Matthew Wolff came within an inch of four eagles in six holes at the Shriners

Wolff also almost joined Scott McCarron and Willie Wood as the only players to make four eagles in a round since 1983.

LAS VEGAS – Matthew Wolff was on the frustrated side as he made the turn in the third round of the Shiners Hospitals for Children Open at TPC Summerlin.

He was making good swings and hitting good putts but nothing was really happening. Sure, he shot 2 under on the front but on this desert course where wind has been almost non-existent, Wolff knew he was falling behind the leading pack.

Then he hit a wedge on 10 to 9 feet and just like that, Wolff began to devour TPC Summerlin and light up the scoreboard.

He made the birdie putt on 10, holed out with a 62-degree lob wedge from 118 yards for eagle on 11, knocked in an eagle putt from 18 feet on 13 and drove the green on the 301-yard 15th and made a 15-footer for eagle.

Far from done, he left his eagle putt on 16 on the lip and tapped in for birdie. That wrapped up an 8-hole stretch where Wolff was 9 under.

After he left birdie putts on the edge on the final two holes, Wolff walked off the scorched course with a scorecard that read a career-low, 10-under-par 61 that included an 8-under 28 on the back nine.

When Wolff, 21, finished his round, he led by two at 18 under after starting the day six shots out of the lead.

“You have so many birdie opportunities if you hit the ball in the fairway. It’s not long. The pins were in pretty favorable spots. I just told myself to give myself as many looks as I can and the putts would fall,” said Wolff, who is seeking his second PGA Tour title. “The wedge shot on 10 really was the turning point. That really felt like it was a little different swing, but different in a good way. I flagged it on 10 and then 11 I holed out. And from then on I felt like I didn’t hit it outside 15 feet pretty much the rest of the way.

“So I was really happy with how my game is trending and the things I’ve been working on and put myself in a good spot.”

Wolff, ranked No. 18 in the world and No. 33 in the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings, fell one shot shy of tying the course record shared by J.J. Henry (2013) and Rod Pampling (2016).

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Wolff also almost joined Scott McCarron and Willie Wood as the only players to make four eagles in a round since 1983. McCarron did that in the 1995 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, Wood in 1990 in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

“It was incredible,” said playing partner Matthew NeSmith, who shot 64. “He got off to a little bit of a slow start. Couldn’t seem to get really anything going through eight holes. Then he birdied 9, birdied 10, made it on 11, and it was off like gangbusters. He just played really, really phenomenal.”

Especially on the back nine.

“I felt like my swing was rotating a little better,” on the back nine, said Wolff, who chipped in from 70 feet on the third and made a 6-footer for birdie on the ninth before exploding on the back nine. “That was kind of the thing that I needed to start hitting my shots a little more on line and just feel a lot more comfortable over each shot. You never expect to hole-out, but when it happens, kind of just puts you in a really good mindset.

“Those three eagles it kind of just propelled me to the top.”

His showing here in Las Vegas is proof there was no hangover from the U.S. Open three weeks ago, where he was paired in the final group with Bryson DeChambeau. Wolff couldn’t keep up with DeChambeau and finished second, six shots behind.

“Maybe like 10 minutes after I finished up was a little brutal, but I felt like that was honestly more of a learning experience and gave me more confidence,” Wolff said. “There were a lot of putts I had out there today coming down the stretch, and even to make the cut (Friday), where everything just seemed a little simpler because of the stage I was on at the U.S. Open. Nothing gets bigger than that.

“I feel definitely a lot more calm when I’m playing these sort of events because I know that it’s not quite a major.”

But you can do major things just like Wolff did.

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Sergio Garcia looks for back-to-back wins for first time since 2011 at Shriners

Sergio Garcia is on a hot streak and hoping for back-to-back Tour wins at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

Sergio Garcia is on hot streak. When will it stop?

He’s hoping it’ll keep going through Sunday at least.

Garcia finished the second round of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open 7-under 64 to sit at 12 under through 36 holes, two shots off morning wave leaders Martin Laird and Patrick Cantlay.

The 40-year-old came into this week’s tournament at TPC Summerlin fresh off his win at the Sanderson Farms Championship — his first on the PGA Tour since the 2017 Masters and first professional win since the 2019 KLM Open last September.

In Garcia’s last six rounds, the highest number he’s written on his scorecard has been a 68. Friday’s 64 was his lowest round since the first round of the Travelers Championship in June.

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If you ask Garcia, though, his second-round 64 wasn’t as good as his first-round 66.

“In the middle of the round I hit a couple loose shots. Probably the par on 14 was the best hole of the day, from a flat lie, no green to work with,” Garcia said. “Have to hit the bunkers to give myself a chance, and then rolled probably a 16- or 17-footer for par. That was massive, because then that helped me go birdie, birdie the next two holes.”

Garcia’s shining moment of the day was when he holed out for eagle on the par-4 sixth. Using a 15-degree lob wedge from 111 yards to the hole, Garcia’s ball bounced off the green about eight feet to the right of the hole then spun back into the cup. At the time, the shot propelled him from T-6 to second, one shot off the lead, with three holes left to play.

