Which makes what Kramer Hickok did at the par-4 12th hole Saturday all the more amazing.
Hickok’s approach to the 456-yard hole found the left greenside bunker. His ball was plugged pretty deep and from awkward stance, he took a good lash at the ball. But the ball caught the lip, came back towards him, hit him on the foot—which is no longer a rules violation, by the way; that was changed when the New Rules of Golf were implemented at the start of 2019—and came to rest in his foot indentation.
For swing four, Hickok again hit the edge of the bunker and failed to get out.
But he kept his cool and took a fifth swing at the ball. This time, he got out and sent it rolling towards the flagstick on the far side of the green.
And then a little bit of magic happened as Hickok’s ball found the jar for a bogey 5. It was his fifth bogey of the day but nonetheless earned him a little congratulations from his playing partner Jon Rahm.
From holes 6-13, Woods made a triple and six bogeys.
After battling Friday afternoon, Tiger Woods finished one shot inside the cut line and locked up weekend tee times at the 104th PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
His playing partner Saturday morning was Shaun Norris and the pair teed off at 9:58 a.m. ET after tee times were pushed back due to dangerous weather.
Woods started his day with a par at No. 1, but dropped a shot at No. 2 after his tee shot found a water hazard. Then, after three straight pars, Woods would play his next eight holes at 9 over, a stretch that included a triple bogey on the par-3 6th.
A par at the par-3 14th finally broke a streak of five bogeys in a row. Then, on 15, Woods poured in a 37-foot putt for his first birdie of the day. On the 16th, Woods became the first player on Saturday to hit the green in regulation (a 3-wood from over 230 yards).
He would finish par-par-par and play his last five holes of the day 1 under. A day three 9-over 79 for Woods puts him near the bottom of the leaderboard, but every day with Woods back on the course is a good one.
TULSA, Okla. — A steady drizzle and overcast skies had players and caddies at Southern Hills Country Club swapping sunscreen for jackets and hoodies before the start of the third round of the 2022 PGA Championship. Earlier in the week, temperatures hovered in the high 80s, but as a front worked through the area overnight, the air turned chilly and damp.
Southern Hills’ undulating fairways and tricky greens present a challenge, but with the change in weather, a new challenge is going to test the golfers who want to hoist the Wannamaker trophy on Sunday evening. How will the cooler air, the wind and the damp conditions change how shots fly and react?
Over the years, there have been several calculations that have been passed down to caddies and golfers to compensate for temperature changes and wind. According to Titleist, a ball hit at sea level on a 70-degree day will fly 3 percent shorter on a 50-degree day because cold air is denser. Another is that for every mile hour of wind a player hits into, the “playing” distance increases by 1 percent, so if the hole is 100-yard away and the wind is into the play at 10 mph, the shot will play like 110 yards.
But with the total purse in the neighborhood of $12 million this week and the winner taking home about $2 million, players are taking nothing to chance.
“That’s what this is for,” said Austin Kaiser, Xander Schauffele’s caddie as he tapped his foot against an $11,000 Foresight GC Quad launch monitor resting next to Schauffele’s golf bag.
Xander Schauffele warming up Saturday at Southern Hills Country Club. (David Dusek/Golfweek)
Before every round as he is warming up, Schauffele hits balls with the GC Quad on the range. The device uses four high-speed cameras to reveal information about Schauffele’s club and the ball, including ball speed, carry distance, total distance, spin rate and launch angle. Hitting the same clubs every day, Schauffele and Kaiser can use the GC Quad to see the difference temperature and wind conditions are having before every round.
Rickie Fowler’s caddie, Joe Skovron, says that he and Fowler also use a GC Quad as a part of Fowler’s warm-up routine, and they will observe the differences between numbers from day to day. However, that doesn’t mean they are not doing math on the course.
“The wind today is coming from a different direction,” Skovron said, referring to the shift from a South wind to a North wind at Southern Hills. “So we’ll have to factor that in too, but it also comes down to feel.”
Tommy Fleetwood Saturday at Southern Hills. (David Dusek/Golfweek)
And then there’s Ian Finnis, Tommy Fleetwood’s caddie.
“We’ll just play English numbers today,” he said Saturday morning with a laugh, referring to the nasty weather that golfers commonly play in at British Opens. “Usually when we are in the United States, we play American numbers, but today we’ll play English numbers!”
