Rickie Fowler Says Playing Golf vs. Michael Jordan 'Is as Good as It Gets for Prep'
May 20, 2021
KIAWAH ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA - MAY 20: Rickie Fowler of the United States plays his shot from the 11th tee during the first round of the 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island Resort's Ocean Course on May 20, 2021 in Kiawah Island, South Carolina. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
When you're preparing for a major tournament, golfing against perhaps the most competitive person alive can be a smart approach.
Following his opening round of the PGA Championship, Rickie Fowler told reporters he had practiced against Michael Jordan. Because Jordan gets a 10-shot advantage to start their rounds together, their head-to-head battles can be pretty tight.
"I was seven under par through 17 holes [recently] and lost," Fowler said of one encounter. "And he's not quiet about it. [But] playing against MJ is as good as it gets for prep."
He carded a one-under 71 in the opening round at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, which has him tied for 12th and only two shots behind the leaders, so the preparation might be paying off. It was a solid start for the 32-year-old, who missed the cut for the Wells Fargo Championship and AT&T Byron Nelson earlier this month.
Depending on where he finishes the tournament, some of Fowler's PGA Tour colleagues might start requesting Jordan's services, too.
AT&T Byron Nelson 2021: K.H. Lee Earns 1st PGA Tour Win; Jordan Spieth Ties for 9th
May 16, 2021
MCKINNEY, TEXAS - MAY 16: K.H. Lee hits his tee shot on the 2nd hole during the final round of the AT&T Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch on May 16, 2021 in McKinney, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Sam Burns came into Sunday's final round at the AT&T Byron Nelson atop the leaderboard. But 18 holes and one weather stoppage later, K.H. Lee towered above the field.
His six-under 66 put him at 25 under for the tournament, three strokes above Burns and four above Patton Kizzire, Daniel Berger, Scott Stallings and Charl Schwartzel. It was the finishing touch on a brilliantly consistent four days from Lee, who shot a 65 in each of the first two rounds and a 67 in the third.
Lee said after his winning round that it's a long time without a win and he's been waiting patiently to finish atop the leaderboard, so he was excited to get over that hump:
He was awesome Sunday, finishing with eight birdies to just two bogeys. Overall he averaged a driving distance of 269 yards, had a driving accuracy of 57.1 percent, hit 77.7 percent of greens in regulation and gained 1.851 strokes putting, per PGATour.com.
And he hit some of the prettiest shots on the day.
As for the rest of the field, Jordan Spieth (-18)—who came into the day three strokes off the lead—shot a one-under 71 and finished in a tie for ninth.
"Today was a little disappointing. Just was tough," he told reporters after the round. "What a battle. We don't normally get rain in Texas without electricity very often, and so that was definitely a test. But it was fun."
Burns, who shot just two under for the day, will likely be equally disappointed after failing to hold on to his one-stroke lead coming into Sunday.
And then there was Kizzire, who had the round of the day, shooting nine under. It wasn't enough to catch Lee, however.
Up next is the PGA Championship at the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island in South Carolina.
Valspar Championship 2021: Keegan Bradley Holds 2-Stroke Lead After Round 2
May 1, 2021
Keegan Bradley reacts after missing a putt on the ninth hole during the first round of the The Players Championship golf tournament Thursday, March 11, 2021, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Keegan Bradley wasn't quite able to match his seven-under 64 from Round 1, but he's still in a strong position for his first win on Tour since 2018 heading into the weekend of the 2021 Valspar Championship.
Bradley carded a five-under 66 to sit at 12 under for the tournament and tied with Sam Burns for the lead at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club.
The opening-round leader holed out from 115 yards on the par-four 18th to tie Burns, who soared to the top of the leaderboard after shooting an eight-under 63.
"You can't see the green from down there, so you have to wait for the crowd's reaction," Bradley told reporters after the round. "And when everyone puts their arms up, normally that means it goes in. So another bonus of having fans out here. It makes it a lot more exciting for everybody."
