Was This The Last Of Tiger And Phil On A Sunday?

Both Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are working as hard as ever to prepare for the 2020 Masters.

At the 2020 ZOZO Championship and played at Sherwood Country Club, Mickelson was his usual gale force of energy working his coffee/launch monitor/intense warm-ups. Each ZOZO day Tiger was visible in the fitness trailer (doors open for ventilation!) preparing his body ready for play.

Still, Sunday’s late back nine grouping with Adam Long featured plenty of mediocre golf by their lofty standards and a sense that weekend groups featuring the two legends will be rare.

Rex Hoggard writes for GolfChannel.com:

It was a starkly unceremonious end for the two legends who were grouped together in a PGA Tour event for the 38th time. Sixteen strokes off the lead to start the final round of the Zozo Championship, this was a formality. It also was likely the anti-climactic end to a largely anti-climactic head-to-head history between the two titans.

They’ll find themselves in a manufactured group for Rounds 1 and 2 at an event starved for attention somewhere down the road, but the chances of the duo landing together in a meaningful weekend tee time is about as likely as the two sharing a plane ride home.

Tiger was pleased with his putting that did look infinitely more relaxed on the greens as of late, though he still has a tendency to put a pop stroke on the ball. That, combined with really sporatic iron play, will need serious work if he’s to defend his Masters win.

From Steve DiMeglio’s Golfweek account of the Woods/Mickelson grouping.

“The only thing I can take out of this week that I did positively I feel like each and every day and pretty much every hole is I putted well,” said Woods, the defending champion who finished with rounds of 76-66-71-74 and 22 shots behind winner Patrick Cantlay. The 76 and 74 were two of the three worst rounds he’s ever shot at Sherwood in 52 rounds. He won five times here and finished runner-up five times in 12 starts heading into this week. “I feel like I rolled it great. Unfortunately, most of them were for pars and a couple for bogeys here and there, but not enough for birdies.”

Woods has just one top-10 this year in eight starts.

Mickelson’s drive remains admirable but on-course swing looks strained and way too long at times. After the round, he gave an assessment and schedule plans heading to Augusta.

PHIL MICKELSON: Yeah, I have some pretty good direction on where I need to go with my game and I'll take this week to work on it and try to apply it the week before. I'll go home, talk to Amy, see what course is sort of best suited to get me ready, which one allows me to hit more drivers maybe. Like to hit some mid irons, but also like to chip and putt. I'm not sure. I know nothing about Memorial Park. I have played Phoenix Country Club quite a bit, but I'll see what course is best to get ready and I'll do that. But this week I'll take to work on a couple of things and, you know, see if I can get my game sharper.

ZOZO: Cantlay Holds Off Rahm And Thomas In Key Pre-Masters Tune-Up

Volunteers and security watch Patrick Cantlay finish off ZOZO Championship win

A season review of major winners and this year’s November Masters may look back kindly on Patrick Cantlay’s ZOZO Championship win. Coming in his native southern California at Sherwood Country Club, Cantlay held off Justin Thomas and Jon Rahm, two other very likely Masters favorites in 17 days.

While we normally look to play at Riviera, Bay Hill, Honda and TPC Sawgrass for signs of Masters readiness, 2020 left the PGA Tour with a sense of responsibility to give players the chance for a legitimate tune-up. Sherwood checked all of the boxes as a sensational and proven tournament venue. A nice mix of playing styles were in contention and while the softened green contours, five par-5’s and immaculate conditioning produced incredible scoring, the ZOZO field was adequately separated.

Cantlay heads to Augusta as a 25-1 shot and with a big win to go with strong play there last year. He finished T9 in the 2019 Masters after briefly leading Sunday.

And as Ben Everill notes at PGATour.com, his final round 66 came on a course he had never played until this week despite going to college nearby.

He went to college at UCLA and had a glittering amateur career where he was the world’s best. During those years Tiger Woods hosted his Hero World Challenge at Sherwood Country Club.

But until this week, Cantlay had never played at Sherwood despite being in close proximity his entire life. So winning the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP for his third PGA TOUR win, but first in his hometown, was just a tad surprising. Even more so as he had to overtake Justin Thomas and Jon Rahm to do so.

