alongside Tony Romo during the Dallas-area event to raise money for the out-of-work caddies at Maridoe Golf Club, one of Romo’s home courses. Instead, his golf ball bounced off a spacer inside the cup on the par-3 17th and into a water hazard. Ouch.

According to those who witnessed this freakish event, Romo said he’d let Spieth count it as an ace—just not in their match. There are limits to being a good sport after all.

Spieth wasn’t competing in the 54-hole event and was playing with Romo in the final round as a marker. Here’s a look at Spieth’s scuffed ball:

Speith with an Ace or Double Bogey on 17? It sunk in the hole, bounced out (we believe 100% because of the spacer – see scuff marks on new ball) and rolled back in the water. Romo decided it could be counted as a hole in one, except for their bet. pic.twitter.com/NTHzWnXWlt

— Ryan Frazer (@AgoraGolf) April 30, 2020

“It never left the stick and I knew it was going to land somewhere around the hole and sure enough it landed in the hole,” Spieth told Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine. It just didn’t stay there.

Many golf courses have made adjustments to help prevent the spread of germs during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, including inserting spacers often made from foam into holes so golfers don’t have to reach their hands all the way into the cup to retrieve their golf balls. As a result, a new phrase, getting “foamed,” has entered the golf vernacular. Although, Spieth is still adding it his ace total.

“I’m going to count it,” Spieth added. “It was one of those ones where it would most likely have stayed in.”

Considering Spieth was playing for charity—and the fact he’s mired in a well-documented winless streak that’s approaching three years—we’re inclined to let it stand also.

The post Jordan Spieth just got the worst bounce of the year while playing in a charity event appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

No, I won’t reveal what we were talking about. That’s private. I also can’t remember because it was such a blur. But basically, it was just two dudes yucking it up over golf. No big deal. Kidding. It was a BIG deal. And Tiger, I was also kidding about not washing my hand since our encounter. Totally kidding … I swear … so let’s do it again sometime. In the meantime, here’s what else is going on in the world of golf.

WE’RE BUYING

Cameron Champ: I wasn’t expecting the end of the Safeway Open to get me to cry, but there I was tearing up watching a young golfer hug his father in celebration while on the phone with his dying grandfather, PaPa Champ, who got him into the game. What a moving scene. As someone whose own grandfather did the same (RIP Poppa Myers), it hit me about as hard as Champ hits a golf ball.

Daniel Shirey

Speaking of which, Champ became just the eighth golfer in the past 20 years to win a PGA Tour event while leading the field in driving distance and scrambling. And he showed off both those aspects of his game on the 72nd hole with a 369-yard drive down the middle and a beautiful chip to set up his winning birdie.

All the emotions.

The winning moment for @Cameron__Champ and his family @SafewayOpen. pic.twitter.com/FzM6nqokVK

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 30, 2019

That was a special moment, and Champ is a special player. And with the Sanderson Farms rooster to go along with the Safeway Open wine barrel, he’s got quite a special trophy collection already.

Tony Romo: I’ll admit, I thought the Tony Romo PGA Tour experience had worn out its welcome a bit with him accepting his fourth sponsor’s exemption into an event where he had no local ties. But Romo had the sports world talking (Hence, why tournaments keep inviting him) following an opening 70 that put him in great shape to make the cut. Romo beat his first-round playing partners—PGA Tour members Beau Hossler and Michael Gellerman—by a combined 10(!) shots on Thursday. How ‘bout that Cowboy!

Jonathan Ferrey

Of course, his Friday performance, a four-over 76, wasn’t quite as spectacular, but Romo did beat a dozen tour pros even while missing the cut. He returned to his day job for CBS on Sunday, and after watching parts of that Bears-Vikings game he and Jim Nantz were forced to sit through, I can see why the former QB wanted to get out of work so badly.

