MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH

Morikawa captures the 102nd PGA Championship in his home state of California at TPC Harding

SAN FRANSISCO, CA–Any person remotely associated with the PGA saw this coming…Seeing Collin Morikawa’s play on tour is something like witnessing a tornado destined to hit your town from miles away outside of your window.  You get a sense that something terrible is on its way towards you, but you are paralyzed by the sheer magnificence of the force.  Instead of running away initially, you sit and watch, if only for minute…Then, just as you snap back to reality and frantically gather loved ones, precious resourses and finally begin to escape: you’re hit.  The tornado has, in full-effect, indeed arrived. 

In only his second major tournament, Collin Morikawa officially put himself on the scene this past week at TPC Harding Park.  Morikawa’s sweeping performance laid waist to one of the most decorated and competitive Day 4 leaderboards’ in PGA Championship history. Morikawa’s steel demeanor and mental toughness pushed him past the field, finishing at 13-under, while also leaving us with a moment to remember hitting a shot for the ages to ensure his first professional major championship.   

Morikawa’s triumph at TPC Harding was a true culmination of his complete skill set.  He has an impressive control over his own game, remaining true to himself while not bowing to trends at the PGA Championship.  Despite a modest 290.5 avg. on drives off the tee, Morikawa’s relied on his discipline which was displayed on the greens with his driving accuracy (69.64%), hitting 39 of 56 fairways, landing on the short grass a raw 70% of the time, well ahead of the field average of 50%.  Morikawa is the first player since Louis Oosthuizen (2010 The Open Championship) to win a major while leading the field in driving accuracy.  Morikawa’s master class putting (8.086) effectively shut the door on all other aspirants before they even realized what was happening. 

HOME STATE VICTORY

Locals rejoice as Morikawa brings it home

PGA Championship Final Leaderboard

Collin Morikawa -13 

(6-under round 4)

Paul Casey -11
Dustin Johnson -11
Matthew Wolff -10
Jason Day -10
Bryson DeChambeau -10
Tony Finau -10
Scottie Scheffler -10

THE AIR UP THERE

Morikawa scorched the back 9 and may have hit the shot of the year off his driver on 16th on his way to eagle and glory.  MORIKAWA MADE 22 STRAIGHT CUTS TO BEGIN HIS CAREER AND AT 23, IS ONE OF THE YOUNGEST TO EVER WIN A MAJOR in pga tour history

CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVE

Morikawa’s Inner Drive: Revealed

“There’s a maturity there that at 23, it shouldn’t exist. The skillset that he has is a little different than what we see in a modern young player. But there are some intangibles there that we don’t necessarily have statistics or categories for. But you can see it when you watch him play, and it was on full display today. He won high level amateur events. This guy came out here ready to play. We’re seeing the job that these college coaches are doing in getting their players ready for the PGA TOUR.”

-Justin Leonard 

MORIKAWA-ROUND 4

tournament Strengths:

driving accuracy: 69.64% (1st)

SG: putting-8.086 (1st)

SG: total-15.130 (1st)

Bogeys: 7 (17th)

Birdies: 18 (9th)

eagle(S): 1 (T-1st)

Dbl Bogeys: 0 (T-1)

MORIKAWA: BEST SHOTS-RD 4

Agent of Cool: California kid seizes his moment

Morikawa-TOURNAMENT STATS

The Los Angeles native precise drive off the tee on the 16th hole to set himself up for the eagle that locked up the Wannamaker Trophy will be lauded in the clubhouse for years to come, signaling his place amongst the elite of his sport.  Morikawa’s trajectory in the PGA tour has been sci-fi rocket-style.  As a sign of things to come following a stellar amateur career at UC-Berkeley, where he was ranked no. 1 on 3  different occasions, Morikawa won his 1st pro tournament (2019 Barracuda Championship)  and proceeded to make 22 straight cuts to start his career for the second hottest start in tour history (25-Tiger).  At age 23, and in only one season on the pro tour, Morikawa is among a select club of the youngest players to win a major, joining Jack Nickalus, Tiger Woods, and Rory McILroy.

This was Collin Morikawa’s PGA Championship debut  and his 2nd major played.  Morikawa vaulted in the rankings following his successful week at TPC Harding. now the World’s no. 5, he also ranks 2nd in the FedExCup standings.

