Ole Miss' Thornberry Wins NCAA Individual Title, Eight Teams Set

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Fittingly, the 2017 NCAA men's individual title was captured by a five-time winner this season who had the season's lowest scoring average.

Beth Ann Nichols of Golfweek.com on Braden Thornberry, whose unorthodox move scared off a lot of coaches but who used it to edge Arkansas freshman Mason Overstreet for the victory.

Alabama coach Jay Seawell was recruiting at the Future Masters in Dothan, Ala., when someone suggested he go watch this kid from Mississippi. Seawell took a look at 11-year-old Braden Thornberry, noted the uniqueness of his golf swing and thought “that probably won’t last.”

“Boy were a lot of people wrong,” said Seawell. “He’s the real deal.”

The winning putt:

 

#HottyToddy!!! @olemissathletics' @tberrygolf is the #NCAAGolf Men's Individual Champion!

A post shared by Golf Channel (@golfchannel) on May 29, 2017 at 6:05pm PDT

 

The low eight teams from the team stroke play/individual national championship advance to match-play competition starting Tuesday, and as Kevin Casey writes for Golfweek.com, it was a grind for nearly all due to wind, pressure and a tough golf course.
 
The final eight, with a full roundup from Golfweek's Lance Ringer (including predictions and matchups):

Vanderbilt
Oklahoma
Illinois
Oklahoma State
Oregon
Southern California
Baylor
UNLV

Quarterfinal Matchups:

Vanderbilt vs. UNLV
Oklahoma vs. Baylor
Illinois vs. Southern California
Oklahoma State vs. Oregon

Golf Channel / NCAA Tuesday airtimes:

Quarterfinals – Team Match Play       11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. ET
Semifinals – Team Match Play           4-8 p.m. ET

Sad: The Operative Word In Assessments Of Tiger's Latest Episode

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There is no other way to characterize Tiger's latest driving mishap but sad.

He is blaming the DUI on prescription medication issues and not on alcohol. According to this AP story, that position could be verified as soon as Tuesday when a toxicology report may be released. Tim Rosaforte reported a similar possibility for GolfChannel.com.

Tiger issued this statement, writes USA Today's Steve DiMeglio. The full statement denying he was under the influence of alcohol:

There are other stakes for Woods, including possible loss of driving privileges and imprisonment. From a MorningRead.com staff report:

Under Florida statute 316.193, a first offense for DUI carries a fine of $500-$1,000 and up to six months’ imprisonment.

Celebrity website TMZ.com, citing unnamed law-enforcement sources, said Woods was driving a 2015 Mercedes-Benz “erratically, all over the road,” adding that he was “arrogant” during the stop and refused to take a Breathalyzer test. Under Florida’s “implied consent” law, that refusal would trigger an automatic license suspension.

Jaime Diaz writes that the saddest part of an increasingly sad story may be the news that many would be shocked by the arrest. Nor will they be surprised if his approach to recovery is less than pretty.

It would seem unlikely that Woods will publicly be forthcoming about his inner life, including this latest ordeal, even though some professionals in the mental-health field would advise him that it would be productive. If he follows precedent, after an initial statement he and his camp will never voluntarily mention the DUI, and hope that if and when Woods begins playing competitively again, public curiosity will have dissipated, and even transformed from condemnation to sympathy and forgiveness. Especially, as has been the pattern, if Woods gives indications that he can play well again. His historical greatness is such that the majority of those who love golf will continue to hope that he can again exhibit a genius the game has arguably never seen.

I'm saddened that this is who an entire generation will remember, not the great athlete who gave us so many thrills. Throw in the modern day recency bias and his latest mishaps, and it's hard not to conclude his legacy is tarnished. In an open letter to Woods for Golfweek.com, I suggest that maybe playing the legacy card is a way for those around him could help him change course.

Ryan Lavner also plays the sad card, noting...

Sad because one of the most recognizable athletes on the planet has been reduced to this new low.

Sad because the most dominant golfer ever has been betrayed by his body, and undone by his ego, and his competitive future is a mystery.

Sad because he needs support, and guidance, and it’s unclear who will provide it.

Sad because he has meant so much to so many, because he has touched so many lives, and his fall from grace has been staggering.

Jason Sobel for ESPN.com:

Look at those sunken eyes in that mugshot and we no longer see the mercurial golfer who once seemed so invincible inside the ropes. There often was debate during his prime over whether Woods intimidated his opponents. He wasn't just better than them, the argument stated, he also was tougher. It's difficult to beat a guy who holds not just a physical and technical advantage over the field, but a mental one, as well.