Rory’s bunker lessons: A couple of weeks ago, Rory McIlroy gave Justin Timberlake a bunker lesson. Now Timberlake is doing things like this:

In a pot bunker. Over a burn. @jtimberlake has game. ?#DunhillLinks pic.twitter.com/Rdg5ckJU9T

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) September 26, 2019

Sign me up for a lesson, Rors.

WE’RE SELLING

Rory’s “course setup” complaints: I love Rory McIlroy. I love that he speaks his mind. I just think in this case, he’s not properly representing the whole story. McIlroy roasted the European Tour for its easy setups, but the timing was bad considering he had just finished the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, which is a pro-am. A pro-am in which Rory played with his dad, Gerry, who shot a gross 69 (three under) at Kingsbarns!

Ross Kinnaird

Can you imagine being so good at golf that you complain about a course being too easy? Must be nice, am I right? Also kudos to Gerry for carrying his son to a T-1 finish in the team competition. Sadly, the McIlroys lost on a tiebreaker to Tommy Fleetwood and his partner because Fleetwood shot a lower score (64) on Sunday than Rory (67). Way to let your dad down, Rory. Kidding. Sort of.

“Spitgate”: Romo’s score had sports fans abuzz on Thursday, but a shot he hit on Friday wound up setting Golf Twitter aflame. The QB accidentally hit into triple coverage (the threesome in front) on a par 5 with a 3-wood from 278(!) yards to five feet. Then this happened:

pic.twitter.com/X9QPuUNIUA

— Jason Parnell (@jasondean2000) September 28, 2019

Here’s how PGA Tour rookie Kristoffer Ventura explained it:

I definitely did not spit here. I moved my head to see if I had left any spike marks because I knew I was close to his line, hate to disappoint you guys

— Kristoffer Ventura (@krisventura95) September 28, 2019

We’ll take your word for it, Kris. A (OSU) Cowboy wouldn’t do that to another Cowboy.

“Flipgate”: Former PGA Tour pro and current Korean Tour money leader Bio Kim was suspended for three YEARS for flipping off a fan whose cellphone made noise during a tournament he eventually won:

A THREE-year ban, for this! pic.twitter.com/O3HZPueY2s

— Ryan Lavner (@RyanLavnerGC) October 1, 2019

Allow me to echo Ryan’s sentiments. A THREE-YEAR ban for this?! Wow. That is harsh. And how about that photo of Kim kneeling before the Korean media begging for forgiveness? Geez, it’s not like he killed the fan with the cell phone. Anyway, let’s just say it’s a good thing Sergio Garcia doesn’t play on the Korean Tour …

ON TAP

The PGA Tour heads to Las Vegas for the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, AKA that tournament Smylie Kaufman won. Man, I can’t believe four years have passed since that. Keep grinding, Smylie. Hopefully, you’ll be back on tour full-time next year.

Random tournament fact: Patrick Cantlay has won and finished runner-up the past two years in Vegas. That’s a lot of money to play with at the blackjack tables.

RANDOM PROP BETS OF THE WEEK

—Someone will spit on Brooks Koepka’s golf ball this week: 1 MILLION-to-1 odds

—Phil Mickelson will win the Shriners Open: 100-to-1 odds (Actual odds. Wow.)

—Vegas casinos will get a boost this week: LOCK

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Jonathan Ferrey

Again, what a scene. All the best to the Champs during this bittersweet time.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK

This compilation of PGA Tour stars hitting tee shots over the corner of the Old Course Hotel on the famed Road Hole is mesmerizing:

Which line are you taking on the 17th hole at the Old Course at St. Andrews? ?pic.twitter.com/xcHHv0XGvr

— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) September 29, 2019

Juuuuust a bit different from this video that made the rounds a couple of weeks ago:

How NOT to play the famous Road Hole at St Andrews…?? pic.twitter.com/DtFCPBHRSO

— Golf Unplugged (@golfunpluggedhq) September 10, 2019

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“No matter if I win one more tournament, 10 more tournaments, whatever it may be, this will be the greatest moment in my golfing career for sure.” —Cameron Champ

THIS WEEK IN CELEBRITY GOLFERS (NOT NAMED TONY ROMO)

Michael Strahan participated in Tiger Woods’ newest charity golf event, the Nexus Cup, and challenged the host to a putting contest on Liberty National’s 18th green. Not only did Woods roll a 20-footer in on his first attempt, but he celebrated as he had just won the Masters. Check it out (40-second mark):

.@TigerWoods is back on top of his game, so @michaelstrahan thought it would be a good time to challenge the golf great to an epic re-match.