“Obviously, it would’ve been nicer to do with crowds, but even without crowds still very nice,” Garcia said.

 

Garcia began his bogey-free round on No. 10 and carded four birdies in six holes on Nos. 11 through 16. After the turn, he carded his second eagle in five days eagle on No. 6 and another birdie on No. 9 to walk off the course T-3 after the morning wave.

Following back-to-back missed cuts at the Safeway Open and U.S. Open, Garcia’s game is finally coming together. Luck, confidence and determination have finally aligned.

“It’s funny because earlier in the year I felt like I was playing as well as I’ve been playing the last week and a half; just things weren’t really happening,” Garcia said. “So obviously it’s a combination of playing well, confidence, couple good breaks when you need them at the right time that keeps your round going, and that’s what I did.

“Like my par save on 14 today. You know, two months ago that was probably a bogey at best. I hit an unbelievable bunker shot from a flat lie and left myself about 16, 17 feet for par and I rolled it in. Those are the kinds of things you need to keep your rounds going.”

The last time Garcia, who boasts 16 European Tour wins and 11 PGA Tour wins, won two PGA Tour events in one year was 2011 when he won the MasterCard Colonial and Buick Classic. He last won back-t0-back events in 2011 on the European Tour, the Castelló Masters and Andalucía Masters.

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James Hahn in healthy place playing on major-medical exemption

Hahn missed eight months with an elbow injury and began the season with 14 remaining on his major-medical exemption

LAS VEGAS – The good news?

James Hahn is healthy enough to be playing on a major-medical exemption.

The not-so-good news?

He has to deal with the pressure of playing on a major-medical exemption.

Hahn missed eight months in 2019 with an elbow injury and began the 2020-2021 season with 14 remaining on his major-medical exemption to retain his playing privileges.

He needed about 305 FedEx Cup points in those 14 starts. Doesn’t sound like much, right?

Well, you still have to produce and Hahn, who has won twice on the PGA Tour, has done just that so far with ties for ninth in the season-opener in the Safeway Open and sixth in the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship. Those two results earned him 165 points.

A three-way tie for third or better this week would give him enough points to retain his full playing privileges.

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“It’s still the weirdest feeling because I’ve never been in this position before,” Hahn said. “But if you read Bob Rotella books, how you’re supposed to go in every golf tournament should be same. You’re trying to win. You’re here to compete.

“That’s what I’m doing. I’m competing.

“I’m not looking at how many points I need to keep my medical.”

But Hahn kept up his fine form of late with a 7-under-par 64 in Thursday’s first round of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open at TPC Summerlin. With six birdies and an eagle, Hahn sat in a tie for fourth, two shots behind pace-setter Bryson DeChambeau.

“Just enjoying life,” Hahn said after his round. “I feel like I’m happier. I’m eating healthier. Relationship with my family is really good; golf is really easy right now.

“I’m not sure if that has anything to do with it, but I feel like when I’m happy I’m playing some of my best golf. I’m really happy with how I played today. Didn’t hit a lot of the fairways, but maybe fix that tomorrow.”

James Hahn lines up his putt on the 18th hole during the first round of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open golf tournament at TPC Summerlin. Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

As for his elbow – he had a partially torn triceps tendon – he’s back to feeling 100 percent and said there is zero pain.

“It’s really relieving to wake up in the morning and not feel any pain,” he said. “It just puts me in a better mood. Regardless of how I play, I feel healthy.”

Right now, Hahn isn’t thinking about the points he has to earn to get his card back. But it’s still in the back of his mind.

“I feel like when starts getting closer down to three, four, five starts, is when I’ll maybe start freaking out,” said Hahn, who added that would only happen if he hasn’t earned his playing privileges by then. “So if you want to talk to me a couple months from now.

“Right now I feel like I have 12 starts left. That should be plenty of starts for me to at least get off to a good start in this year’s FedEx Cup and put me in a good position to make the playoffs. Ultimately that’s what we’re all trying to do here is make the playoffs, make a run at the FedExCup, and try to win the big thing.”

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Harold Varner III isn’t just suited for TPC Summerlin, he’s suited for Las Vegas

HV# is Vegas in a nutshell: on top of the world one minute; wondering what’s gone wrong the next.

The last few months have been something of a thrill ride for Harold Varner III. The high moments have been among his highest on the PGA Tour. A top-20 finish in the first event back after the pandemic break. A share of the first-round lead and a T-7 finish at the Wyndham Invitational. A major milestone passed in topping $6 million in career earnings.

But the dips are still there, too. He failed to make either of the cuts in Columbus. He’s had more than his share of yips with the putter, finishing the recently completed 2019-20 season at 141st in Strokes Gained: Putting.

And although he keeps slowly climbing, he’s yet to crack into the Tour’s winner’s circle, and in fact, still doesn’t have a runner-up on his resume.

On top of the world one minute; wondering what’s gone wrong the next.

So … Vegas.

