Tag: Jason Dufner

Inaugural LIV Golf Promotions field features former Ryder Cup players, amateurs on the rise

The big names are few and far between at the first-ever promotions event.

The field is set for the first ever LIV Golf Promotions event.

Three spots are available at the inaugural event at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Dec. 8-10, that will feature a field of 73 players. The top-three finishers from the three-day, four-round event will be drafted onto a LIV Golf League team ahead of the first event of the season at LIV Golf Mayakoba in Mexico, Feb. 2-4, 2024.

Fifty-nine players will compete in the first round Dec. 8, and the top 20 and ties will advance to the second round, where scores will reset. The advancing players will be joined by 14 players who are exempt into the second round. Another cut will be made after 36 holes to just the top 20 players. Scores will once again reset and the advancing 20 will compete for the top three over 36 holes on the final day. Players who finish Nos. 4-10 will be exempt for all 2024 events on The International Series sanctioned by the Asian Tour.

All four players who were relegated after the 2023 LIV Golf season – Sihwan Kim, Chase Koepka, Jed Morgan and James Piot – are in the field and automatically through to the second round.

MORE: Everything you need to know about LIV Golf Promotions

The biggest names in the field are 2013 PGA Championship winner Jason Dufner, former Ryder Cuppers Victor Dubuisson and Jeff Overton, as well as amateurs Max Kennedy, Ryan Griffin and Sampson-Yunhe Zheng, the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship runner-up.

First round field

Player OWGR rank
Jaco Ahlers 288
Bobby Bai 1184
Lachlan Barker 1258
Zach Bauchou 620
Austin Bautista 796
Lucas Bjerregaard 801
Miguel Carballo 866
Luis Carrera 2153
Lee Chieh-po 440
Chonlatit Chuenboonngam 669
Andrew Dodt 568
Victor Dubuisson 1013
Jaewoong Eom 381
Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano 1232
Ryan Griffin (a) NR
Jeongwoo Ham 352
Seungsu Han 459
Scott Hend 739
Berry Henson 514
Jazz Janewattananond 345
Brendan Jones 615
Chanmin Jung 437
Sadom Kaewkanjana 218
Kyungnam Kang 349
Max Kennedy (a) 4113
Taichi Kho 385
Phachara Khongwatmai 224
Bio Kim 302
Ronan Kleu 2368
Karandeep Kochhar 474
Guntaek Koh 323
Jinichiro Kozuma 528
Junghwan Lee 408
Richard T. Lee 320
Taehee Lee 490
Steve Lewton 346
Luis Masaveu (a) 2360
Kyongjun Moon 471
Kerry Mountcastle 1390
Zach Murray 789
Jeff Overton 1733
Turk Petit 819
Settee Prakongvech 566
Tapio Pulkkanen 357
Alvaro Quiros 992
Ryan Ruffels 1708
Poom Saksansin 363
Micah Lauren Shin 686
Travis Smyth 269
Joel Stalter 1048
Kyle Stanley 1272
Chris Stroud 627
Sarit Suwannarut 390
Miguel Tabuena 360
Nitithorn Thippong 407
Braden Thornberry 2029
Martin Trainer 604
Suradit Yongcharoenchai 762
Kevin Yuan 672

Players exempt for second round

Player OWGR rank
Gaganjeet Bhullar 210
Ben Campbell 247
Laurie Canter 299
Kevin Chappell 560
Gunn Charoenkul 559
Jason Dufner 543
Sihwan Kim 496
Chase Koepka 1,437
Jed Morgan 982
Wade Ormsby 504
James Piot 1,104
Kalle Samooja 285
Kieran Vincent 412
Sampson-Yunhe Zheng (a) NR

For players exempt into the second round, it’s important to note many have spent the last year-and-a-half with LIV and haven’t received Official World Golf Ranking points for their performances, which has negatively impacted their standing. Their play with LIV, however, also wasn’t good enough to earn another contract.

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8 notable names who missed the cut at 2023 Sanderson Farms Championship, including the defending champion

These players are packing their bags early.