The golf legend talks #NexusCup, his legacy and what he wants his kids to learn from him. https://t.co/i9rZzYNwW0 pic.twitter.com/Mz4Zz9fJ7X

— Good Morning America (@GMA) September 27, 2019

That and Strahan arguing with Lawrence Taylor over QB sack supremacy were the highlights of the event. Well, other than meeting Tiger. Did I mention I met Tiger?

THIS WEEK IN PHIL BEING PHIL

Mickelson struggled at the Safeway Open, missing the cut in his first event of the 2019-’20 season, but he really stepped up his game when it came to his latest “Phireside With Phil” video.

Paying tribute to Larry David and all the people who continue to love and play the game – even if their childhood dreams of being a hall of fame golfer were ripped away by a jealous brother. Enjoy this special #PhiresidewithPhil on #TributeTuesday. pic.twitter.com/SoHYgpVbP2

— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) September 24, 2019

Larry David?! After playing golf (Would that be called a “Round and chat”?) with the comedic legend? Pretty, pretty, pretty good. Yeah, yeah, everyone else already made the same joke, but I don’t care. The part when they talk about Phil’s Hall of Fame jacket was particularly good. Netflix, pick up this show already!

THIS WEEK IN EDDIE PEPPERELL BEING EDDIE PEPPERELL

"I would actually ban children and have dogs instead."@PepperellEddie never holds back. ?pic.twitter.com/dWQhm4HjcE

— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) September 27, 2019

He should legally change his name to Eddie PeppereLOL.

THIS AND THAT

M.J. Hur won the LPGA’s Indy Women in Tech Championship by four shots at Brickyard Crossing Golf Club. You could say she “raced away with the title.” Get it? Sorry. … Congrats to Victor Perez on winning his first European Tour title at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. Perez shot a final-round 70 and still finished (Look away, Rory!) 22 under par. … Five golfers, according to a Reuters report, had their drivers fail tests ahead of the Safeway Open now that the PGA Tour has really started to crackdown. Kinda makes you wonder how many hot clubs have been in players’ bags in recent years. … China’s Yuxin Lin won the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, earning an invitation to next year’s Masters. It will be the second trip to Augusta National for the 18-year-old. Impressive. … And finally, Costco had to refund its latest batch of golf balls because they were cutting too easily. Bad job making the balls, but good job reacting by my favourite store. And if they are looking to hire someone for quality control their golf balls, I have just the person:

My daughter needs to start earning her keep at some point.

RANDOM QUESTIONS TO PONDER

Did anyone test Tony Romo’s 3-wood?

Is Costco ever going to bring back chocolate froyo?

Should I go for the bro-hug with Tiger next time?

The post Tony Romo’s wild week, Phil Mickelson’s funny chat with Larry David, and my meeting with Tiger Woods(!) appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

So it looks like I was wrong to nearly break my TV when the Giants drafted him No. 6 overall. And now, Big Blue should be in good hands for the next 15 years! Back! Of course, it was just one game. Against the Bucs. And a decade ago I was just as excited about Anthony Kim. Sigh. Anyway, golf fans are still in good hands with everything else happening, even as we officially march into fall. Let’s get to it.