But by the time Fleetwood completed his putting warm-up and crossed a bridge to the range, Finnis had a $21,000 TrackMan 4 launch monitor set up in the area where Fleetwood would be warming up.
Fun is fun, but with the money that is on the line at Southern Hills, the value of modern launch monitors can’t be ignored.
TULSA, Okla. — Will Zalatoris is looking to keep the Southern Hills major streak alive.
Aiming for his first PGA Tour win, Zalatoris might make the 2022 PGA Championship his first title. And that would keep alive a crazy stat: of the seven major championships played at Southern Hills, all were won by a player who led or co-led the tournament through 36 holes.
Friday night, The Caddie Network‘s John Rathouz caught up with the caddie for Zalatoris, Ryan Goble, who was enjoying some “veg time” after a dinner of Mexican food in Tulsa.
Topics of discussion included how Zalatoris seems to always step it up in majors as well as what it’s like to play in a group behind Tiger Woods.
If you can’t watch Tiger Woods on Saturday morning at the 2022 PGA Championship, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
The 15-time major champion is back at the home of his 2007 PGA win at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and has made the cut and will play the weekend. Woods birdied the 16th hole yesterday and made several gutsy pars down the stretch to earn a weekend tee time. He’s off with Shaun Norris on moving day.
Take a scroll through Woods’ third round below with shot-by-shot live updates from Southern Hills.
If there were a category for Strokes Lost: Grumbling, Tyrrell Hatton would be top 10 in the world.
TULSA, Okla. – If there were a category for Strokes Lost: Grumbling, Tyrrell Hatton would be top 10 in the world.
Hatton, “The Angry Golfer,” is angry again this week, and he isn’t shy to voice his displeasure.
The English golfer, ranked No. 24 in the world, continued his attack on the course setup at majors on Wednesday ahead of the 104th PGA Championship at Southern Hills.
“I think the PGA and USGA seem to be in a bit of a fight about who’s got the longest golf course and who’s got the longest par-3. It would be nice if they were a bit more creative with course setup rather than just trying to make it hard through length all the time. PGA seems to just be getting longer each time we come back and play,” Hatton said.
In this case, he isn’t wrong.
The par-70 Southern Hills measures 7,566 yards on the scorecard with two par 5s over 600 yards and three of the four par 3s between 214 and 228 yards. But the course renovation by Gil Hanse in 2018 has forced players to hit the shots original course architect Perry Maxwell intended. The added length means some of the best players have had to hit long irons and even pull a headcover off to reach par 3s. That included former World No. 1 Dustin Johnson, who used a 9-wood this week at the par-3 8th hole. Hatton’s temper also got the best of him there on Thursday when he caused a minor social media kerfuffle by leaving his mark on the putting surface. (By his standards, it was really nothing but still poor etiquette.)
On Friday, Hatton was asked about the greens at Southern Hills, which weren’t cut between the first and second round due to anticipated high winds.
“I mean, we’re playing a major championship, not a monthly medal,” Hatton said. “You know, they’re bubbling all over the place. It’s so hard to hole putts. So you can hit a great putt and they just don’t look like going in, which is hard to accept when we’re playing in a major championship.
“From my point of view obviously I hope that the greens are nicer over the weekend.”
Hatton’s view was shared by many players, including Bubba Watson, who became the 17th player in PGA Championship history to shoot 63.
“I was nervous on every single putt. I had no clue,” Watson said. “The greens are bumpy. Let’s just call it like it is. They’re bumpy and they were a little bit hairier today. It was tough. My putts bounced my way and they went in today.”
Hatton delivered his harshest criticism of a major venue after the final round of the Masters in April, where he called Augusta National “unfair,” “didn’t fit his eye,” and he ought to come back next time “being a caddie.”
“I think it’s how the course is set up in general. You don’t really have to miss a shot, and your next one, you’re really struggling to make par. With how it runs off the greens here and the slopes that you are then chipping into and how obviously it’s cut, it just makes it really hard to even get chip shots close. I think everything is exaggerated here,” he said of Augusta National. “It’s just one of those weeks that I feel like if I come back in the future, it’s just a case of trying to get through the best that I can.”
And then he added this kicker: “I can say it wasn’t a fun walk,” Hatton said, “but maybe I’ll be better off if I come back being a caddie here rather than trying to hit golf shots.”