Two rounds of the 2023 Sanderson Farms Championship at The Country Club of Jackson in Mississippi are in the books and the top of the leaderboard is crowded.

Ben Griffin is alone in first at 14 under after shooting a 9-under 63 on Friday afternoon. His round included a 65-foot eagle putt on the 14th hole.

Four players are tied for second at 12 under including Luke List, winner of the 2022 Farmers Insurance Open. Four players are tied for sixth, including Harry Higgs, at 11 under.

On the flip side, several notable names are leaving Jackson a few days early, including the defending champion Mackenzie Hughes.

Here are eight big names who missed the cut — which came in at 5-under 139— at the 2023 Sanderson Farms Championship.

Faith, family and friendship with a five-time PGA Tour winner guides Jacob Solomon to memorable U.S. Open debut

Faith, family and guidance from a five-time PGA Tour winner guide Jacob Solomon to memorable U.S. Open debut.

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LOS ANGELES – Jacob Solomon’s professional goal is clearly laid out in his LinkedIn bio: “My career mission is to become the best golfer in the world.”

Not many professional golfers have active LinkedIn profiles, but Solomon’s story is different than most of his contemporaries in the 156-player field for this week’s 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club, not that you’d know so by looking at his score. The 26-year-old was briefly in the lead during the first round and fired a 2-under 68 in his U.S. Open debut on Thursday.

“Yeah, obviously a dream come true for me, but I believed in myself to get to this point, and playing on the Korn Ferry Tour this year has been a step in the right direction for me,” said Solomon after his round. “Yeah, as a little kid, to see your name towards the top of the leaderboard in a U.S. Open, I wouldn’t have believed it if you had told me when I was 15 years old that this was happening today.”

U.S. Open: Leaderboard, tee times, hole-by-hole

Solomon was first off on No. 1 at 6:45 a.m. local time alongside amateur amateur Omar Morales and Deon Germishuys. He credited his early tee time for his stellar start, where he was 4-under after his first 15 holes of U.S. Open golf.

“Definitely had the right tee time. I was pumped to see that I was first out,” said Solomon. “I relished that opportunity. I liked it. The liked the way it played.”

The Auburn product by way of Northern California is the same age as two-time major winner Collin Morikawa, and the pair know each other well dating to their junior golf days. During his senior year with the Tigers, Solomon played a lot with then-Oklahoma State star Matthew Wolff, who turned pro and won on Tour shortly after his sophomore season.

“What I like to say is everybody’s timing is different,” said Solomon. “My path is just a little more rocky than most of them.”

Solomon struggled his first few years out of college. He played mini tours, Monday qualifiers, anywhere he could. He worked his way to PGA Tour Canada last season and has since found his way to the Korn Ferry Tour, and now finds himself just one step away from the PGA Tour.

“Really it was just a difference of believing in myself,” said Solomon of how he was able to grind through the difficult years, giving loads of credit to his faith and family. “It’s actually crazy how much power and influence that has when you tell yourself, ‘I can do this.’ I think those things are kind of what carried me through the tough times.”

That, and a little guidance from five-time PGA Tour winner and fellow Auburn grad and resident, Jason Dufner.

“Yeah, Jason has been really helpful in my career. I remember freshman year of college actually he walked all 18 holes with me in a tournament we played, and he came out there. He’s always been a big supporter. He’s a great guy,” said Solomon. “He’s fun to joke around with and we’ll hit golf balls on the range for a couple hours, chat about the golf swing, and obviously he’s one of the greatest Auburn players of all time. It’s an honor to get to share that friendship with him.”

“All he told me was go play as much as you can. Play as many tournaments as you can,” he continued. “That’s how you get experience. When I got in this event, he texted me and said it will be a really great experience for your professional career.”

There’s no way Dufner could have known that Solomon would be on the front page of the leaderboard after day one, especially given his lack of experience in the big moments. But like his first-off tee time, Solomon has embraced the moment and is in position to make the cut in his first U.S. Open appearance.