WE’RE BUYING

Danny Willett: I will always have a soft spot in my heart (and wallet) for this guy who won me a cool $650 as a 65-to-1 long shot at the 2016 Masters, but now he has a lot more fans following his recent resurgence. Following a missed cut at the 2018 BMW PGA—before the European Tour’s flagship event moved from May to September—Willett fell to No. 462 in the Official World Golf Ranking, losing his game for a variety of reasons, including back problems. But after his impressive win at Wentworth on Sunday, the 31-year-old is all the way back up to No. 31 and flashing the same form that won him that green jacket. What a great story.

Harry Trump

Sebastian Munoz: A maiden PGA Tour title is always a great story as well, but especially when it comes from someone who nearly lost his tour card less than two months ago. But after finishing No. 124 on the final FedEx Cup points list, Munoz won’t need to worry about losing his job for essentially the next three seasons. The 26-year-old Colombian became the second consecutive Latin American golfer to win to begin the 2019-’20 season and he did it thanks to this clutch 72nd-hole birdie that got him into a playoff with reigning PGA Tour Rookie of the Year Sungjae Im:

The putt of Sebastian Munoz's life? ?

He made this 15-foot birdie to force a playoff at the Sanderson Farms Championship. pic.twitter.com/BqNYtwdWWv

— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) September 22, 2019

After winning on the first extra hole with a par, it was time to hoist the coveted rooster trophy, which Munoz told us on the Golf Digest Podcast is a lot heavier than it looks!

Sam Greenwood

Nelly Korda: A week after a spectacular showing at the Solheim Cup where she went 3-0-1 in defeat, Korda dusted the field at the French Ladies Open by eight shots. Korda didn’t take home a rooster trophy, but considering she’s just 21 and ranked in the top 10, there is a lot more hardware in her future.

Tristan Jones/LET

Hanging out with Pat Perez: Check out this dinner bill for four people at the MGM Grand Las Vegas’ Craftsteak:

Nearly 10 Gs before tip? A $4,000 bottle of wine?! A $15 dollar side of broccoli?! This is a man who lives life to the fullest.

WE’RE SELLING

Danny Willett’s rain gear: Lost amid the feel-good comeback story of golf’s Danny Dimes was the fact that Willett looked ridiculous on Sunday:

Andrew Redington

Sorry, but someone had to say it. I still love you, Danny!

American golf: The Ryder Cup? Lost. The Solheim Cup? Lost. For the first time since 2008, the first two events of the PGA Tour season were won by non-Americans. And the U.S. Mid-Amateur even saw its first-ever non-American winner in Australian Lukas Michel. Welp. It’s not just the British coming. EVERYONE is coming. At least we still have the Presidents Cup. For now.

Tony Romo’s “dilemma”: Much has been made this week about Romo potentially missing his Sunday CBS game (Boomer Esiason is waiting in the wings) because he’s playing in this week’s Safeway Open, but let’s be real: There’s a better chance booth partner Jim Nantz isn’t at Bears/Vikings because he’s hosting a wine tasting in Napa than Romo not making it because he made the cut at a PGA Tour event.

Christian Petersen

This will be Romo’s fourth PGA Tour start and third of 2019. The guy nearly plays as much as Tiger Woods.

ON TAP

The PGA Tour heads to lovely Napa for the Safeway Open, AKA that tournament where they give out a trophy in the shape of a wine barrel. It’s no rooster, of course, but it’s pretty good. This is also the event that Brendan Steele won two years in a row before Kevin Tway stopped Steele’s reign of terror last year.

Random tournament fact: The event is contested at Silverado Resort’s North course, which was redesigned in 2011 by Johnny Miller, who shot a final-round 63 to win the 1973 U.S. Open at Oakmont. Little-known fact.

RANDOM PROP BETS OF THE WEEK

—Tony Romo will win the Safeway Open: 1 MILLION-to-1 odds

—Tony Romo will make the cut at the Safeway Open: 10,000-to-1 odds

—Tony Romo still would outperform half the current starting QBs in the NFL: LOCK (It’s a sad crop right now. Other than my man Danny Dimes, of course.)