ZOZO: Last (Big) Pre-November Masters Tune-Up Primed For Fun Finish

A tradition we sincerely hope is unlike any other: the October run-up to a rescheduled Masters culminates for most players with the ZOZO Championship final round at Sherwood Country Club.

Normally we get the West Coast and Florida swings to build up to Augusta. This year, we have a collection of fall events that are not the usual building blocks to Augusta, though at this week’s ZOZO, a fun test rewarding all types of player.

The leaderboard heading into Sunday’s finale features several expected Masters leading contenders and any number of possible upstarts with a shot. Eleven players are within four strokes of Justin Thomas’s one-stroke lead over Jon Rahm (63).

Adding to the intrigue: cooler and breezier conditions forecast for Sunday at Sherwood, which nobly stood in as the host venue for the Japan-based event. After three days of fairly benign conditions, players may face a bit more on top of hoping to capture a PGA Tour title so close to the Masters.

Key notes from the PGA Tour:

• In search of his 14th PGA TOUR victory, Justin Thomas holds the 54-hole lead/co-lead for the 14th time in his PGA TOUR career

• World No. 2 Jon Rahm starts 6-under through his first seven holes en route to a 9-under 63, his fifth round of 63 or better in his PGA TOUR career

• Rahm seeks his sixth PGA TOUR title and third in the state of California

• Lanto Griffin birdies his first four holes to tie his 54-hole career low and sits two back through 54 holes

• Patrick Cantlay is bogey free through 54 holes

Third round highlights:

In Case You Were Wondering: Phil Reverses On Fans As Pre-Masters Deciding Factor

Phil Mickelson was seven-under through eight of his ZOZO Championship holes Saturday before posting 67 at Sherwood, but more noteworthy was the way he walked back his early week comments on Houston. Or was that some post-Commissioner-text-message breakdancing?

Anyway, a few days after questioning a pre-Masters Houston Open appearance because 2000 spectators were going to be allowed, Mickelson has had a change of heart. Maybe.

From Rex Hoggard at GolfChannel.com:

He told GolfChannel.com this on Saturday: “That’s not a deciding factor. I’m sure the Tour will do a great job of making it safe.”

He went on to mention a bunch of first world dilemmas he faces in this all important scheduling decision. They involve rye grass. Carts. Other things. In case you care.

Finau Opens Up About COVID-19 Bout After ZOZO 64: "Not really comfortable in your skin. It was quite rough."

Tony Finau has returned to action after a positive COVID-19 test and what sound like the worst known symptoms experienced by a PGA Tour player since the pandemic has begun.

After carding a second round 64 at Sherwood to land T6 (-11) in the 2020 ZOZO Championship, Finau spoke to reporters about the experience.

I was present for much of Finau’s chat and he’s both a testament to the PGA Tour’s testing program, but also to the role players who have tested positive can play in spreading an enlightened message about mask wearing and distancing.

From Bob Harig’s ESPN.com story on Finau that is very much worth your time.

Finau, 31, said he started to experience flu-like symptoms on Oct. 3. Two days later, he drove from his Salt Lake City home to the tournament in Las Vegas. He was tested the following day, with the positive result forthcoming.

"For the first five days, it got worse," said Finau, who was required by the PGA Tour to quarantine in Las Vegas for 10 days -- with a $75,000 stipend provided. "I had massive headaches, body aches. I didn't feel like doing anything. It got me really good -- fatigue-wise. I'm very active. Work out quite often. Always playing golf or with my kids and quite active. It knocked me down. There's no question about it.

"For those 10 days, I didn't feel like doing anything. I obviously didn't get to practice. I lost my taste and smell after about four days. Still don't have it back. That kind of sucks; I'm quite a foodie. It was not the experience I thought I was going to have. Most guys are asymptomatic. They say if you're young and healthy, it's not a big deal. I think I gained some respect for the virus."

Finau has been diligent about face covering after finishing his rounds and reiterated that he thought he had been careful enough with distancing and mask wearing. He also reiterated the importance of both practices going forward.

Overall, I was struck by his willingness to speak and what an asset he is both to validate the Tour’s testing and leadership role athletes can play after experiencing this dreadful virus.

ZOZO At Sherwood: Incredible Day Two Scoring As Thomas Takes Lead (-14)

It was the coolest day in months around southern California but still comfortable enough for short sleeves.