Burns, a 24-year-old with limited PGA experience, has never won on the PGA Tour. He previously finished in a tie for 12th at the 2018 Valspar Championship.
"For me it's just sticking to what I've been doing, having a good game plan going into the day," Burns said. "I know over the weekend there will be some challenges, and I'm excited for the opportunity."
Bradley and Burns hold a four-stroke lead over Lucas Glover, Max Homa and Charley Hoffman, who are tied for third at eight under.
World No. 1 Dustin Johnson trails the leaders by nine shots after shooting a three-under 68. Johnson will have a ton of work to do over the weekend to get his first victory since last November's Masters Tournament. However, getting his first top-10 since February is not out of the question.
World No. 2 Justin Thomas is nine strokes off the lead at two under.
One notable who won't be making the weekend is Phil Mickelson, who missed the cut by one stroke at even par after shooting a two-under 69.
Hideki Matsuyama to Receive Japan's Prime Minister's Award After Masters Win
Apr 28, 2021
Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, celebrates after putting on the champion's green jacket after winning the Masters golf tournament on Sunday, April 11, 2021, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Hideki Matsuyama will become the second golfer to receive Japan's Prime Minister's Award, according to Joel Beall of Golf Digest.
Earlier this month, Matsuyama (-10) held off Will Zalatoris (-9) to capture a historic win at the 2021 Masters, becoming the first male golfer from Japan to win a major.
"Hopefully, I'll be a pioneer and many other Japanese will follow," Matsuyama told reporters afterward.
"Amid the prolonged coronavirus crisis, he gave courage to and touched the hearts of everyone across Japan," Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said at the time.
Ayako Okamoto was the first golfer to win the prestigious award in 1987 after her four wins on the LPGA Tour that season and top-five finishes in every major.
Matsuyama is scheduled to receive the award Friday.
Zurich Classic 2021: Oosthuizen, Schwartzel Pairing Takes Lead into Final Round
Apr 24, 2021
Marc Leishman of Australia hits off the second tee during the third round of the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La., Saturday, April 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
The team of Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel leads the Zurich Classic of New Orleans at 19 under after shooting a nine-under 63 on Saturday.
Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith sit one stroke back after shooting a nine-under 63 as well. Cameron Champ and Tony Finau, who entered Saturday tied for the tournament lead, are also at under 18.
Bubba Watson and Scottie Scheffler as well as Viktor Hovland and Kris Ventura are alone in fourth at under 17.
The team event uses a best-ball format in the first and third rounds and foursomes in the second and fourth rounds.
In best ball, both teammates play their own shots, with the top individual score representing the team. In foursomes, teammates alternate shots from the tee to the hole, with the final combined result representing the team.
The most exciting action of the day may have come courtesy of alligators lurking on the golf course.
Despite the excellent effort, they are playing catch-up to Oosthuizen and Schwartzel, who finished the back nine with six birdies. Oosthuizen ended with the final three, including this 33-foot, four-inch birdie on the par-three 17th.
The duo closed with a birdie to finish one stroke behind the leaders.
Tony Romo Shoots 2nd-Round 76, Misses Cut at Veritex Bank Championship
Apr 24, 2021
Tony Romo hits a ball out of the bunker on the 17th green of the Spyglass Hill Golf Course during the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am golf tournament Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020, in Pebble Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo finished in last place at the 2021 Veritex Bank Championship after shooting a five-over 76 in Saturday's second round at Texas Rangers Golf Club in Arlington, Texas.
Romo, who posted a six-over 77 in Thursday's first round, missed the Korn Ferry Tour cut by 17 shots. He recorded three bogeys, a double bogey and no birdies in Round 2.
The 41-year-old California native is an accomplished golfer. He's a two-time winner (2018 and 2019) in the American Century Championship, an annual tournament featuring athletes and celebrities, and he's attempted to qualify for several PGA Tour events, including the U.S. Open.
