Check with us on Monday.
September 07, 2018
By The Associated Press
-
Xander Schauffele sinks 42-foot birdie putt at BMW
NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk had an easy time deciding on three of his four picks for the Ryder Cup.
Xander Schauffele is making the last one a little more difficult.
Schauffele nearly holed a wedge on his second hole, rolled in a 40-foot birdie putt in the middle of his round Friday and wound up with a 6-under in the BMW Championship for the lowest 36-hole score of his career and a two-shot lead over Justin Rose.
“I’m sort of in a position where I feel like a win is the only way I’d even be in consideration,” Schauffele said.
I’m sort of in a position where I feel like a win is the only way I’d even be in consideration
He also made it more difficult on Woods, who again goes into a weekend have to catch up to the leaders.
One day after he opened with a 62 — his lowest score since his last victory more than five years ago — Woods went eight holes before his first birdie and didn’t make many after that. He finished with two straight bogeys for a 70 and left him five shots behind in a tie for 12th.
“Very simple. I didn’t make any putts,” Woods said. “I hit a lot of beautiful putts that were on the top of the edge, and then obviously hit a couple bad ones on the last hole, but looked like all the putts were going to in. But they didn’t go in today.”
Schauffele was at 13-under 127 and will be paired in the third round Saturday with a familiar figure in Philadelphia. Rose, who played bogey-free for a 64, won the AT&T National at Aronimink in 2010, and he captured his only major at nearby Merion in the 2013 U.S. Open.
“Cheese steaks, I guess,” Rose said. “I played well. The crowd latched onto it, for sure. I get good support around here. It’s nice when they’re reminding you all the time that it’s your town, as well. It’s nice to have the added bit of enthusiasm from the crowd.”
Aronimink was even softer than the opening round from a burst of rain overnight. Starting times were moved up four hours because of a forecast for more rain. The trick Friday, when the average score was 67.33, was to avoid wedges that spun too much to back pin positions.
Hideki Matsuyama, who started the FedExCup Playoffs at No. 76, had a 64 and was in a group three shots behind that included Keegan Bradley, Alex Noren and Rickie Fowler. Matsuyama suddenly is in position to be among the 30 players who advance to East Lake in Atlanta in two weeks for the TOUR Championship.
The same is true for Bradley and for Noren, the Swede who makes his Ryder Cup debut at the end of the month. Noren holed out for eagle on the par-5 ninth for a 66, while Bradley keeps flirting with contention in these playoff events.
Rory McIlroy (67), FedExCup champion Justin Thomas (67) and Jason Day (64) were at 9-under 131.
Schauffele also needs a good week to get to East Lake, though he would like to extend his season an additional week in France at the Ryder Cup.
A runner-up at The Open Championship, the 24-year-old from San Diego finished 12th in the Ryder Cup standings. Furyk used three of his picks Tuesday night on Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson and Woods — Nos. 9, 10, 11 in the standings — and has one more pick after the BMW Championship.
Tony Finau is regarded the leading candidate, and he did nothing to hurt his chances. Finau made seven birdies in his round of 64 and goes into the final 36 holes at Aronimink just five shots behind.
“The possibilities are cool, the potential of what could happen,” Finau said. “But nothing good comes from thinking too far ahead. I got a couple rounds in front of me, 36 holes to try and win this tournament. And winning takes care of everything.”
Woods once used that phrase — “winning takes care of everything” — when he returned to No. 1 in the world after his injuries in 2013. Winning remains elusive, a cold putter didn’t do too much damage after starting with a 62.
He missed a 4-foot par putt on the par-3 fifth hole and didn’t convert any of the birdie putts from the 20-foot range. What he made on Thursday, he missed on Friday.
“I hit it just as good and putt it just as good,” Woods said. “Nothing went in. That’s the way it goes.”
Schauffele said he was on a mission, and the Ryder Cup was merely a byproduct. He was the PGA TOUR rookie of the year last season after winning the TOUR Championship for his second PGA TOUR title. Now, results are harder to find.
His mission?
“Just prove to myself that I can win again and just be clutch,” he said. “I always thought I was rather a clutch player coming down the stretch and this year has said otherwise. I’m trying to prove it to myself again.”