Sherwood Country Club is immaculate.

There are five par-5’s.

The ball goes forever and there isn’t a snap hook in sight.

Oh, and the players have never been more athletic, intelligent, etc...

But you have to admire the quality of play at Sherwood Country Club after two rounds of the ZOZO Championship. The Jack Nicklaus-designed course still offers plenty of trouble, the rough is up, the greens remain tricky (but toned down since the pros were last here) and are firm enough to differentiate between good and bad shots.

Yet, an astounding 18 of 77 players posted bogey-free rounds Friday, including new course record holder Richie Werenski (61).

Here they are courtesy of the PGA Tour notes:

The round two scoring average was 67.870.

After two rounds Justin Thomas leads at -14.

In 14 World Challenge’s played at Sherwood, the average winning score was -15.6. Those were played over four rounds.

There is one key difference between this October event Sherwood and those December playings of the World Challenge: the chance to win a green jacket looms in just over two weeks.

Golf Channel's Beloved Tiger Tracker Appears To Be (Another) Casualty Of Layoffs

TT has he/she/it/they have been known—aka Tiger Tracker—has become a staple of GolfChannel.com’s presence on social media. The 8-year-old account had become the go-to for fans to track Woods’s every move and could even, at times, become a tad cultish as those who questioned the anonymous Tweeter’s wisdom.

Nonetheless, at 438,800 Twitter followers, it was Golf Channel’s second most-followed account but easily its most beloved. While not profitable, TT was quite good at the whole “engagement” thing MBA types mention as vital to their businesses.

But with the channel laying off most staff and sending a small number to Connecticut to put a bare bones channel on the air until an inevitable move of PGA Tour coverage to Peacock, layoffs have apparently eliminated those behind the beloved Twitter follow.

Tiger Tracker has not posted since September 23rd and sat out Tiger’s opening two rounds in his 2020 ZOZO Championship defense. Fans have been inundating both the official account and folks like myself wanting answers.

How revered is the Tracker? Even Golf Channel’s official account briefly wondered where TT was during Thursday’s opening round before the delete button was struck.

Bryson Speed Update: 403.1 Yards And "Not even the 48 inch driver"

Some are counting down to the rescheduled fall Masters to savor a tradition most definitely not like any other we want to do again. Others, well, are looking forward to Bryson DeChambeau highlighting previously unknown design dimensions to Augusta National.

The 2020 U.S. Open Champion provided this Instagram story update on his rest, training and speed work in advance of the Masters (embed above).

Wayne Gretzky Lists Sherwood Home For $22.9 Million

As the PGA Tour visits Sherwood Country Club below, Wayne Gretzky has listed his Richard Landry-designed and Lenny Dykstra-redecorated estate for $22.9 million, reports the LA Times’s Jack Fleming.

Overlooking the course hosting this week’s ZOZO Championship, the home has quite a history.

It’s actually Gretzky’s second time selling the home. The NHL Hall of Famer was the compound’s original owner after having it built in 2002, but five years later, he sold it to former baseball star Lenny Dykstra for $18.5 million.

The sale kicked off a dramatic saga that saw Dykstra lose the property to foreclosure after declaring bankruptcy, at which point it sold at auction on the steps of the Ventura County Courthouse for $760,712 (with the winning bidder taking on about $12 million in debt owed on the property).

Then, two years ago, Gretzky reunited with the home, shelling out $13.5 million for the promontory estate. That’s $5 million less than the price at which he had sold it to Dykstra roughly a decade earlier; if he gets his price this time around, he stands to make $9.4 million in profit.

ZOZO Round One: Tension! Birdies! Bent Clubs! We Have Tangible Evidence The (Fall) Masters Is Near

Nothing against the fall or even the ZOZO, rather miraculously rescheduled despite the sponsor having no place in the American market. But this is typically not a time of year you see players bend clubs, blow off the media, tell dad to lose the tips, or grind on the range until dark.

Day one at Sherwood saw a bit of everything and the stunning scoring you might expect with perfect conditioning, a healthy purse and players seeking momentum into the rescheduled Masters (November 12-15).

A stout 24 players posted 68 or better, with leader Sebastian Munoz 64 despite two bogies and a double. He leads by one over the sizzling Tyrell Hatton and Justin Thomas who finished his round eagle, birdie, birdie.