This, though, is Woods at his most vulnerable. It is an image he never wanted to portray to anyone, let alone the entire, gawking world. And it's a sad one, the very portrait of a man who has made mistakes.

Tiger Woods Arrested For Driving Under The Influence

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WPBF's Terry Parker Tweeted the mugshot and arrest report.

Notah Begay and Mark Rolfing discussed the news on Golf Central. Both were admirably honest about their pasts and hopes that this sets Tiger on a new course.

ESPN ran Tiger's mug shot through a glow filter, combed his hair and trimmed up his beard for their lefthand stories list.


But did run the full shot eventually.

Video: Erin Hills Fifth Hole Flyover

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The 505-yard par-4 5th features width and classic strategy: turn it over and open up a better view of the green. Bail out right and lengthen the hole/lose visibility.

The width is more evident in the Erin Hills flyover below, though the USGA flyover (not embedable) shows off the hole in better light.

The flyover for this year's U.S. Open 5th hole:

2017 U.S. Open Prognosticating Gets A Little Easier After Wentworth, Colonial

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Whew!

If we went another week without some names showing signs of life headed to Erin Hills, the hardest prognostication U.S. Open was not going to get any easier. But, after some pre and post Masters lulls, we can see glimmers of great hope in Jordan Spieth, Jon Rahm, Alex Noren, Henrik Stenson and yes, Kevin Kisner's game. The Memorial this week should also give us insights into the likes of Day, Johnson, Matsuyama and Mickelson. But first, in Europe...

Noren, four-time winner last year on the European Tour, notched his biggest win yet at the BMW PGA, reports Golfweek.com's Alistair Tait. His stunning final round 62 capped off a nice start to the Pelley/Wentworth era that saw smooth greens and some weird leaderboard twists ultimately crystalize with some of the field's biggest names contending.

Noren's epic 18th hole shot:

A post shared by European Tour (@europeantour) on May 28, 2017 at 7:14am PDT


 And the scorecard for what he says is the best round of his life:

Course record ✍🏼 #BMWPGA #RolexSeries

A post shared by European Tour (@europeantour) on May 28, 2017 at 7:20am PDT

At Colonial, Kevin Kisner held off a fun array of players (Spieth, Rahm, Simpson) and styles to win the a very entertaining Dean and Deluca. Not only did the historic venue and leaderboard help, but CBS seemed especially on its game with production values and announcing. 

Dan Kilbridge at Golfweek.com with a quick roundup here of the finale that gives Kisner a second tour win just weeks after a near-miss at the Zurich Classic.

Kyle Porter grades the contenders for CBSSports.com, especially helpful if you're starting to narrow down your U.S. Open selections.

The final round highlights:

 

Euro Tour Chief Anticipates PGA Championship Move, Agrees BMW PGA Would Work Well In September

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European Tour Chief Keith Pelley visited Rich Lerner and Frank Nobilo during round two of the 2017 BMW PGA and mostly talked his new "product" geared at the kids.

“But golf needs something else, it needs something to attract a younger generation.”

At the 11:00 mark he is asked about the possible impact of a Players/PGA Championship switch on his tour and, specifically, the BMW PGA.

If in fact if the PGA Championship moved to May, which I anticipate that it will, we will have to look where is the best fit for the BMW PGA Championship. But obviously we would do everything around the majors.

Nobilo then made the case for early autumn at Wentworth and Pelley agreed that the conditions would be ideal, but lightly walking back how well the technology of maintenance now makes the current date fine, too. But it was pretty apparent that the European Tour sees an an ideal early fall slot for this event.

The full interview:

Obama Plays The Old Course, Checks Out The Claret Jug

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Looks like the former President had a grand day on the Old Course.

Note in the Swilken Bridge shot and post-round images how many people are encircling the Home green. BTW, nice outfits from the playing partners!


And checking out the Claret Jug, and given that he's in St. Andrews, this may be the Royal and Ancient clubhouse version (which is the oldest version).

Even @BarackObama is in awe of the Claret Jug!

A post shared by The Open (@theopen) on May 26, 2017 at 9:16am PDT

Anyone know the golf book he's got in hand?

 

Check out the crowd...

 

Thomas Pieters Will Soon Be Getting A Keith Pelley Gift Basket

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Opening with a 68 at the star-depleted BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, one of Europe's rising stars suggested it was a no brainer for him: BMW PGA over The Players.

