During the third round of the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba, there was plenty of action, including a pair of aces and another near one on a par 4. Last week’s winner made a big jump on the leaderboard. However, the name at the top remains the same as it was when play began Saturday.
Collin Morikawa, who admitted before the tournament he’s trying to find his form, had his second straight round in red figures, and the first putting coach of his career may be to thank.
Here are some takeaways from the third round at El Cameleon Golf Course at Mayakoba in Mexico.
In a star-studded field, can an underdog steal the title?
We’re just days away from the start of the PGA Championship, the year’s second major, but there’s business to take care of first outside Dallas, Texas. The PGA Tour is headed to TPC Craig Ranch for the AT&T Byron Nelson, just the second time the course will host the event.
Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1 ranked player in the world, didn’t have to travel far this week and will make his first solo start since winning the Masters (tied for 18th with Ryan Palmer at the Zurich Classic).
Big names in the field include Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, Xander Schauffele, Will Zalatoris, Jordan Spieth, and Brooks Koepka.
However, there are several other names to keep an eye on this week at TPC Craig Ranch.
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Analyzing the 2019 QBE Shootout and which teams of golfers are the best options for the event. Who will win at Tiburon Golf Club?
Twelve two-man teams will compete in the QBE Shootout at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Fla., this weekend. The 54-hole event runs three days, from Friday through Sunday.
The first round is played under scramble rules, whereby both members of each team will play every shot with the better ball being taken each time. Round 2 consists of greensomes, where both players tee off on each hole and the alternate shot is played from the spot of the better ball.
The final round is played under standard four-ball rules with each golfer playing the hole on their own and the best score being taken.
The 7,288-yard venue plays as a par 72. The teams compete for a $3.5 million purse, but it is not an official money event and no FedExCup points are awarded.
QBE Shootout – Odds, picks and best bets
Matthew Wolff. (Photo Credit: Rob Kinnan – USA TODAY Sports)
The two combine for just 42 years of age, making them younger than several of the individual golfers in this event. Hovland is expected to be a top contender for PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, while Wolff came up just short of the award last year.
Hovland, 22, placed solo fourth at last season’s Wyndham Championship for the best result of his young career. He’s ranked 96th by the Official World Golf Ranking, while Wolff, who got his first career win at the 3M Open last summer, is 117th in the world. Their odds are lower as fan favorites, but the youngsters have the length and putting, and the motivation for the early-career win in an uninspired field.
Charles Howell III-Bubba Watson (+800)
Watson, ranked 44th by the OWGR, is coming off a last-place finish at last week’s Hero World Challenge. Howell, ranked 54th in the world, missed the cut at the RSM Classic as his last event. The two combined for four victories in 2018.
Howell finished tied for third here last year with partner Luke List. Watson was sixth with Harold Varner III.
Charley Hoffman-Kevin Kisner (+1200)
Hoffman also finished T-3 a year ago (with partner Gary Woodland), while Kisner finished last with playing partner Cameron Champ. Kisner tied for seventh at last week’s Hero World Challenge exhibition. The two have plenty of length off the tee, and Kisner, who’s the defending match-play champion, can get hot and carry the team with his putter.
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The ace was a bright spot on an otherwise forgettable final round for Patton Kizzire, who shot a 75 on Sunday.
It took an entire week but the PGA Tour has another hole-in-one.
On Sunday, in the final round of the RSM Classic in Sea Island, Georgia, Patton Kizzire aced the par-3 sixth hole.
He used an 8-iron from 181 yards.
The ace was a bright spot on an otherwise forgettable final round. Kizzire shot 69-69-67 the first three days but just didn’t have his best stuff on Sunday.
Two holes before his ace, he triple-bogeyed the 4th hole to fall to 8-over on the day. He ended up shooting a 75 and after his round quipped that he needed the ace to break 80.
The National Hole-in-One Registry says that the odds of a PGA Tour pro getting a hole-in-one is 3,000-to-1. (It also says the “average” golfer has a 12,000-to-1 shot at making an ace).