While spectators are not allowed, local boy Matthew Wolff did have family and friends moving around the property as he predicted Wednesday. Imagine the pride of walking off the fourth tee with Tiger Woods:

Wolff opened with a 69 that included a lost ball at the par-4 14th. He drove the first green, hit the oak next to the surface and made a 17'10” putt for eagle.

Woods, looking fit and swinging beautifully, posted a disastrous 76, his worst round at Sherwood by two. He headed straight to the parking lot—not even stopping for his friends at GolfTV—after signing a card with two birdies, four bogies and a double at the par-5 13th.

Rory McIlroy posted a one under -71 and in uncharacteristic fashion, took out a club on the 18th fairway.

Oh snap! pic.twitter.com/WWh0bh29W5

— Oma Golf (@oma_golf) October 23, 2020

After a -2 70, Jordan Spieth shared a light story about getting just a bit too much advice from his caddie. Who also helped bring him into this world.

Steve DiMeglio explains for Golfweek.

And there was this:

Jordan Spieth has his dad on the bag this week, and it appears pops made the cardinal sin of caddieing. pic.twitter.com/9x2mi9wtMC

— Daniel Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) October 22, 2020

COVID-19: Adam Scott Out Of ZOZO Championship

After a successful late summer run of negative tests prior to the U.S. Open, Adam Scott becomes the third star player in as many weeks to test positive for the coronavirus.

PGA TOUR Statement on Adam Scott

PGA TOUR member Adam Scott has withdrawn from the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP @ SHERWOOD after testing positive for COVID-19.

Scott, who last competed at the U.S. Open in September, will have the PGA TOUR’s full support throughout his self-isolation period under CDC guidelines.

“While it’s difficult news to receive – as I really looked forward to playing this week – my focus now is on recovery for the final stretch of the fall,” said Scott.

First alternate Jim Herman will replace Scott in the field.

Scott had sat out the PGA Tour’s restart due to concerns about traveling safely and PGA Tour protocols, returning at August’s rescheduled PGA Championship.

Undercover Caddy Confirms That Players And Caddies Miss Fans Only So Much

I laughed out loud a few times during Golf Digest’s “Undercover Caddie” with Joel Beall tackling the tricky topic of PGA Tour events without fans.

While a few veteran stars maybe haven’t had their old home field advantage without fans giving them an extra adrenaline boost, it’s been apparent players have enjoyed not dealing with gallery inconveniences. The unnamed caddie acknowledges that the PGA Tour has “feels less like a professional sports league” and “more like a very serious member-guest that’s being televised.”

But says for caddies, life has been way easier and for players too, including Wednesdays.

OK, one thing is better: no pro-ams. Do you see brokers in the layup line at an NBA game? How about salesmen taking hacks in the batting cage at Fenway Park? Listen, the Wednesday events do a lot for charity. We meet some interesting people through them, and no, they’re not all chops. But if you’re asking if I’d rather my man prep for a tournament by (a) playing with fellow pros or (b) acting as a tour guide … I think you know my answer.

This reminds me: this week’s ZOZO Championship at Sherwood features a pro-am with players only obligated to play nine of the 18-hole round. And as odd as they are compared to other pro sports, they are integral to the PGA Tour’s business and most of all, the charities.

ZOZO: Tiger Woods On Bryson's Speed Chase, State Of The Distance Debate

Returning to Sherwood Country Club for the ZOZO Championship, Tiger Woods was asked about the speed chase by players.

TIGER WOODS: Well, distance has always been an advantage. Now that we have the tools, that being the launch monitor, the fitting of the golf clubs, the adjustability. I think all that plays into the fact that you're able to maximize the capabilities of a driver. There's no reason why you can't pick up more yardage and guys have done that. They've changed shafts, they've changed lofts, they've changed weights on their heads and length of clubs. Driving is such a huge part of the game and it's so advantageous if you're able to get the ball out there. It just makes the game so much easier.

And this on distance was nice. Someone else has lost patience.

Q. Just one last question, and on the back of an earlier question about driving distance of the ball. As you know, the administrators are a little worried about where the game's going. Should they be worried?