Romo accepted a sponsor's exemption to play in the Veritex Bank Championship, an event he was scheduled to play last year before it was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
"I have been working hard on my game over the last few months," he said in March. "I can't wait to play in front of a home crowd at Texas Rangers Golf Club, and I hope to make a little noise during the championship."
Romo created a stir when he carded an eagle on his first hole of the tournament Thursday, and he rolled in three other birdies during his opening round. He wasn't able to limit his mistakes enough to contend, however, as he had seven bogeys or worse in Round 1.
"You can't make the big numbers," the four-time NFL Pro Bowl selection told reporters Thursday. "It's too hard to come back from triple bogeys and double bogeys."
The former quarterback, who now works as a CBS Sports NFL broadcaster, did a better job of avoiding those round-ruining errors Saturday—his second round was delayed a day by Friday's rain—but it came at the cost of not having as many good looks for birdie.
It's unclear whether Romo is planning any further pro events in the near future, but he'll likely return seeking another title in the American Century Championship, which is scheduled to run July 9-11 in Nevada.
RBC Heritage 2021: Stewart Cink in Control After 3rd Round
Apr 17, 2021
Stewart Cink eyes his drive off the ninth tee during the third round of the RBC Heritage golf tournament in Hilton Head Island, S.C., Saturday, April 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
Stewart Cink is one day away from earning his second PGA Tour victory of the season.
The 47-year-old followed up his historic round Friday by shooting two under Saturday to hold a five-stroke lead over the rest of the field after moving day at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head, South Carolina.
Collin Morikawa will pose a new threat for Cink heading into Sunday, as the 24-year-old shot four under Saturday to climb into sole possession of second place, ahead of Emiliano Grillo, who maintained his third-place standing.
Matt Wallace and Webb Simpson had major climbs to head into the final round as legitimate contenders.
RBC Heritage Saturday Leaderboard
1. Stewart Cink (-18)
2. Collin Morikawa (-13)
3. Emiliano Grillo (-12)
T4. Matt Wallace, Sungjae Im (-11)
T6. Webb Simpson, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Harold Varner III, Corey Conners (-10)
Cink, who set a 36-hole course record Friday and became the oldest two-round leader in tournament history, had an up-and-down start to his outing Saturday.
His round got off to a rough start when he bogeyed No. 3, but he quickly made up for it with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 4 and 5. He finished the rest of the front nine even to make the turn with a score of one under on the day and a five-stroke lead on an approaching Grillo.
But his afternoon took a turn when he rounded the corner. He bookended a birdie on No. 13 with bogeys, while Cink was even through that stretch to maintain his lead. Grillo's slippage paved the way for another player to take over the second spot.
After an even front nine, Morikawa sunk three consecutive birdies on Nos. 13-15 to pull himself into second place and then added another on No. 17 to round out his strong back nine.
Elsewhere, Webb Simpson—who won the tournament in 2020—shot his best round of the weekend with an impressive score of seven under to catapult him into a tie for sixth place, 34 spots up from his position after Friday. Seven birdies made the difference for him while he stayed true to par throughout the rest of the round.
Matt Wallace had a similarly strong climb with a six-under round that pulled him up 15 spots to a tie for fourth place.
Cink will enter Sunday with some breathing room, but Saturday's results indicate that there are plenty of players who are capable of taking away his title with a standout round when it matters most.
Golf HOFer Greg Norman Sells 32,000-Square-Foot Jupiter Island Estate for $55M
Apr 13, 2021
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 20: Greg Norman of Australia plays his shot from the fourth tee during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club Orlando on December 20, 2020 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Golfing legend Greg Norman and his wife Kiki have sold their estate in Jupiter Island, Florida, for a cool $55.1 million, according to Alexandra Clough of the Palm Beach Post.
They were originally seeking $59.9 million for the 32,000-square-foot property, and it's hard to argue the home isn't worth the money.
Nicknamed "Tranquility," the estate features 10 bedrooms, 18 bathrooms, a guest house, two pools, a dock capable of holding a 150-foot yacht, a private tennis court, a private beach, a home theater and two wine cellars.