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Joshua Kelley has given us some mind-blowing trick shots throughout the years, but this might be his best work yet:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2kZeXVA9du/

He won’t top this until at least next week.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Wow, what a feeling! Chuffed to have won the iconic #BMWPGA on home soil ? Great to have my family there to celebrate as well ? pic.twitter.com/QtekmwSPWr

— Danny Willett (@Danny_Willett) September 22, 2019

Chuffed! Love some good British slang. Need to start incorporating that one.

TWEET OF THE WEEK

Joel Dahmen’s caddie, Geno Bonniale, sent this lovely poem to his wife:

Happy anniversary, wife. pic.twitter.com/gOGZs30tVR

— Geno Bonnalie (@GenoBonnalie) September 22, 2019

So sweet!

RANDOM, BOLD TWEET OF THE YEAR

Congrats @jsmunozgolf , so happy for you and your family! I never thought I would see you so happy holding a big black cock. https://t.co/SqSmhbn0xb

— Gonzalo Fdez-Castaño (@gfcgolf) September 22, 2019

Wow. I’m not, um, touching that. . .

THIS WEEK IN TOUR PRO PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION

Check out the reaction by Sebastian Munoz’s girlfriend, Daniela Granados:

His girlfriend was jumping for joy in the background.

Happy days @Sanderson_Champ for @JSMunozGolf.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/a2SR8CN9Re

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 22, 2019

She’s got hops! And of course, the couple had a nice victory smooch:

Marianna Massey

THIS WEEK IN PHIL BEING PHIL

First, the five-time major champ had his calves praised by six-time Super Bowl champ Tom Brady:

The Phil Mickelson Method… for jacked calves? Sign me up. https://t.co/HFYFGltplp

— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) September 19, 2019

And then Mickelson shared yet another photo that shows his much-improved physique:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2xIOSjAKgH/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=dlfix

Seriously, what is going on?! The dude looks fantastic.

THIS AND THAT

Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, and Hideki Matsuyama will compete in GolfTV’s “The Challenge: Japan Skins” on Oct. 21. I know I sound like a company man hyping this event, but sign me up! . . . Veteran caddie Tony Navarro turned down working for Tiger Woods in 1999 out of loyalty to Greg Norman. Sounds like Tony is a great guy, but guessing he probably regrets that decision. . . . Phil Mickelson and Stephen Curry will play together in Wednesday’s Safeway Open Pro-Am. I wonder if Phil will challenge Steph to wind sprints in between holes. . . . And finally, this is what happens when you work with someone too much:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2xKXFXl-ZX/?utm_source=ig_embed

Either that, or we just started #NationalDressLikeYourBossDay.

RANDOM QUESTIONS TO PONDER

How many tournaments will Phil MickelSLIM win?

How many Super Bowls will Daniel Jones win?

Who wore it better? (Just kidding. Obviously, me.)

The post Danny Willett’s remarkable resurgence, Pat Perez’s eye-popping dinner bill, and Tony Romo’s golf dilemma appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

WE’RE BUYING

Patrick Reed: How about this guy’s timing? For a second time in three years, Reed won his first event of the season at the first FedEx Cup Playoffs event, all but locking up a spot on Team USA for the Presidents Cup in December. Captain America winning in the shadow of Lady Liberty. How PATRIOTIC.

Kevin C. Cox

Incredibly, this was also Reed’s first victory since winning last year’s Masters. His seventh PGA Tour title only moved Mr. Self-proclaimed Top 5 back to No. 15 in the Official World Golf Ranking. But it did vault him to No. 2 (from No. 50) in the FedEx Cup standings. If he claims that $15 million bonus, he’ll never have to worry about sitting in the “cheap” seats again.

Scott Harrington: Timing was on this guy’s side, too, as he completed one of the best stories in golf by earning his PGA Tour card for the first time at 38. The accomplishment was made all the sweeter by having his wife, Jenn, in attendance at Pumpkin Ridge a year after Harrington cut his season short when she was diagnosed with cancer. Now Jenn is doing great and so is Scott.