“It’s one of the coolest days of my life, no doubt.”

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PGA Championship highlights: From Tiger Woods at Valhalla to Justin Thomas at Southern Hills, this major delivers drama

For decades, the PGA Championship has delivered drama and amazing finishes.

The Masters has Amen Corner, the green jacket and azaleas. The U.S. Open bills itself as the toughest and most democratic golf tournament in the world. The British Open is the oldest of golf’s four majors and the only one played on links courses.

And then there’s the PGA Championship. It’s the only one of golf’s majors with a field comprised only of professionals, including 20 club professionals, but it gets knocked by some fans and pundits for lacking a persona. Its format has changed, going from match play to stroke play in 1958, and its date has changed, recently moving from August, when it was “Glory’s Last Shot,” to May.

But one thing has been a constant at the PGA Championship for decades, it delivers drama and amazing finishes that often involve the biggest stars in the game. Here are the iconic moments and great finishes at PGA Championships since 2000.

Here are 7 players who missed the 4-under cut at the 2023 AT&T Byron Nelson

These players are headed home two days early.

It’s time for the weekend at the AT&T Byron Nelson in McKinney, Texas, and that means some in the field are packing their bags.

The 36-hole cut at TPC Craig Ranch came in at 4 under, which makes sense due to its score-ability. K.H. Lee won the last two Byron Nelsons with scores of 26 under and 25 under. Lee made the cut right on the number this time around.

Through the first two days, Texas local Scottie Scheffler holds the lead at 14 under after consecutive 64s. He leads Ryan Palmer and Mackenzie Hughes by a shot.

Here are seven players who missed the 4-under cut at the 2023 AT&T Byron Nelson.

For Jordan Spieth, a Byron Nelson home game means houseguests Justin Thomas and Jason Dufner

Jordan Spieth loves talking up Texas. And what happens when you talk a place up? Others look to visit.

McKINNEY, Texas — Jordan Spieth loves talking up Texas, whether it’s the sprawling oaks of Hill Country through the soundtrack of his collegiate home in Austin, up to his native Dallas.

And what happens when you talk a place up? Others look to visit.

For example, this week with the PGA Tour’s AT&T Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch, Spieth is putting out a fresh welcome mat for a pair of old pals — Justin Thomas and Jason Dufner.

“I got a couple roommates this week,” Spieth joked during Wednesday’s press conference in advance of Thursday’s opening round.

Dufner and his girlfriend and Thomas and his fiancée— and the Thomas’s dog — are all staying at Spieth’s home this week, with the PGA Championship appearing on the horizon. Spieth joked that once Thomas makes the ride to and from the Spieth complex in busy DFW traffic he might reconsider.

AT&T Byron Nelson: Tee times, TV info | PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ | Best bets

“I think in an ideal world he would stay closer to the course, but I think he would have felt too guilty not staying at our house since we live here.” Spieth said. “He didn’t say that, but that’s probably how, you know, when he’s driving home at rush hour I think he’s probably like, ‘Man, you know, all right, I guess we got to go back there.’

“But it’s a lot of fun. We stay together probably more than half the tournaments in a season anyways now and so it’s not really much different, other than I get to sleep in my own bed. But it’s nice hanging out at night, get to kind of show him around Dallas a little bit and eat some good food and then we’ll go on next week and do the same thing.”

Spieth is eager to give his local friends and family members a show. The University of Texas product hasn’t played particularly well in this event in the past, but after the tournament moved to TPC Craig Ranch last year he posted his best finish at the Nelson, a ninth-place showing.

And he should be in a positive frame of mind, coming off a victory at the RBC Heritage while knowing a pair of good friends are staying with him, his wife Annie and son Sammy throughout this week’s event.

And as for cleaning up after JT, is Spieth worried about a mess?

“I don’t go into their room. No, he’s very clean, they’re great houseguests,” Spieth said. “I’ve got no complaints thus far, but it’s only Wednesday.

“So ask me later in the week.”

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‘He’s a bulldog’: Players react to Zach Johnson being named United States Ryder Cup captain for 2023

Players react to their new captain for 2023.