TIGER WOODS: They should have been worried a long time ago, but the genie's out of the bag now. It's about what do we do going forward and how soon can they do it. I don't know if they're going--you're not going to stop the guys who are there right now. You can carry--guys are figuring out how to carry the ball 320-plus yards, and it's not just a few of them. There's a lot of guys can do it. That's where the game's going. There's only going to be a small amount of property that we can do, we can alter golf courses. I just don't see how they can roll everything back. I would like to have--like to be able to see that, as far as our game, but then we go back down the road of what do you bifurcate, at what level? So that's a long discussion we've had for a number of years, for 20-plus years now, and I think it's only going to continue.

Tiger is correct, well, about everything here.

A) It’s about what we do and how soon. Since the genie’s out of the bag/bottle, this means that bifurcation is the only real solution.

B) At what level. Yep, a complicated, annoying discussion to have. But since equipment companies shower amateur golfers now with free stuff and college golfers are on the freebie circuit too, that line should not be tough to draw if we are talking balls, or more tightly regulated drivers. But all of this would require an actual discussion, one governing bodies have tabled for (another) year. At least.

Those Easy Hero World Challenge Points Will Have To Wait Another Year

The December event hosted by Tiger Woods and his TGR Foundation will sit 2020 out due to pandemic travel restrictions. Certainly this is an understandable outcome for an event hosted by an international sponsor and played in the Bahamas.

According to ESPN.com’s Bob Harig, consideration was given to a Florida playing.

Woods' agent, Mark Steinberg, said there were some discussions about playing the tournament in Florida but that a bigger issue was the contingent of Hero MotoCorp executives and guests traveling from the company's base in India.

While it seems like four years ago, the 2019 edition of the Hero was memorably marred by Patrick Reed’s practice swing exploration of waste bunker sands.

The PGA Tour is already scheduled to play the Mayakoba Classic the same week as the Hero was planned, suggesting this move should come as little surprise.

Home Security Company To Sponsor Tournament Benefiting Astros* Foundation

Not long ago the Astros* enjoyed a secure home field. And now the Houston Open benefiting the Astros* Foundation has taken on Vivint Smart Home to sponsor the fall PGA Tour event.

Everyone needs some home security in their lives. Especially the Astros.

PGA TOUR, Astros Golf Foundation partner with Vivint to sponsor the Vivint Houston Open in 2020

Astros Golf Foundation returns event to Memorial Park Golf Course for first time since 1963

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA – The PGA TOUR announced that Vivint Smart Home, Inc. (NYSE: VVNT), a leading smart home company in North America, will become title sponsor of the Houston Open for 2020 in support of tournament host and beneficiary, the Astros Golf Foundation. The Vivint Houston Open will be played November 5-8 and returns to Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston for the first time since 1963.

The Astros Golf Foundation, led by Houston Astros Owner and Chairman Jim Crane, operates and serves as the host organization for the event. The commitment to the Houston Open from the Astros Golf Foundation, with the support of a number of community partners, is in place through 2023. The Astros Golf Foundation recently completed a $34 million renovation to Memorial Park Golf Course over a two-year period in order to bring the tournament back to the heart of the city.

“The Houston Open has been a staple on the PGA TOUR calendar since 1946 and this year marks its celebrated return to Memorial Park Golf Course, thanks to the Astros Golf Foundation whose dedication to community is unmatched in Houston,” said Brian Oliver, PGA TOUR Executive Vice President of Corporate Partnerships. “We are thrilled to partner with Vivint whose enthusiasm and innovative thinking allowed us to finalize this partnership just a month before the tournament.”

All four rounds of the Vivint Houston Open will be televised on the Golf Channel, featuring a 132-player field, 500 FedExCup points and a $7 million purse.

“We are excited to bring the Houston Open back to the City of Houston’s Memorial Park Golf Course,” says Giles Kibbe, President Astros Golf Foundation. “We recognize this is a unique year and are appreciative of Vivint for their support in Houston in 2020 and their commitment to helping us serve our community through the game of golf.”

“We’re proud to partner with the PGA TOUR and the Astros Golf Foundation for this incredible event,” said Todd Pedersen, CEO of Vivint Smart Home. “Giving back is a core company value for Vivint so we’re delighted to participate in a charitable effort that will benefit one of our flagship markets.”

Plans start at just a dollar a day to outfit the Astros dugout! And definitely cover the the tunnel.

*Synergy.