The culmination of an emotional rollercoaster for @ScottyGlf and his family.

His wife Jenn has twice battled Hodgkin’s lymphoma and is now cancer-free. She flew in Saturday night and got to hug her husband on 18 as he heads to the @PGATOUR. pic.twitter.com/6dupdnM3WJ

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) August 12, 2019

Congrats also to Bo Hoag on winning the Korn Ferry Tour finale to secure his PGA Tour card as well. As for what happened to Vince India on the final hole, well, we’re not going to talk about that. . . Thoughts and prayers to Vince India. . .

Playing in a pro-am: I had the pleasure of playing in an LPGA Pro-Am four years ago, but as you can imagine, everything is a bit more amplified at a PGA Tour pro-am. The crowds are a lot larger (although, fortunately, my opening tee shot came on No. 10 in front of only a few fans), the SWAG is a lot cooler (I got an early Christmas gift for the wife as well), and odds are (no offence, LPGA), you’re going to get paired with a bigger name. I drew Hideki Matsuyama. You’ve probably heard of him. Decent little player.

What a thrill. At least, while it lasted. . .

WE’RE SELLING

Getting rained out in a pro-am: My only task that came with this plum assignment was finding a different angle to write about than the usual “Playing in a Pro-Am is awesome” (but again, to be clear, it is). And Mother Nature provided just that by bringing a lightning storm that chased us off the course after only three holes.

Sigh.

Bryson’s pace of play: On one hand, I feel bad for Bryson getting absolutely torched by the rest of the golf world after a pair of videos exposing his plodding pace of play went viral. On the other, if that’s what needs to happen to bring about change, then so be it. First off, here are the two videos in question:

anyone need a nap?

here’s DeChambeau pacing off a 70-yard shot which took over 3 minutes to hit (couldn’t post the entire video it took so long) pic.twitter.com/7A3Azeftyu

— Eric Patterson (@EPatGolf) August 9, 2019

We can… pic.twitter.com/TOnRS4BXds

— Fantasy Golf Pod (@fantasygolfpod) August 10, 2019

Not good! And here is a sample response from Eddie Pepperell:

Just look at Tommy and Justin, both looking completely bored. Slow players do this to their playing partners making the game less enjoyable. Problem is, the unaffected single minded twit in this instance, doesn’t care much for others.

— Eddie Pepperell (@PepperellEddie) August 10, 2019

Again, content! I’m also selling the fact that the PGA Tour hasn’t penalized an individual player since Glen “All” Day in 1995. That’s 24 years ago! DeChambeau was still using single-length diapers!

The Jason Day-Steve Williams Era: The old New Zealand looper was supposed to toughen up the young Aussie and rejuvenate the former World No. 1’s career. Instead, it resulted in a mostly forgettable T21-T8-T66-MC-T40-MC run over six tournaments. Day called the breakup “mutual” and that it was “a disconnect of old school and new school,” which can be summed up perfectly by this photo:

David Cannon

There’s no way Stevie stood for Jason wearing that shirt.

ON TAP

The top 70 in the FedEx Cup standings (including, hopefully, Tiger Woods. We’re going to forget last week’s WD ever happened. . . ) make their way to the BMW Championship at Medinah, AKA that place where Tiger Woods has won two majors and where the Miracle at Medinah happened in 2012. Isn’t it nice when things are so perfectly named? Makes them a lot easy to remember.

Random tournament fact: Medinah is also the site of Sergio Garcia’s running, leaping scissor kick at the 1999 PGA Championship. Sadly, Sergio won’t be here this year because he didn’t advance to the second state of the FedEx Cup Playoffs. Sadly to the fans, that is. The course’s superintendent is probably relieved.