Rainy day forecast is not looking good for the whole weekend. 
You can give us a call to check and see if we are open or if we are allowing play but maybe walking only.
Give us a call 330-335-3375
Grab your friends and head to Pine Valley this weekend.
From Open till Noon, 18 holes w/cart $25 – 9 holes w/cart $19.50
From Noon till 6 pm, 18 holes w/cart $21 – 9 Holes w/cart $15
Make a tee time online or call us at 330-335-3375
A retiree was given a set of golf clubs by his co-workers. Thinking he’d try the game, he asked the local pro for lessons, explaining that he knew nothing whatever of the game. The pro showed him the stance and swing, then said “Just hit the ball toward the flag on the first green.” The novice teed up and smacked the ball straight down the fairway and onto the green, where it stopped inches from the hole. “Now what?” the fellow asked the speechless pro. “Uh… you’re supposed to hit the ball into the cup” the pro finally said, after he was able to speak again. The retiree replied, “Oh great! NOW you tell me!”
By KEVIN CUNNINGHAM Wednesday, September 05, 2018
The European team roster for the 2018 Ryder Cup is officially set. On Wednesday, European captain Thomas Bjorn made his four captain’s picks for this year’s event at Le Golf National in France. Bjorn tapped veterans Paul Casey, Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson to round out the European side.
They will join the eight players who automatically qualified for the team on points: Francesco Molinari, Justin Rose, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Alex Noren, and Thorbjorn Olesen. Olesen earned the final automatic spot following the tournaments last weekend.
Ian Poulter
Ryder Cup record: 12-4-2 (4-0-1 singles)
Qualifications: Poulter has been a stalwart of the European Ryder Cup team since 2004. He seems to raise his game to new heights every two years for this event, and his near-flawless record proves just how valuable he is to this team. He missed the roster in 2016 but was chosen as a vice captain to help lead the group from the sidelines. Europe is hoping Poulter’s return to the course will provide the spark needed to reclaim the cup.
Recent form: Less than a year ago, it looked like Poulter would never play on the PGA Tour again, let alone compete in a Ryder Cup. But the tenacious Englishman put up an incredible comeback in 2018. He won the Houston Open in April and added six top-25 finishes on the PGA Tour since.
Paul Casey
Ryder Cup record: 3-2-4 (1-1-1 singles)
Qualifications: Casey first made the European team in 2004, but he has not played the Ryder Cup in 10 years. However, he’s seen a bit of a career renaissance in recent years. Casey is well-liked by his fellow pros and should prove to be a solid veteran presence in the locker room.
Recent form: Following years of on-course struggles, Casey turned his career around in the past two seasons. That return to form culminated in his second PGA Tour victory at the Valspar Championship in March, where he held off a charging Tiger Woods. Casey also finished T2 at the Travelers Championship and has five total top-5s this season.
Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia and Paul Casey were chosen as captain’s picks for the 2018 European Ryder Cup team.
Sergio Garcia
Ryder Cup record: 19-11-7 (3-4-1)
Qualifications: Garcia’s Ryder Cup resume speaks for itself. One of the greatest European team players of all time, Garcia has been on every Ryder Cup team since 1999, except for 2010 when he served as a vice captain. Sergio’s energy and enthusiasm in the Ryder Cup is unrivaled, and no doubt captain Bjorn values what he brings to the team off the course as much, if not more than any points he earns.
Recent form: It has been an ugly year for Sergio. Though he finally broke through and won his first major at the 2017 Masters, his play since has been highly suspect. He has only three top-10 finishes in 2018 and has missed eight cuts in 15 events.
Henrik Stenson
Ryder Cup record: 7-7-2 (2-2-0)
Qualifications: Henrik Stenson would normally be an obvious pick for any Ryder Cup team. He’s a veteran of the event, a recent major champion, and not long ago was a regular in the top 10 of the world rankings. He’s also a fiery competitor who has an incredible ability to stay in control in high-pressure situations on the course. But his recent form is not exactly ideal.