BLOWING THE TOP OFF

A GLIMPS OF THE FUTURE: Don’t worry Collin…That’s just your unlimited potential popping off

“He’s the lone man that managed to play this golf course mostly from the fairway and mostly not make mistakes of strategy, mental errors and what not. You’re just not supposed to do this stuff after 29 events.”

-Brandel Chamblee (Golf Channel)

BONUS FEATURE:

L.A. DREAMER

on sunday, Morikawa won his first major along with a fair share of the purse ($1.98M) and is now ranked no.5 in the world

MAJOR PUSH

Sunday’s final round is a loaded field led by the World’s no.5 ranked golfer and u.s. open champion (2016) dustin Johnson and full of contenders who are in the world’s Top 20 as well as a resurgent Jason day

HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN LOOMS

dUSTIN Johnson IS ON THE ATTACK

2020 PGA Championship, TPC Harding Park, SAN FRANSISCO, CA

JOHNSON-ROUND 3

DJ finished 2nd last year behind tour rival Brooks Koepka who is looking to stay on track to capture his 3rd consecutive PGA championship

THE DEFENSIVE MAN

Brooks Koepka continues his disciplined push towards a 3rd straight PGA Championship

KOEPKA-ROUND 3

HAROLD VARNER III

Harold Varner (-3/t-21st) is aiming for his highest finish in a major. in 2019, the 8 year pro bowed out in 36th place at the PGA Championship at Bethpage

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT HAROLD VARNER III

COLLIN MORIKAWA

California native, Collin Morikawa plays far beyond his years and has the mentality to overcome nerves on Championship Sunday.  The 23 year old is only two strokes back of the lead (-7)

MORIKAWA-ROUND 2

2020 PGA Championship

DOING ELITE THINGS

The stars show off at TPC Harding

DeCHAMBEAU NAILS 95 FOOT PUTT

Bryson DeChambeau’s 95+ foot putt on Saturday was the longest on tour since 2017

CAMERON CHAMP

The Sacramento native and Texas A&M graduate is displaying impressive power and accuracy off the tee

2020 PROFILE

World Rk:  77                                               Age:  25

FedExCup Rk:  21                                      Events:  16

2020 Tour Victories:  1                       Top 10:  1

Total Majors: None

Est. 2017

Strengths:

SG: off the Tee-1.017 (2nd)

driving distance: 321.3 (2nd)

CHAMP-IONSHIP THOUGHTS

DRIVING FORCE: CAMERON CHAMP LEADS THE FIELD IN DRIVING AFTER 3 ROUNDS IN SAN FRANCISCO

THE PGA IS ON POINT WITH THIS MAJOR.  THIS IS PRETTY EXCITING STUFF!

CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY 

2020 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERBOARD

EASTERN ASSAULT

2020 PGA Championship, TPC Harding Park

PGA TOUR SPOTLIGHT: HOATONG LI

China’s no.1 golfer held a lead after 36 holes and remains in contention on Sunday at (-5) four shots behind leader Dustin Johnson

HOATONG LI-ROUND 2 

TRUMP, HOANTANG LI AND WeCHAT 

THE CUTS

Rickie Fowler gets cut in a brutal way, joining major snake bitten peer Sergio Garcia

A VERY GOOD DAY

A CONFIDENT Jason Day shares the lead with Brendon Todd after A Round 1 BOGEY FREE 5-UNDER 65 

PGA CHAMPIONSHIP-RD 1

TPC HARDING, SAN FRANSISCO, CA 2020

THE JOURNEYMAN

Brendon Todd’s highest finish at the PGA Championship was in 2014 (72nd)

2020 PROFILE

World Rk:  46                                               Age:  35

FedExCup Rk:  9                                      Events:  20

2020 Tour Victories:  2                       Top 10:  3

Total Majors: None

Est. 2007

Strengths:

Scrambling%: 68.23 (1ST)

driving accuracy%: 72.28 (3rd)

XANDER SCHAUFELE

Young Xander Schaufele is in the mix tied FOR 3rd after his 4- under 66 on Thursday