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Zach Johnson is the right choice.

That’s the overwhelming feeling among players and former captains concerning Johnson officially being named the 2023 Ryder Cup captain for Team USA on Monday at PGA of American headquarters in Palme Beach Gardens, Florida.

“He’s smart.”

“He’s confident.”

“He’s honest.”

“He’s a bulldog.”

“He’s just good people.”

That’s just a snapshot of the praise for Johnson, 46, who has played in the Ryder Cup five times and the Presidents Cup four times. He’s also been an assistant captain the past two editions of the Ryder Cup.

Now the mission for the two-time major champion and winner of 12 PGA Tour titles is to end the USA’s 30-year drought on foreign soil in the biennial matches against Europe at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome, Italy.

Here are those who think he’s up to the task.

Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson highlight loaded field of confirmed players for 2022 Saudi International

Some of the biggest names in golf are bound for Saudi Arabia in 2022.

Back in October, Golfweek reported that eight players asked for the PGA Tour’s permission to play in the controversial Saudi International.

On Monday when the tournament released a list of confirmed players for the 2022 on Feb. 3-6 at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club, all eight appeared on the list alongside a few other notable names.

Two-time winner Dustin Johnson, 2020 champion Graeme McDowell, Abraham Ancer, Lee Westwood, Tommy Fleetwood, Henrik Stenson, Kevin Na and Jason Kokrak will be joined by Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia, Tyrrell Hatton, Adri Arnaus, Rafael Cabrera Bello, Paul Casey, Jason Dufner, Shane Lowry, Joaquin Niemann, Louis Oosthuizen, Ian Poulter, Xander Schauffele, Adam Scott, Henrik Stenson, Harold Varner III, Jhonattan Vegas and Bubba Watson in Saudi Arabia in 2022.

The PGA Tour previously said it would deny waivers for its members to take part in the Saudi International. In past years the Tour granted releases to its members for the first three Saudi Internationals when it was a European Tour event. Last summer the PGA and European tours announced a strategic alliance, which removed the event from the European Tour schedule and was widely interpreted as a joint effort to stymie any rival tours.

In its first year as part of the Asian Tour schedule, the 2022 Saudi International features the strongest field in the history of the tour.  The Saudis previously made a $100 million investment in the Asian Tour.

“History will reflect upon how developments like the Saudi International and Golf Saudi’s partnership with the Asian Tour helped see in a new era in the professional game,” said Cho Minn Thant, CEO of the Asian Tour, via a media statement. “With the right guidance, it’ll be the sport that benefits most, with more top athletes from across a wider geographical spectrum present at the very top level and more interest from a more diverse and committed group of stakeholders.”

Since the inaugural Saudi International in 2019, the tournament has been widely criticized as part of the government’s effort to “sportswash” its human rights abuses, same as LIV Golf Investments, the new golf venture backed by the Public Investment Fund which operates on behalf of the government of Saudi Arabia.

“Whilst this is a product of many factors, there is no denying the massive impact the best players in the world can have on creating multi-generational interest in the sport. This is why we place such importance on securing the strongest field possible, each and every year,” said Majed Al-Sorour, CEO and Deputy Chairman of Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation, via a media statement. “While we do not allow ourselves to be distracted from our long-term objectives by any external voices, we have been encouraged by strengthening discussions around the importance of fresh competition and innovation in the professional game.

“We are strong advocates for this, as we see it as the only way to achieve golf’s true global potential and realize the game’s considerable untapped value. All we will say is it is better for the sport if the competition remains healthy and respectful, as opposed to hostile, as all parties look at new ways to benefit this great game.”

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Bang, bang, bang: Talor Gooch is knocking on the door again in the Houston Open

Talor Gooch is once again in the hunt for his first PGA Tour win.

Talor Gooch keeps knocking on the door.

It might open this week in Houston.

Looking right at home at Memorial Park Golf Course, Gooch again put himself in position to win his first PGA Tour title with a 5-under-par 65 in Thursday’s storm-delayed first round of the Hewlett Packard Enterprise Houston Open.