For all his barking, Hatton shot 2-under 68 on Friday at Southern Hills and enters the third round of the PGA at T-10 and very much in the thick of the championship. But apparently, Hatton needs another round of Anger Management classes.
Everything you need to know for the third round of the PGA Championship.
Just like the Masters, Tiger Woods will be playing the weekend at the 104th PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club. A clutch birdie on 16 and several gutsy par saves down the stretch secured the 15-time major champion a weekend tee time.
Will Zalatoris, who is quickly becoming a monster in majors, is the 36-hole leader after firing a second-round 65. Mito Pereira was one better than Willy Z on Friday and sits in solo second.
Justin Thomas is three back of Zalatoris after a second consecutive 67. Bubba Watson tied the PGA Championship scoring record with a Friday 63.
Rory McIlroy, the 18-hole leader, struggled in the second round, shooting a 1-over 71. He’s still in the mix just five shots back.
From tee times to TV info, here’s everything you need to know for the third round of the PGA Championship.
He missed the cut, but Daly had quite the week in Tulsa.
TULSA, Okla. — When John Daly won the 1991 PGA Championship at Crooked Stick near Indianapolis as the ninth alternate, he donated $30,000 to the family of a spectator struck by lightning at the tournament. At the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills, Daly donated a reported $30,000 to the local casino in town.
As soon as he finished his first round on Thursday, he blew off reporters just as he skipped out on the Champions dinner on Tuesday and high-tailed it to Hooters, the restaurant chain where his son John III, who plays golf at his dad’s alma mater, Arkansas, has a NIL deal. Then it was off to the casino, where he had an extra pack of cigarettes on standby and guzzled diet coke. A photo of him playing the slots drew even the likes of TMZ to write a story.
As one spectator put it, “Has there ever been a character like John Daly?”
The answer is a resounding no. Ever since Daly, 56, was diagnosed with bladder cancer he’s been living for the moment. On Thursday, Daly actually held the lead at the 104th PGA Championship for a hot minute with birdies on two of the first five holes. But the wheels fell off late in the round with bogeys on four of the last five holes to shoot 2-over 72. Still, he beat World No. 2 Jon Rahm, reigning PGA Tour Player of the Year Patrick Cantlay, and 15-time major champion Tiger Woods. Playing the weekend was a real possibility.
“John has so much talent, so much feel,” said former PGA Championship winner Shaun Micheel, who was grouped with Daly.
Since 2019, the PGA of America has granted Daly, who suffers from osteoarthritis in his right knee, the use of a cart under the American Disabilities Act. His caddie still had to carry the bag and after the round complained that he lugged an umbrella for nothing.
Not so for Daly, belly bulging, in his bright red Loudmouth pants, zipping down fairways in his Club Car cart with a diet coke and an oversized cup in cupholders.
“He who has the fastest cart has the best life,” a fan said.
“I’ve got a vodka for you when the rounds over,” another bellowed.
“Does the guy really smoke a pack a round?” a third fan wondered. “Unreal. What a legend.”
Tiger Woods limping around Southern Hills in *obvious severe pain* as John Daly cruises around on a cart, ripping heaters and enjoying the afternoon is uh …. quite the parallel
Daly rolled in a 22-foot birdie putt at No. 11, his second hole of the day on Friday, but he rinsed a ball in the water at No. 2, made bogey to slip to 5-over and played out the string. Even when he dunked another ball at the seventh and made a double bogey, the fans still cheered him as he huffed and puffed back to the cart.
At his final hole, he lined his approach over the green and faced a seemingly hopeless attempt to finish with a par. Not wanting to waste any energy, he didn’t bother with a practice swing. He stepped up, chopped at the ball and nearly holed it.
“We love you John,” a male spectator screamed.
After signing for 6-over 76 – four strokes too many – a PGA media official reminded him that he’d see him next week for the Senior PGA Championship.
“Another week, another cow pasture,” Daly muttered.
Then he stormed off like a man hungry for an all-you-can-eat casino buffet. He hopped into his cart and parked it next to his black Cadillac courtesy car without ever stopping in the clubhouse to change his shoes. Daly’s act may have grown old but golf’s one-of-a-kind character rode off in search of his next payday.
Of the seven majors played at Southern Hills, all were won by a player who led or co-led through 36 holes.
TULSA, Okla. – Come Sunday, the hefty, silver Wanamaker Trophy will be hoisted by Will Zalatoris.
