The party is over for Rory McIlroy, who had a good old time of it after teaming-up with Shane Lowry in capturing the Zurich ... and, with Scottie Scheffler skipping this week’s Wells Fargo tournament – one of the PGA Tour’s $20 million signature events – as he awaits the arrival of his firstborn, the Northern Irishman returns to a favoured course at Quail Hollow as the headline act in the field.
McIlroy’s breakthrough win on the PGA Tour came at the Charlotte course in 2010 and he has also won the tournament in 2015 and again in 2021, before its elevation to one of the PGA Tour’s signature status events.
Lowry – who also enjoyed partying after his New Orleans win – and Séamus Power are also in the limited field in North Carolina.
Scheffler, however, is not. The player and his wife Meredith are expecting the birth of their child at any time. Scheffler hasn’t played since winning the RBC Heritage in Hilton Head last month – his fourth win in five starts as he strengthened his position at the head of the world rankings – and could yet have a decision to make about next week’s US PGA.
Three Irish players gain full status on Ladies European Tour next year
Irish Times Sportswoman of the Year Awards: ‘The greatest collection of women in Irish sport in one place ever assembled’
Two-time Olympic champion Kellie Harrington named Irish Times/Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Year 2024
PGA decision to pay US Ryder Cup players a fatal blow for the competition’s old ethos
In winning last month’s Masters at Augusta, Scheffler admitted he would leave the course if his wife went into labour. “You only have your first child once, so I would rather be at home if that is going to happen,” remarked Scheffler at the time.
McIlroy, the world number two, has some work to do – even in Scheffler’s absence – to catch the American in the rankings any time soon. Scheffler at 14.71 points average is more than double that of McIlroy, at 7.05.
Word of Mouth
“Of course it stings, right? You feel like you had it right there and let it slip away” – Ben Kohles after fluffing a chip and bogeying the final hole of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, ultimately finishing one stroke behind maiden tour winner Taylor Pendrith.
Lauren Walsh continues her globetrotting rookie season
Lauren Walsh’s globetrotting in her rookie season on the Ladies European Tour takes her to yet another new stamp on her passport, as the Kildare golfer has earned a place in the $1 million Aramco Team Series event in Seoul, South Korea.
Walsh has made the cut in four of the five tournaments she has played on the LET so far – which has seen her compete in Kenya, Morocco, South Africa and Australia – and that solid start to her professional career has her at 51st in the LET order of merit standings.
This week’s tournament in South Korea, however, represents the biggest purse event so far for Walsh in an event that features a 36-holes team element along with the 54-hole individual strokeplay event. World number seven Charley Hull is the headline act.
On the LPGA Tour, Leona Maguire – aiming to bounce back from a rare missed cut – and Stephanie Meadow are in the field for the Cognizant Founders tournament in Clifton, New Jersey, starting on Thursday, where world number one Nelly Korda will seek to continue her amazing form which has seen her win five straight tournaments.
By the Numbers
$140,333
Graeme McDowell was a distant 37th behind winner Brooks Koepka in the LIV Singapore tournament at the weekend. Koepka collected a pay-day of $4 million for his troubles but G-Mac’s take was a not to be sniffed at $140,333.
On this day ... May 7th, 1995
Mark Calcavecchia unlocked the code to winning, after a three-year drought on tour, when he went flag-chasing in the final round of the Bell South Classic at Atlanta Country Club.
The popular player, known as Calc, shot a final round 66 for a 72 hole total of 17-under-par 271 to claim his seventh win on the PGA Tour and first since his Phoenix Open success in 1972.
Calcavecchia started the final round playing catch-up on Jim Gallagher Jnr who held the 54-hole lead and the margin increased to four strokes at the turn. “I just kept firing at it and the right things happened,” said the man from Nebraska, who came home in 31 strokes to catch and move ahead of Gallagher. “It was amazing,” said Calcavecchia.
X-Twitter Twaddle
No golf today. Tournament cancelled after 36 holes. I was too far back to challenge but I’m a little disappointed as I really needed some on course play/practice going into the next 3 weeks – Pádraig Harrington after the final day’s play of the Insperity Invitational on the Champions Tour fell foul to the weather. Scott Dunlap, the 36 holes leader, was declared the winner (his first win in 10 years). Harrington is on a four-week stint stateside that also takes in this week’s Regions Tradition, next week’s US PGA and the following week’s KitchenAid Senior PGA.
Great to be back on contention. I fought with everything I had on a day when it didn’t feel great. Thankful for my caddie Jamie Lane for keeping me going. I’m excited about my golf again. Let’s go. – Matt Wallace after a return to form for the Englishman, finishing fourth – behind Taylor Pendrith – in the CJ CUP Byron Nelson.
A six-time Ryder Cupper & great commentator. One of the very good guys. RIP Oosty – Luke Donald paying tribute to Peter Oosterhuis, who died last week. Oosterhuis won the European Tour order of merit four times in his career.
Know the Rules
Q – In strokeplay, a player plays a left-handed stroke with the back of the head of a right-handed club. What is the ruling?
A – There is no penalty in such a situation. This is covered by Rule 10.1a – the player must fairly strike at the ball with any part of the head of the club such that there is only momentary contact between the club and the ball and must not push, scrape or scoop the ball.
In the Bag
Taylor Pendrith – The CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Driver – Ping G430 LST (9 degrees)
3-wood – Ping G430 Max (15 degrees)
7-wood – Ping G425 Max (20.5 degrees)
Irons – Srixon ZX (2,3), Srixon Zx7 MkII (4-9)
Wedges – Cleveland RTX 6 Tour Rack (46, 52 and 60 degrees)
Putter – Odyssey Jailbird Versa
Ball – Srixon Z Star Diamond