Once a storm front passed that delayed tee times by 2 hours, 30 minutes – one inch of rain fell as lightning flashed and thunder boomed and lift, clean and place was allowed the rest of the day – Gooch continued his impressive 2021-22 season with seven birdies and two bogeys.

Gooch, who holds a share of the course record at Memorial (a 63 in last year’s final round), is making his fifth start of the new season and has posted finishes of T-4, T-11, T-5, and T-11. He’s also finished fourth and in a tie for fourth in his last two starts in the Houston Open.

“Anytime you’re playing well you try to grab on to that momentum, and it can be tough to take it week to week in golf because there’s such a pause between tournament round and the next week’s tournament starting,” said Gooch, 29, who is making his 103rd start on the PGA Tour. “So you just try to do everything you can to keep doing the same things. I’ve been able to keep doing that through the stretch, so hopefully we can continue it for the rest of this week.”

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Among the early finishers, Gooch sits atop the leaderboard with Marc Leishman and 2017 Houston Open winner Russell Henley. A stroke back was Jason Dufner, the 2013 PGA champion who is playing on a sponsor’s exemption. Another stroke back at 67 was Keith Mitchell.

“Anyone would take 65 any day of the week on the PGA Tour. It was a good day. Always great to start the week off with a low one, feel like you get a little bit ahead of the ballgame,” Gooch said.

He feels he’s ahead of the ballgame on the public course.

“It’s one of my favorite places,” he said. “I grew up on a city golf course back where I’m from. I wasn’t a country club kid, so it’s nice kind of feeling like I’m getting back to my roots. Obviously, this one’s a little bit nicer than what I grew up on, a little bit more challenging, but it’s just nice rolling up and feeling like this is kind of similar to what I grew up playing.”

Dufner, whose most recent of five PGA Tour titles came in the 2017 Memorial, said it was no secret he hasn’t played very well the last three years, his game falling so much he lost full status for this season. Saying he was grateful for the sponsor’s exemption, Dufner was first off alongside Henley and did his best to make the exemption count.

“I was pretty happy for the most part with everything I did, but a couple key parts kind of in the middle of the round a couple times helped kind of glue that round together and maybe turned a 70, 69, 68 into a 66,” he said. “So I’ll take those two shots or three shots with those saves and look to improve on my ball‑striking.”

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Leishman, who is looking for his sixth PGA Tour title and first since the 2020 Farmers Insurance Open (he did team with Cameron Smith to win the 2021 Zurich Classic of New Orleans team event), bogeyed his last hole. He’s been puzzled about his results for some time now – playing well but not posting scores – and has worked hard to turn things around.

“It can be a crazy game; it can get you down and you can play really well and not have a good score and play mediocre golf and have a really good score,” he said. “You have to try and not let that get to you. I think a fresh season, a new start was pretty good for me. Got me to knuckle down and just really focus and I’ve been playing some good golf.”

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Play suspended at Tiger Invitational

Tennessee’s men’s golf team is competing at the Tiger Invitational in Opelika, Alabama.

Tennessee’s men’s golf team is competing at the Tiger Invitational in Opelika, Alabama.

The Vols played two rounds Monday due to inclement weather expected for Tuesday.

Play was suspended for the day on Tuesday and will resume today at 11 a.m. EDT.  Tennessee’s individual scores are listed below by each round (round one, round two, round three and total).

T9 Hunter Wolcott (3) 70 67 +2 (14) -5
T17 Spencer Cross (5) 70 70 +1 (14) -3
T35 Rhys Nevin-Wharton (1) 70 72 +4 (14) +2
T59 Bryce Lewis (2) 77 71 +1 (14) +5
T76 Jake Hall (4) 76 72 +6 (15) +10

The Tiger Invitational is presented by PGA golfer and former Auburn Tiger Jason Dufner.

He turned professional in 2000 and has five career PGA Tour victories. Dufner won the 2013 PGA Championship.

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