2020 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERBOARD

A GLIMPSE OF THE PAST

A Tiger’s old form:  Woods captures the Masters for a 5th time in 2019

JULY 29, 2020 finds world’s no. 15 Tiger Woods at a cross-roads.  The once invincible golf titan is now aged 44, and while still  a top 20 golfer, Woods is as vulnerable as he has ever been in his decorated career.  While not quite as debilitated as the famed issues golf pioneer Seve Ballesteros faced in the 1980’s when the advent of spinal fusion technology had not yet manifested, Woods remains week-to-week almost regardless of result.  Win or lose, we are perpetually on “Tiger Watch.”  Woods continues to demonstrate these insane pockets of will power and steely perseverance to his fan base as well as to his peers, displaying  an obsessive mindset arguably never before displayed in the PGA tour’s mighty history.  One full of denials and unjustifiable reassurances that his best performance still lies right around the corner.  The essence of Tiger Woods’ will won’t let him fade away as he remains (when healthy) a real legitimate threat to those who have now surpassed him in skill and accomplishments in recent years.

CROUCHING TIGER

A Tiger’s new form?  How Woods musters the strength to chase after the record books is attributable to his indomitable will.  The latest from Vegas suggest that Woods is still considered amongst the favorites at the PGA (25/1) and Masters (10/1)

Once having a vice grip on the title of consecutive weeks at no. 1 (683) like a veritable golfing Superman, Woods finds himself having to navigate his seasons carefully, as the once prodigious and physically gifted golfer decays with age.  From his years of “*Kal-El”-like solitude with the game of golf and his father, to the rigorous military-style regiments that lead to increased pressure on an already fragile left knee, that lead him further racing towards the eye-squinting, head turning spinal procedures in recent years, Tiger is now forced to crouch and survey before assessing any of his next moves.  The nature of this version of Tiger is no longer that of an approaching predator fuming with arrogance and aggression, rather one that is forced to be more calculating as his physical attributes over his domain begin to fade.  Every tournament must be calibrated for its intrinsic value towards his legacy.  Woods’ level of fragility is almost a primary guide for his real-time decisions as a strong 36 hole performance in any tournament can quickly evaporate into a back tightness so stiff that his drives off the tee become feeble as they drift and falter while walking from hole to hole becomes an increasingly visibly laborious display of discomfort compounding his efforts.  His exit at the Memorial humbled many expectations for the PGA Championship and sent Woods back to the drawing board.

REMEMBERING WHEN….

The Greatest Golfer of All-Time?  There will be plenty of work for the 5-time Masters Champion to do before that claim is universal.  Here is a fantastic trip down memory lane.  A look back at Tiger Woods’ prowess in his prime

With his position already secured in this season’s FedEx Cup Playoffs, Woods bypassed last week’s 3M Open and instead decided to focus on the PGA at Harding Park in San Francisco (Aug. 6-9).  The questions will remain if he has the physical capacity to compete with the class of today’s current crop of golfers all of whom grew up witnessing the once phenom and sports giant.  While the skill and moxy still glimmer, the physical tools will carry on under constant scrutiny.  The idea that Tiger Woods is finished, however is far over stated.  With a win at the Championship, Tiger never far removed from the next record, would clinch the most tour victories in history (83) and would also notch his 16th major.

MORE TIGER NEWS

Tiger Woods Tournament Watch

TGR NEWSFEED

Tiger Wood Latests: US

Tiger Woods Latests: UK

Karim?…*KAL-EL, WHAT THE..!??? (Yes, yes…I am also a comic book geek…)

*The name that shows up in statistics as Kalel is usually written “Kal–El,” after Superman’s birth name in the comics. “Kal–El” is Superman’s Kryptonian name, which resembles the Hebrew words קל-אל, which can be taken to mean “voice of God.”  Superman is partially known by intimate fans of the fictional character for his time spent in seclusion for rest, recovery and strategy in his “Temple of Solitude” 

THOMPSON EMERGES AT THE 3M OPEN

218th ranked Michael  Thompson’s emotional 2nd tour victory and first since the 2013 Honda Classic, featured a fluid and aggressive approach to attacking the unexpectedly soft fairways at the TPC Twin Cities.  It was Thompson’s first tournament win in 2, 702 days (167 starts).  Due to his strong putting over the weekend, Thompson finished 19- under at the 3M Open championship winning by two strokes.  The win qualifies him for next months major PGA Championship and has added a relieving level of job security over the next two years.

