Tag: Harold Varner

Harold Varner: ‘I hate being hated’ among the interesting things said at LIV Golf Invitational Boston press conference

It’s been more than a month since we last saw LIV golfers on the course.

It’s been more than a month since we last saw LIV Golf Series players on the course but that’s how it’s going in this breakaway league, which has only eight events in 2022.

Ahead of the fourth event during this inaugural season, LIV introduced its six newest members Wednesday in Bolton, Massachusetts, outside Boston.

The International is the host venue for the three-day, 54-hole, no-cut event that starts Friday.

Cam Smith, Champion Golfer of the Year and Players Championship winner, makes his circuit debut. He’s ranked No. 2 in the Official World Golf Ranking and is now the highest ranked member of the Saudi government-backed golf series.

Two-time Masters champ Bubba Watson is also making his first appearance but he won’t be playing just yet. Still recovering from knee surgery, Watson is LIV Golf’s first non-playing captain.

There are 12 teams of four golfers, and Watson’s squad includes fellow newcomer Harold Varner III.

Other recent signees include Anirban Lahiri, Cameron Tringale and Marc Leishman.

LIV Golf is still the worst, but at least Harold Varner III was honest about why he joined

He wrote a letter explaining why.

This is the online version of our daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Subscribe to get irreverent and incisive sports stories, delivered to your mailbox every morning. Charles Curtis is filling in for Andy Nesbitt.

We’ve written many times — many, many times — about how LIV Golf is ridiculous, empty and a constant reminder that players are leaving the PGA Tour for a Saudi-backed league funded by blood money. That is still all true.

On Tuesday, we learned of more names making the switch, including British Open champ Cameron Smith, Marc Leishman, Joaquin Niemann and Harold Varner III.

And it’s that last name I want to focus on: Varner took to Instagram and spoke about why he was joining LIV.

“The truth is, my life is changing,” he wrote. “The opportunity to join LIV Golf is simply too good of a financial breakthrough for me to pass by. I know what it means to grow up without much. This money is going to ensure that my kid and future Varners will have a solid base to start on – and a life I could have only dreamt about growing up.”

“It’ll also help fund many of the programs I’m building with my Foundation,” he continued. “I’ll continue to forge pathways for kids interested in golf. This note is a receipt of for that.”

For once, here’s a golfer saying out loud what we all knew was the case. It’s a financial opportunity, one that will line player pockets real nicely. And for Varner, he admitted that it was giving his kid a life he never had. On top of that, he’ll use some of that money for his foundation.

I wish we’d hear all of this more from some of those big names who joined, instead of the deflections and denials we’ve heard time and time again.

Yes, it’s all about the money. At least Varner came out and just said it. I hope that “receipt” is proof that he’ll stick to his words and use it for good things.

Quick hits: NFL cuts … A bat flip backfired bad … NASCAR playoffs are coming … and more.

OJ Howard runs upfield as a Broncos defender leans in to tackle him.
Sd 082022 Bills 14 Spts

— NFL teams made their cuts down to a 53-man roster, so here’s a summary of every team’s moves, along with the biggest names to be let go.

— This bat flip totally backfired.

— Here’s your guide to the 2022 NASCAR playoffs.

— LeBron James brought back the famous “Chosen One” cover with his sons.

RBC Heritage, live stream, TV channels, tee times for Sunday, how to watch online

The Final Round of the RBC Heritage will take place on Sunday from beautiful Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

The Final Round of the RBC Heritage will take place on Sunday from beautiful Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

On Sunday, we should expect a fantastic finish with Harold Varner III still sitting in the top spot at 11-under with Jordan Spieth tailing him with 8-under, as well as a host of golfers looking to make a move.

Here’s everything you need to know to follow the action, including Featured Groups on PGA TOUR LIVE and four live streams with expanded coverage on ESPN+.

RBC Heritage, Final Round

  • When: Sunday, April 17
  • Time: 8:30 a.m. ET
  • TV Channel: Golf Channel on fuboTV, starting at 1 p.m. ET
  • Live Stream: ESPN+ PGA Tour Live (stream now)

RBC Heritage TV Schedule

ESPN+ will have exclusive coverage in the mornings and will also have coverage in the afternoons. You can follow all the action here with expanded and extended coverage for PGA Tour Live. Click for more details.

Sunday, April 17:

  • Main: 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET on ESPN+
  • Marquee Groups: 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET on ESPN+
  • Featured Groups & Holes: 9:15 a.m. – 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+

PGA Tour Odds and Betting Lines

PGA Tour odds courtesy of Tipico Sportsbook. Odds were last updated Sunday at 9:30 a.m. ET.

Want some action on the PGA Tour? Place your legal sports bets on this game or others in CO & NJ.

We recommend interesting sports viewing/streaming and betting opportunities. If you sign up for a service by clicking one of the links, we may earn a referral fee.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

Watch: Harold Varner III drains 90-foot eagle putt to win the Saudi International

Harold Varner III picked a great time to sink the biggest putt of his life, draining a 90-foot eagle putt to pip Bubba Watson.

Harold Varner III picked a great time to sink the biggest putt of his life.

Trailing fellow American Bubba Watson by one stroke and putting from just short of the 18th green at the par-5, Varner needed two putts to force a playoff, but instead drained a 90-foot eagle for the win at the Saudi International. He pumped his fist and leaped into the arms of his caddie in celebration.

“Worst case scenario, we’ll go into a playoff and I’d get him there,” Varner cracked in his winner’s press conference. “And then it went in and emotions came out. I love that. When I play with my boys, that’s the emotion I want to see. That’s why you play. Competition, it’s the greatest thing in the world.”

Varner, 31, closed in 1-under 69 in his final round at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia, to edge Watson, who earlier finished his round with a birdie-eagle combination that put him in the lead.

Watson trailed Varner by six strokes entering Sunday, but grabbed the clubhouse lead with a 15-foot eagle putt at 18. When Varner’s putt dropped, he ran to Varner, his partner since 2018 at the QBE Shootout, and hugged him.

“I’m not mad at him for beating me,” said Watson, who shot 64 on Sunday. “He’s a dear friend of mine and I applaud him. I love seeing that. I cheer for him.”

“We’ve shared a lot of time together. He’s always been in my corner,” Varner said. “But if I could beat somebody that I look up to, how cool is that? And the way it happened, hate it for him, but he’s won plenty.”

Varner’s victory on the Asian Tour was his second international title and first since the 2016 Australian Open. He’s still seeking his first PGA Tour title. Varner is expected to climb into the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time since turning pro in 2012.

“I never doubted myself,” said Varner, who finished with a 72-hole aggregate of 13-under 267. “I never questioned my ability.”

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=none image=https://golfweek.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

HV3 leads through second round at Charles Schwab Challenge

Golfweek’s Adam Woodard recaps the second round at Colonial Country Club of the Charles Schwab Challenge.

Golfweek’s Adam Woodard recaps the second round at Colonial Country Club of the Charles Schwab Challenge.

Harold Varner III talks quarantine golf, Tiger’s advice, more

Golfweek’s Steve DiMeglio talks with PGA Tour player Harold Varner III about life in quarantine, the advice Tiger Wood’s gave him, and much more.

Golfweek’s Steve DiMeglio talks with PGA Tour player Harold Varner III about life in quarantine, the advice Tiger Wood’s gave him, and much more.