PHOTO(S) OF THE WEEK

Pick a photo, any photo from Michelle Wie’s wedding to Jonnie West. She Instagrammed 26 (and counting) to be exact:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1DQSrlJh8w/?utm_source=ig_embed

Then there were other photos posted by guests, including tennis player Genie Bouchard:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1CM3fnpJYR/?utm_source=ig_embed

And Golf Digest’s own Hally Leadbetter:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1B9lAtAiTy/?utm_source=ig_embed

Anyway, congrats to Michelle and Jonnie on looking fantastic and for coming up with a great wedding couple hashtag. And congrats to THE LOGO, Jerry West!

Think their kids will be any good at sports? LOL.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Rory McIlroy delivered quite the random dagger at Matt Kuchar during the Wyndham Rewards awards ceremony:

Rory eviscerated Kuchar today. ? ? ? pic.twitter.com/omtMHRS8rh

— Chris Chaney (@Wrong_Fairway) August 6, 2019

Poor, Matt. He’s never living down that cheap tip.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Yeah, look, it’s changed my life a little bit. I’m definitely more recognized now, and even coming over here to events, but if anything when you’re like that, it makes you feel more comfortable. That’s the way I feel, anyway. They’re not calling me Beef or they’re not calling me J.B. Holmes out there, anyway. That’s a plus.” — Shane Lowry on winning the Open Championship. That’s a plus, indeed. Beardism is real.

THIS WEEK IN TOUR PRO PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION

Danielle Kang managed to be at her good friend Michelle Wie’s wedding in LA:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1B5AqtnwZb/?utm_source=ig_embed

AND in Oregon to see her boyfriend, Maverick McNealy, earn his PGA Tour card for the first time:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1DDCRWnx5t/?utm_source=ig_embed

Awww.

THIS WEEK IN PHIL BEING PHIL

First, Phil. . . went for a hike?

I hiked the Precipice Trail at Acadia National Forest and wanted to share that it is one of the coolest things I’ve done. Hard to explain the beauty and challenge of this amazing trail. pic.twitter.com/9dfc8HuFTf

— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) August 6, 2019

Then Phil posted this odd video with Bryson DeChambeau (before the slow-play storm hit):

Intellectual thinking with @b_dechambeau. pic.twitter.com/TOhNkBMkGk

— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) August 7, 2019

Then he retold a classic yarn involving himself, Tony Romo, and Tiger Woods in front of Tiger (sort of) in his latest Phireside Chat:

The one and only @TigerWoods was nice enough to take time out of his busy schedule to join me on Phireside with Phil. We got to talk about all the times I beat him (one). pic.twitter.com/IPbUufpUKH

— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) August 12, 2019

Absolutely brilliant. Both the gamesmanship at Pebble Beach in 2012 and the use of Tiger photos to re-tell the story. It’s too bad Phil didn’t start these little chats last year leading up to THE MATCH. Woods would have been happy to actually come on for real to promote that event.

THIS AND THAT

Congrats to Gabi Ruffels for winning the U.S. Women’s Amateur despite her caddie having to leave for a funeral on the 31st hole of the 36-hole final. Congrats to tour pro Ryan Ruffels as well. To say he was proud of his little sister is an understatement.

SHE DID IT US AM CHAMP LETS GOOO pic.twitter.com/50Q3UnH16Q

— Ryan Ruffels (@RRuffels) August 11, 2019

Congrats to Amanda Balionis for consistently hitting the gym on the road. That takes serious discipline (the only thing I consistently do on the road is eat fast food) and the results are evident by the GUN SHOW she put on at the Northern Trust:

Congrats to Chris Naegel for making this hole-in-one:

Eagle at 11.
?ACE at 12! ?

Chris Naegel is trying to do something special @PortlandOpen. pic.twitter.com/3kEbfV5orZ

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) August 11, 2019

But condolences to Chris for not winning the BMW on display behind the tee. That’s messed up. . . . And finally, now that my daughter, Julia, is walking, I presented her with her first set of golf clubs:

We need to work on her form, but most importantly, I’m doing my part to GROW THE GAME.

RANDOM QUESTIONS TO PONDER

Will Steve Williams ever caddie on the PGA Tour again?

Will I ever play in a PGA Tour pro-am again?