ENCOURAGING SIGNS

CONTACT TRACING

U.S. GOLF:

WORLD’S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS-FEDEX ST. JUDE INVITATIONAL

B/R

WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW

DRONES TO BE HEAVILY FEATURED AT THE PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

THE AWKWARD BOND: NORMAN/WOODS

WGC NEWS

PGA TOUR LATESTS

POWER RANKINGS

SEA ISLAND BOYS@ The 3PC

GOLF CRISIS:  POTENTIAL U.S. CONTROVERSY

THE DARK SIDE OF THE LINKS

BRYSON FEVER

EUROPE/WORLD: 

IN THE SHADOWS: ADAM SCOTT IS LURKING

GOLF’S NEW KING?

Jon Rahm cliched the number ranking at the Memorial in July

NEW WORLD # 1

UPDATED: FEDEX CUP STANDINGS

THE WOLFF IS ON THE PROWL

Defending Champion Tommy Wolff makes his move on Friday.  The cutline moved to (-2) at 3:45CST

BLAINE, MINN–Matthew Wolff sits tied in 6th place posting a round 2 3-under 68 rounding out his score to a healthy (-9) overall going into the weekend.  Wolff played a very patient round, avoiding bogey while going 10/14 on fairways, 14/18 on greens and 40% from putts 10-20 feet away (3/4 in round 2).  Wolff is (-30) in his last 6 rounds of the 3M Open. The champ navigated through rough conditions as the wind picked up in the afternoon as the cross winds affected the open areas of the course and forced golfers to be honest, especially on the par 3 13th which proved to be adventurous throughout the middle of the day.

TPC TWIN CITIES-GOLF COURSE LAYOUT

“MICHAEL THOMPSON GOLF” IS… :

Micheal Thompson seeks his second PGA tour victory (2013 Honda Classic)

” The best way to play golf…The big thing is try not to over power the golf course…Stay within myself…Make good comfortable swings…Aggressive swings to go to good targets…Stay aggressive with pins when I can, when (I) have good numbers…Keeping it simple…”

-Michael Thompson

Self-explained.  Self-made.  So far the mindset is working.  Thompson is playing out of body after missing the cut at the Workday Charity Open in mid-July.  Now all of a sudden, Thompson is crushing it this week at the TPC Twin Cities.  Thompson only has one top ten finish this season (RBC Heritage-8th)

Thompson’s SG Putting after 2 rounds:+4.66 (rank: 3rd) continued and resulted into a smooth round 3 -under 68:

Michael Thompson Scorecard

YOUNG RICHY

 Richy Werenski is trying his best rendition: Keeping up with the Thompson

WHAT’S HOLDING TONY FINAU BACK?

Some more flashes of greatness as Tony Finau continues his assault on the leaderboard.  Is Finau a threat for a major this season?

KOEPKA MAKES/MISSES THE CUT

Chase best his older brother and defending back-to-back PGA Championship winner, Brooks who failed to make the cut this week in Minnesota

As rare as these opportunities may be, Chase vs, Brooks will always fun for me to watch.  Being the second oldest in my family, I understand full well what it means to follow in big brother’s dominant athletic footsteps and eventual shadow.  It’s never easy.  I do however,  also understand the ultimate importance of bragging rights whenever applicable!  Young Chase Koepka, a former University of South Florida graduate, is still battling on the Korn Ferry Tour and on this scarce opportunity to prove himself, got a chance to play and best his older brother and 4-time majors champion Brooks (30) in the “Big Leagues.”  This week he managed to make the cut (-4) at the 3M Open while big brother Brooks continued to stumble.  In his defense, the elder Koepka has been fighting a nagging knee injury throughout the year and was visibly forced to play the TPC Twin Cities tentatively which resulted in him falling short of the cut at (-1).  As for the younger Koepka: Well, if Chase is anything like me, Brooks wouldn’t hear the end of it with regards to his old ass knee and I would needle and remind at every turn about how superior I  have finally become over him on the field of battle that we recognize as… “the golf course.” Meanwhile, while Chase’s eager comments fall deaf on Brooks’ ears, the elder will be pontificating on whether or not to defend his title at the upcoming WGC FedEx-St. Jude’s r to reserve himself towards setting his sights on his attempt at a historical three-peat at this year’s PGA Championship.  Brooks returns to the lab in the hopes of heading to Harding Park in one piece and ready by the beginning of August.