Yes, 36 holes remain in the 104th PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club. Yes, the skinny youngster from the Lone Star State hasn’t won on the PGA Tour. And yes, there’s some serious firepower in pursuit.
But history is on the side of Zalatoris. Of the seven major championships played at Southern Hills, all were won by a player who led or co-led the tournament through 36 holes. And Zalatoris is atop the leaderboard.
Following an opening-round 66, Zalatoris came home with a bogey-free, 5-under 65 Friday to move to 9 under at the halfway point. He is one shot clear of Chile’s Mito Pereira, who also is looking for his first PGA Tour title. He is playing in just his second major. Pereira, who grew up playing with Joaquin Niemann, added a 64 in the second round to his 68 in the first.
“I got away with murder a few times today for sure, especially starting off the day hitting the left trees and hitting it to a kick-in,” Zalatoris said. “Same thing on 17, being able to get out of there with birdie where it was looking like I was going to be making 5.
“I just kept the round going today. Made a bunch of six-, eight-footers for par, and obviously being bogey free around this place is pretty nice.”
Four-time Wanamaker Trophy winner and 15-time major champion Tiger Woods grinded his way to the weekend. Playing in just his second PGA Tour event in 18 months, and 15 months after a horrific, single-car accident nearly cost him his life, Woods birdied two of his final six holes to move from one shot outside the cutline to one shot below. His rounds of 74-69 left him at 3 over.
“Well, you can’t win the tournament if you miss the cut,” Woods said. “There’s a reason why you fight hard and you’re able to give yourself a chance on the weekend. You just never know when you might get hot.
“This weekend I’m going to have to go low. It’s going to be different. The wind is going to be coming out of the north. It’s going to be cooler.”
Tiger Woods plays a shot on the first hole as a gallery of fans look on during the second round of the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
After a quick turnaround, Justin Thomas made quick work of his second round. The 2017 PGA champion, who was on the late-early side of matters this week, birdied both his first and last holes in the second round, just as he did in the first round, and shot his second consecutive 3-under-par 67 to move to 6 under.
“Although I played solid yesterday, I played really, really well today,” said Thomas, who is looking for his first win since the 2021 Players Championship. “I feel like I’m playing well. We’re halfway through so it’s still a long way from home, but I’m very, very pleased with where everything is at and the frame of mind and state of mind that I’m in.”
Four shots back after a 63 was two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson. Overnight leader and two-time Wanamaker winner Rory McIlroy battled throughout the second round, especially on the greens, and shot 71 to be five back. He was joined at 4 under by Abraham Ancer and Davis Riley.
Zalatoris has been knocking on the winner’s door for some time. He lost in a playoff earlier this year in the Farmers Insurance Open and has four top 10s in his last six starts in majors, including being runner-up in the 2021 Masters.
“They’re tough golf courses that allows my ball-striking to really give me the best chances,” Zalatoris said of major venues. “Obviously these greens aren’t easy, but hitting them on the right tiers and being able to have the 15- to 25-footers where I’m not going up and down slopes is huge.
“I’ve kind of had an attitude with the majors, especially since the Masters, where I wanted to enjoy the experience as much as I could. Looking back 20 years from now I don’t want to regret my attitude or anything like that.
“I just make sure that after really every single shot I hit, I don’t want to say life or death, but make sure I’m fully committed to everything that I do because we only get four of them a year.”
Will Zalatoris plays his shot from the gallery on the first fairway during the second round of the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club. (Photo: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports)
And Zalatoris knows about the 36-hole history of majors, here.
“I’ve got a long 36 holes ahead of me,” he said. “I think if anything, like I said, you’re able to plot your way around this golf course, and if you hit as many greens as you possibly can, it’s kind of hard to mess it up.
“You still can. You know, if you get on the wrong slopes it still has a little bit of the attitude of like Augusta where you can hit 18 greens and walk off that place and shoot 80. I think history to me, it is what it is, but I’m going to go out and do my job, and hopefully it’s enough at the end.”
Pereira quit the game as a teenager for two years but couldn’t stay away. He rode a hot putter and has made just one bogey in his last 24 holes.
“When I came back I just I knew I could do it, I knew I could get to here, and I just kept the confidence,” he said. “And obviously there were some up and downs but really happy to be here.
“I’ve been hitting the ball really well, so if I can just put one day of good putting, something like this comes up. So just really happy how I ended up playing today.”