When should I talk to my daughter about slow play?

The post Michelle Wie walks the aisle, Phil Mickelson needles Tiger Woods, and Bryson DeChambeau gets roasted for slow play appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Appearing at a Monday fundraiser for the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Dallas, Spieth shared some big, but exciting developments revolving around his upcoming marriage to high school sweetheart Annie Verret. Thanks to the prying questions of former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, who participated in a discussion with his golfing buddy in front of an assembled crowd. (Side note: A big high-five to both for helping raise $1.3 million.)

Ahead of the wedding that’s on tap for later this month, Spieth said he was “able to get most of my duties done after the FedEx tournaments” (maybe it wasn’t the worst thing that he didn’t qualify for the Tour Championship), but acknowledged Annie did most of the work. The three-time major champ’s duties included planning the honeymoon and kicking out his roommates (Spieth has hosted several friends/tour pros, including Justin Thomas for a time) as his Dallas mansion transitions from a bachelor pad. Here’s the funny exchange between Spieth and Romo as reported by SportsDay:

“Just a question about marriage,” Romo probed. “Did you have to get rid of roommates at your house? Did Annie allow them to live with you as you move on into marriage?”

“The roommates are out of the house now. That’s a very personal question,” Spieth said. “I live alone now for the first time in six or seven years, for a few more weeks.”

“Well, enjoy it,” Romo cracked.

Spieth proposed to Verret on Christmas eve last year:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Congrats, Jordan Spieth and Annie Verret!

A post shared by Golf Digest (@golfdigest) on Dec 25, 2017 at 7:37am PST

The 25-year-old star will play in this week’s Mayakoba Classic before getting hitched. And, of course, moving in his new, lifetime roommate.

The post Why Jordan Spieth recently kicked out all of his roommates (HINT: This photo) appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The 17-year-old Dubai-based Indian amateur No.1 was two-under at the turn in his opening round at Skokie Country Club but eventually mixed five birdies with as many bogeys (including dropped shots on 16 and 18) to sign for an even par 71. It left the dual Dubai Creek and Emirates GC member, ranked 66^th in the official world amateur rankings, in a 17-way share of 49^th place in the 156-player field.

The leading 44 players and ties after today’s second round advance to Thursday’s final 36 holes of stroke play. Thereafter, the top 16 progress to the ‘Sweet 16’, the historic event’s match play phase to be decided over Friday and Saturday.

Thomas tees it up at 8.40am (5.40pm UAE time) today and surviving the first cut would be another huge confidence boost after he missed the match play phase of The (British) Amateur in Northern Ireland by a solitary stroke before becoming the first Indian to progress to the semifinals of the U.S. Junior Amateur at Flint Hills GC in Kansas last month (he was beaten 5&4 by eventual runner-up, Texan Noah Goodwin).

Thomas moved inside the top 1000 of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) on the back of his U.S. Junior Amateur performance. To put his 972^nd rating into context, injury-sidelined former world No.1 Tiger Woods is currently ranked 1046^th.

The Emirates Golf Federation star is five shots adrift of the Western Am’s overnight leaders – Americans Stephen Franken, Dawson Armstrong and Collin Morikawa, Australian Ruben Sondjaja and New Zealander Nick Voke – and a sub-par round is likely to do the job Wednesday. Among other notable scores, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo shot 80 in his first big amateur event while defending champion Dylan Meyer ( Indiana), made two bogeys over his final five holes to finish with a 72. Morikawa is the world No.2 and 2013 Western Am champion while Armstrong captured the 2015 edition of the tournament first played in 1899.

The Western Am is one of the most prestigious events on the amateur calendar. Past champions include Francis Ouimet, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Weiskopf, Ben Crenshaw, Curtis Strange, Chris DiMarco, Phil Mickelson, Justin Leonard, Woods, Ryan Moore and Danny Lee.

Catch the first round highlights here:

The post Thomas walking a knife-edge at Western Amateur in the US appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.