Thomas Pieters, who skipped The Players to take 7 weeks off with a brief stop at the Zurich Classic, is rested and ready to win the European Tour's biggest event, reports The Telegraph's James Corrigan.

Asked which tournament he would prefer to win, Pieters was unequivocal.

“This one,” he replied. “Why? Because this is our tour, and I look at the history of this event with Seve [Ballesteros] and everything. I see this tournament as the next biggest to the majors. It would mean a lot to be the champion here.”

How Keith Pelley, the European Tour chief executive, would have loved those words.

South Africans Give And Take: Els Penalizes Self, Grace Takes Bold (Referee Sanctioned) Drop

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It's never dull with Ernie Els at Wentworth, who turned a 69 into a BMW PGA first round 71 by penalizing himself for not replacing a possible plugged lie properly.

Will Gray for GolfChannel.com on Els' guilty conscience.

"Under the rules you try and put it back the way you think it should be, but I still felt uncomfortable with it, so we took a two-shot penalty," Els said. "I know deep down the ball wasn't quite where it should be and I wouldn't be able to live with myself."

The incident getting more attention involved Els countryman Branden Grace, who took relief from bunker wall material when he had a buried lie. Alistair Tait reports for Golfweek on the drop approved by American official Mark Hill and criticized by commentators and players

Paul McGinley criticized Grace’s action during television commentary and afterwards. “It was ridiculous,” McGinley said. “If you twist your feet enough you’re bound to eventually reach the bunker lining. That means anytime a player wants relief from a poor lie he can simply twist his feet until he reaches the bunker lining. That can’t be right.”

Danny Willett took to twitter to complain. He tweeted: “@EuropeanTour please explain that drop?! Burying feet enough in to get to the base of the bunker???”

Fellow Englishman Daniel Brooks also had reservations about the ruling. “Wow strangest drop I’ve ever seen there,” he tweeted.

Bunkered has a few of the player tweets and a mini-round-up here.

While no video of the moment is online, Grace gives a decent explanation in this Sky post round interview.

John Daly: Americans Need To Get On Donald Trump's Wagon

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Normally I'd suggest John Daly abstain from wagon references given his multiple climbs on and off the wagon, but the man loves his President Trump and the job the 45th president is doing.

Ryan Ballengee, reporting from the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship That'll Eventually Be Won By Bernhard Langer, quotes the 2-time major champion loving the effort of his friend Donald Trump, unofficial host at Trump National DC.

“There’s been a lot of things go on with the Democrats that people just want to ignore now,” he said. “They don’t, they just want to pick on my buddy. Let him do his job and just see what he does. He’s doing great so far.”

And the wagon talk...

“He’s the President of the United States,” he said. “I think people need to get on his wagon and ride with him and let him do what he’s doing and leave him alone. It’s not going to change for at least, you know, this year and three more.”

Will President Trump Drop In On The Senior PGA At Trump DC?

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Ted Bishop wonders that and also reveals a few things about the PGA of America partnership with the Trump Organization as the Senior PGA kicks off this week. The event is being played at Trump National D.C., a potential future PGA Championship site as well.

The former PGA president writes for MorningRead.com:

Any chance that President Trump might make a last-minute visit to the Senior PGA on Sunday? Trump, an avid golfer whose business empire includes ownership of 16 courses, no doubt would love to make an appearance. Would it be deemed a conflict of interest, given his role as the nation’s chief executive and his detachment from his businesses, if he were to do so?

“Unfortunately, I wouldn’t know the answer to that one as it is ‘church and state,’ and I have not spoken with him,” said Larry Glick, an executive vice president with Trump Organization.

Euro Tour Chief Expecting Players/PGA Move Decision By August, Which Suggests The Verdict Is In

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European Tour Chief Keith Pelley believes that a decision is coming this August on a blockbuster trade that has the Players moving to March, the PGA to May and three prospects going to an undisclosed tour.

Will Gray on the Chief's comments this week at the BMW PGA, which will be impacted should the PGA Championship move to May.

"It will depend on what they do in 2019," Pelley said. "The PGA of America says they're going to determine whether the PGA Championship is moved to May by the end of August this year. If that's the case, we are going to have to look at everything. We have plans right now, but there is no doubt that if those changes happen, the 2019 and 2020 schedule will be considerably different to 2018."

A cynical mind might say that given August being the PGA Championship's date, a decision has already been made subject to a few contract signings and conference calls.

Given the domino effect this decision will have on golf tournament schedules and other sporting events, there will certainly be added intrigue in Charlotte.