Recent form: Speaking of his play of late, Stenson has had a tough year on Tour, at least by his high standards. The 2016 Open champ missed the cut at last month’s PGA Championship and finished T69 in his most recent event at the Dell Technologies Championship. His last win came in 2016, and since he has fallen all the way to No. 22 in the world rankings.
The Pope met with his cardinals to discuss a proposal from the Prime Minister of Israel.
“Your Holiness,” said one of the cardinals, “the Prime Minister wants to challenge you to a game of golf to show the frien
dship and ecumenical spirit shared by the Jewish and Catholic faiths.”
The Pope thought this was a good idea, but he had never played golf. “Do we have a cardinal who plays who can represent me?” he asked.
“None that play well,” the cardinal replied. “But there is a man named Jack Nicklaus, an American golfer who is very devout. We can offer to make him a cardinal, then ask him to play as your personal representative. Besides showing our spirit of cooperation, we’ll win the match.”
Everyone agreed it was a good idea and the call was made. Of course, Nicklaus was honored and agreed to play.
The day after the match, Nicklaus came to the Vatican to report to the Pope. “I have some good news and some bad news, your Holiness,” the golfer told the Pope.
“Tell me the good news first, Cardinal Nicklaus.”
“I don’t like to brag, but even though I’ve played some great golf in my life, this was the best I’ve ever played, by far. I must have been inspired from above. My drives were long and true, my irons accurate and purposeful, and my putting perfect. With all due respect, my play was truly miraculous.” And
there’s bad news?” asked the Pope.
“Yes,” Nicklaus sighed. “I lost by three strokes to Rabbi Woods.”
The world’s hottest player and the two greatest golfers of the generation will be joining the U.S. Ryder Cup team. No surprises there, eh? American team captain Jim Furyk announced the three additions to the team on Tuesday evening and you know them by their first names: Bryson, Phil and Tiger. Their qualifications are below.
Tiger Woods
U.S. Ryder Cup team record: 13-14-2 (4-1-1 singles)
Qualifications: Arguably the greatest golfer of all time. Fourteen-time major champ. A freshly-fused fiery force. What more qualifications do you want? This is Tiger Woods.
Recent form: Missing a win, sure. But Woods has been solid or better for the majority of the year. He’s made 13 of his last 14 cuts, has three top-six finishes in his last six starts and contended for the two most recent major titles. More importantly, he’s ascended from No. 1,199 to No. 26 in the world. Not a bad climb for less than a year’s work.
Phil Mickelson
U.S. Ryder Cup team record: 18-20-7 (5-5-1 singles)
Qualifications: Lefty has been on, like, a bajillion of these teams. He’s a de facto vice captain, big-time locker room force and master ping-pong player. Plus he’s one of the world’s all-time legendary money game match play maniacs. Oh, and there are the 43 Tour wins and five majors. Sure, his Ryder Cup record isn’t actually that great. But Phil worked his way to the edge of automatic qualifying! He’d have been impossible to leave off.
Recent form: Heck, how recent do you want to get? His most recent round came at yesterday’s Dell Technologies Championship, and it was a doozy: eight-under 63, the best round in the field. Top-15 finishes in the last two tournaments suggests an upward trend for Mickelson, who started the year red-hot but cooled over the summer.
Bryson DeChambeau
U.S. Ryder Cup team record: 0-0-0
Qualifications: World No. 7. Winner of four events in fourteen months. World’s hottest player. Big-time patriot (he attended the last Ryder Cup as a fan!). Modern revolutionary. Did we mention World No. 7? That would make him the fourth-highest on the U.S. team. This 24-year-old appears to be here to stay.
Recent form: Again, your form can’t get much better than winning the two most recent golf tournaments against the best players in the world. Bryson DeChambeau has arrived.
The picks are in! Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods will represent the U.S. team in France.
A friend of Henry’s dies suddenly. A week later, he comes back to tell his friend how great Heaven is.
“Henry,” he says, “you won’t believe it, but there is golf in Heaven.”
“That is wonderful!” Henry replies.
“Don’t be so thrilled,” his friend tells him. “You have a tee-off time scheduled for Saturday.”