“I think Vegas fits my personality more than the golf course, but that’s nor here or there,” Varner joked after starting things off in style on Thursday with a 63, good enough to trail leader Bryson DeChambeau by a stroke at TPC Summerlin. “Yeah, I’ve played well here. I just would like to — like to just finish a tournament. It’s just good to get back in the swing of things. I love competition, so it was good to get back in it.

“I was a little nervous at the start, which is really weird, but it is what it is.”

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Varner, who was born in Akron, Ohio, but grew up in Gastonia, North Carolina, went all-in on the back nine, finishing with six birdies en route to a scintillating 31 after the turn at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. He was by no means alone in posting a solid number — more than 20 players posted a round of 66 or lower — but Varner said he isn’t too concerned with how others are playing.

In fact, he said in terms of motivation, he doesn’t need to peek at the leaderboard.

“My foot is pretty far up my butt by the time I start, so we’re ready to go. What do I need to do? I play golf. If he plays good and I play good, I like my chances,” Varner said.

So will he be worried if he sees another group of low numbers as he tees off at 4:05 p.m. ET with Harris English and Henrik Norlander?

“If you tee off in the afternoon and you see that, you just know there is a lot of looks out there. So be patient and good things will happen. Not so much kick yourself in the rear end, but you got to make birdies,” Varner said.

“I don’t mind it. My rookie year I would overthink it for sure because you want to play well so bad. The best thing you can do when it’s this easy is just be patient. You never know when you’re going to rip five or six off.”

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Francesco Molinari (finally) to return in Las Vegas after 7-month layoff

After a seven-month layoff, Molinari, who moved his family to Los Angeles, is set to return in Las Vegas this week.

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If you had Francesco Molinari in your pool as the last prominent player to return from golf’s COVID-19 shutdown, you should’ve collected your winnings by now.

Molinari, the 2018 British Open champion, is set to make his first start since the Players Championship in March this week at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas, ending a seven-month layoff.

“Not something I thought I would do in my career, but, you know, in a way it was nice to take a break and stay away for a bit,” he said during a pre-tournament interview Wednesday. “I’ve been playing probably as little golf as ever in my life. I’m definitely far away from where I want to be physically, mentally, technically in the long-term.”

Not surprisingly, Molinari’s expectations are low this week at TPC Summerlin despite the fact that he finished tied for fourth on the Bobby Weed design in 2016. As a matter of fact, Molinari, who withdrew from both the PGA Championship and U.S. Open, conceded that he expects it to be a long road back to prominence, and it’s unlikely his game will be sharp in time for next month’s Masters.

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“Probably I will need an extra month or so,” he said. “My goal mentally really is to be 100% for January next year. Anything that comes before then in this period of time, it’s kind of a bonus.”

What took Molinari, 37, so long to return to work? He decided the time was right to move his family to the United States. It was a decision at least two years in the making. The Italian had called London his home base for more than 12 years, but he and wife Valentino have had two children – Tommaso, 9, and Emma, 5 – and spent more and more time in the U.S. ever since he joined the PGA Tour in 2014.

Champion golfer Francesco Molinari of Italy with the Claret Jug in the players locker room after winning the 147th Open Championship at Carnoustie Golf Club on July 22, 2018. (Photo by Warren Little)

“The situation with COVID kind of made us think about our setup, and when it kind of happened I was over here in Florida; my wife was in London; both our of families were in Italy,” he explained. “So, you ask yourself a few questions, and we just decided to make the move…I want to try and achieve as many things as possible in, let’s say, the second part of my career.”

Molinari uprooted the family to California in May. They considered San Francisco, but eventually settled on Los Angeles. Molinari happened to be in San Francisco during the week that the PGA Championship was contested in the Bay Area at TPC Harding Park, but Molinari was busy getting acclimated  to his new surroundings and recalled taking his kids to the zoo. He’s purchased a home, enrolled his kids in school and began practicing at Virginia Country Club, where instructor Jamie Mulligan is the director of golf and looks after the likes of Patrick Cantlay, Luke List and Paul Goydos.

It was just over two years ago that Molinari’s stardom went next level as he teamed with Tommy Fleetwood to gain Ryder Cup hero status after becoming the first European golfer in history to win five points out of five at a Ryder Cup. He had one arm in the green jacket at the 2019 Masters, holding the lead through 65 holes until he rinsed his tee shot at 12 and finished tied for fifth. He’s failed to record a top-10 finish since, falling from No. 6 in the world to No. 73 this week, and noted that the cancellation of golf tournaments for three months came at a good time for him.

“I wasn’t in a great place with my game back then and I was low in confidence,” he said.

Now, he’s refreshed and motivated to climb the mountain again with the help of his London-based instructor Dennis Pugh. They did it once, so Molinari is confident that they can do it again despite the long distance.

“I’m in a different stage in my career. I feel I can manage better my game and my swing. I know more about it. With the technology, you know, available nowadays, I can send him videos, we can do live sessions,” he said. “So, there is ways to go around it. We’ll see how that works, but I’m pretty positive we can still do some good work together.”

He added: “I know it’s not going to be that easy. But I’m ready for the challenge.”

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