Norman first bought the house for $5 million in 1991, began making major improvements and quickly drove up its value. The golfer listed the house for two weeks before finding a buyer.
In the meantime, Norman has purchased a new residence in Palm Beach Gardens for $12.2 million.
Given his track record, it could be worth triple that in the not-too-distant future.
Bettor Wins $44,650 After Placing $50 Wager on Hideki Matsuyama, Eric Bledsoe Parlay
Apr 12, 2021
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 11: Hideki Matsuyama of Japan celebrates on the 18th green after winning the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Everyone knows the best way to win money while gambling on sports is by pairing Hideki Matsuyama and Eric Bledsoe.
Wait, what?
One bettor won more than $44,000 on a $50 bet by pairing the newest Masters champion with Bledsoe's scoring ability. The parlay called for Matsuyama to win the Masters and Bledsoe to score 25 or more points in Wednesday's game between his New Orleans Pelicans and the Brooklyn Nets:
$44K WINNER 🤯
One of the more bizarre parlays you'll ever see...
Bledsoe finished with 26 points in a loss, while Matsuyama held off Will Zalatoris by a single stroke at Augusta National Golf Club.
If you're going to win such an unusual parlay, you might as well win it with a little bit of drama.
Masters Prize Money 2021: Final Leaderboard, Total Purse and Payouts
Apr 11, 2021
Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, tips his cap after winning the Masters golf tournament on Sunday, April 11, 2021, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
For a while, it looked like there wasn't going to be much drama at Augusta National on Sunday.
Ah, but it wouldn't be the Masters without some intrigue. Hideki Matsuyama's comfortable lead almost evaporated late, though he ultimately held off Xander Schauffele and earned himself his first green jacket in the process, shooting a one-over 73 to finish 10 under for the tournament. That left him one stroke clear of runner-up Will Zalatoris after Schauffele crumbled late.
It’s official: Ten years after winning low-amateur honors here at Augusta National, Hideki Matsuyama is your 2021 Masters champion. Tears in his eyes as he walks off the final green.
For the third straight year, the total purse at the major was $11.5 million, with Matsuyama taking home a clean $2.07 million for finishing first. Here were the remaining payouts and the top of the leaderboard:
2. Zalatoris (-9): $1,242,000
T3. Jordan Spieth (-7): $667,000
T3. Schauffele (-7): $667,000
T5. Jon Rahm (-6): $437,000
T5. Marc Leishman (-6): $437,000
7. Justin Rose (-5): $385,250
T8. Patrick Reed (-4): $345,000
T8. Corey Conners (-4): $345,000
T10. Cameron Smith (-3): $299,000
T10: Tony Finau (-3): $299,000
Matsuyama surged to the top of the leaderboard Saturday, perhaps bolstered by a rain delay. When play was halted, he was two strokes off the lead through 10 holes. When play resumed, he annihilated the final stretch, shooting a remarkable six under on the last eight holes to take a four-stroke lead.
"I wouldn't have believed it," Matsuyama told reporters Saturday. "But I did play well today. And my game plan was carried out, and hopefully, tomorrow I can continue good form."
While he couldn't match Saturday's improbable run, he mostly managed the course well Sunday, avoiding the sort of major blunders that can quickly derail a tournament. Well, at least until the 15th, when he found the water and bogeyed the hole. That, paired with Schauffele shooting a birdie on No. 15, cut Matsuyama's lead to two strokes.
I saw Hideki Matsuyama’a skill and dominance when he won back-to-back @WMPhoenixOpen in 2016 and 2017. Today’s #themasters win secured his place in the upper echelon on tour.
As for the rest of the field, Jordan Spieth's strong showing is a positive sign going forward for a player who hadn't posted a top-10 finish at a major since the 2018 British Open and didn't have a top-five finish since that year's Masters.
It wasn't a win for Spieth, but it was a much-needed performance. Besides, nobody was catching Matsuyama on Sunday, even if he temporarily held the door open on the back nine and let a little drama through.