DICK GROAT

Both Koepkas are the nephews of former Major League Baseball player and Regular Season MVP (1960) Richard “Dick” Groat (mainly of Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals fame).  Groat was a two-way sports star, having also played college basketball at Duke University

For the record: I am almost assured that Chase is nowhere near as petty as I am when it comes to competition with his older brother…but not-so secretly hope that he is… 😉

DJ BACKS OUT AT TPC TWIN CITIES

The World’s No. 4 golfer Dustin Johnson was forced to bow out of the 3M Open citing back problems.  Golf’s “Bad Boy” has struggled in his last three outings

BLAINE, MINN—The 3M Open began in a jumble.  Designed by the legendary pair of Arnold Palmer and Tom Lehman, the TPC Twin Cities course inspired a pack of golfers featuring defending champion Matthew Wolff, insurgent Tony Finau, Nick Watney, Xinjue Zhang, and Ryan Moore.  All of which posted a score of (-6) in an attempt to chase the pace of leaders Michael Thompson 7- under 64 and Richy Werenski 8- under 63 to spark the events at  the 3M Open.  The tournament’s first round was very entertaining as many young, potential stars crowded the leaderboard.  Finau was right back at it following his 17th place finish at a very competitive Muirfield course this past weekend where he held or shared the lead for 36 holes.  Finau continued to display the wide arsenal of tricks in his bag, drilling seven (7) birdies on the amenable course on Thursday.

The biggest news however occurred when defending champion Dustin Johnson withdrew from the tournament citing back problems after golfing a 7+ over 78.

As DJ’s woes continued this season, Johnson’s camp continued to dismiss the severity of his injury on Thursday and claimed that he will be ready for the Players Championship at TPC Harding Park  (Aug 6-9) barring any setbacks.  After a strong to start to the relaunch of the tour season with a win at the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut, Johnson’s season continues to spiral downwards.  DJ has struggled in his last three appearances and is fresh off of back-to-back 80’s in the final rounds of last weekend’s Memorial.  Johnson’s summer is now being punctuated by a nagging back that originated from a slip and fall at his apartment home in Augusta right before the 2017 Masters.  The former World’s no.1 has shot a  jaw dropping (+23) in his last 54 holes.

MEET ME UP TOP

Young Gun Richy Werenski eyes his first PGA tour victory after a clean 8- under 63 at TPC Twin Cities

Although Tony Finau continued his assault on the leaderboard completing a 6- under 65 to kick things off in Minnesota, the afternoon actually belonged to his former reality tv co-star Richy Werenski who won the Golf Channels “The Big Break”(2015) and shot  a clean round of 8-under 63..

The 24 year old Werenski who is seeking his first PGA tour victory sorted through the field of up and coming talent and took advantage of the clear conditions and softer greens as the weather held it’s spectacular form all day, peaking at a seasonably comfortable 81 degrees.  Werenski’s one-putt percentage of 54.6% ranked 4th overall in round 1 at this season’s 3M (Career High: 55%-2018 Valero Open).

Friday is expected to be much hotter (upper 90s) which should keep scores relatively high while the weekend forecast is heavy on rain which will certainly lower scores and expose certain weaknesses in many at the top of the leaderboard.

BIRDIES AWAY

Most Total Birdies PGA tour last season:

3M Open  1, 976  

Rocket Mortgage Classic 1, 895

John Deere Classic 1, 885

Wyndham Championship 1, 880

ANYONE THIRSTY?

Most Balls in the Water PGA tour last season:

The Honda Classic 301

The Players  266

3M Open 260

THE CADDIE MANPGA tour caddie Aaron Crawford is in the field at the 3M Open after qualifying two miles up the road at Victory Links Golf Course on Monday.  The pride of Calgary, Alberta, Crawford currently caddies for Martin Trainer (for now…)

AARON CRAWFORD-ROUND 1 SCORECARD

3M OPEN–NOTABLES: Brooks Koepka (-1) 70/Michael Wolff (-6) 65/Nick Watney (First tournament since being the 1st PGA player to test positive with Covid-19)

NEXT: TWIN CITIES INTO THE WEEKEND