Jon RahmHe will be trying to become the first PGA Tour winner in three consecutive starts since 2017, when he tees off at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, San Diego.
Is this not a rare feat?
Justin Ray, Head of Content for Twenty First Group, stated that a player has won three consecutive PGA Tour starts since 1997. Tiger WoodsDid it in all but four instances.
Rahm, who started the season winning at The American Express and the Sentry Tournament of Champions was the first player to win three consecutive PGA Tour starts. Dustin JohnsonDid it at the Genesis Open and WGC-Mexico Championship as well as WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play early 2017. Rory McIlroyIt was done in 2014, and Woods did it last year in 2008.
According to Rays researchWoods won 58.3% in his three consecutive starts. The success rate of everyone else was 10.5%.
Heres whats up in mens golf professional this week
Whats next on PGA Tour?
Farmers Insurance Open
When: Wednesday-Saturday
Where: Torrey Pines, La Jolla, California
Champion of defense: Luke List
Purse$8.7 Million
Three stories to keep an eye on:
Rahms trifecta attempt: Rahm should have a good chance to three-peat Torrey Pines, which is his favorite course in the world. He won the 2017 Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, as well as the 2021 U.S. Open. This was his only major championship win.
Rahms career average score of 69.29 is based on 24 rounds at Torrey Pines. This is the second-best score among players who have played at least 10 rounds since 1968. Woods averaged 69.28 rounds over his career. Woods won the event seven more times and also won the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.
Rahm stated, I feel really healthy and I feel really comfortable in the swing. So, Im going down to Torrey. Im confident there and have high hopes knowing that Im doing all right.
If my game is consistent and I keep hitting it off of the tee, I have a good chance of making it to that course. Its an emotional week that I remember fondly. It holds a very special place within my heart.
How great has Rahm been this year? Rahm leads the PGA Tour in greens (regular), birdie average (6.67), scoring (68.889) and par-4 scoring average (3.76). He also leads shots gained: off-the-tee (1.71).
Rahm has performed well in PGA Tour events held in California.
.@JonRahmpgaSince 2017, the California PGA Tour has hosted events
Wins: 4 (1st)
Average score: 68.74 (1st).
Score to par: -246 (1st).
Bogeys/worse per round: 1.97 (1st)
SG Tee To Green: +1.71 (1st).— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) January 24, 2023
Tee times in the early morningFarmers Insurance Open will take place from Wednesday to Saturday for the second year running. This is to avoid television competition with Sundays NFL conference championship games. Its the only PGA Tour event with a Saturday finish. Rounds 3 and 4, will be broadcast on the East Coast in prime time.
This field includes Rahm. Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele, Hideki Matsuyama, Tony Finau, Justin Thomas, Max Homa Will ZalatorisTorrey Pines boasts a lot star power. Five of the top ten players in the OWGR are there, and 13 of top 50.
We are back!: There will be many jokes about the PGA Tour moving the Farmers Insurance Opens start up a day to ensure they complete all four rounds. J.B. HolmesOn the field. Holmes, 40 isnt known for his speed play.
Holmes is back on tour after sustaining a back injury during the past two seasons. Holmes is on a major medical exemption, and has 26 starts to earn 288.816 FedEx Cup Points to keep his card. Holmes had two brain surgeries earlier in his career and was able to overcome them to win three of five career victories on the tour.
This will be Holmes first PGA Tour appearance since September 2021, when he missed the cut at Fortinet Championship. Since winning the 2019 Genesis Invitational in 2019, Holmes has not finished among the top 10 in a Tour event. Holmes and eventual champion shared the 36-hole lead after winning at Riviera. Shane LowryRoyal Portrush hosted the 2019 Open Championship. Holmes was six shots back going into round three and scored a 16-over score of 87 in driving wet. He was tied for 67th. Holmes is the only person to finish in the top-15 in 31 races.
Lanto GriffinHe is scheduled to make his first start since Julys John Deere Classic back surgery. He tied for 66th last week at the Bahamas Great Exuma Classic of the Korn Ferry Tour.
LIV Golf is looking for Augusta National documents
The latest dispute between LIV Golf & PGA Tour involves communications between former commissioner Tim Finchem (PGA Tours independent directors) and employees and members Augusta National Golf Club.
According to Mondays court filing, LIV Golfs lawyers seek communication between the parties relating to a New Tour , including but not limited LIV Golf.
The subpoenaed individuals have agreed to give their communications to four Augusta National employees as well as seven members, including Fred Ridley, the chairman. LIVs lawyers are seeking to expand discovery to include Augusta National members Condolezza Rice and Billy Payne, as well as other Augusta National members.
The Tours scheme against competition from LIV consisted of threats to golfers, other tours and vendors, broadcasters or sponsors, if they did not do business with LIV, LIV Golf lawyers wrote in a joint declaration filed to court. Discovery has revealed that the Tour made these threats not just through its own executives and employees but also by sending other influential people on its behalf.
Mary Meeker, an independent director of PGA Tour policy board, called LIV Golfs attempt to communicate with individuals LIV considers Americas most powerful persons in the same court filing. However, this is not relevant to the dispute.
LIV contends that Augusta National has leaned on Augusta National to prevent LIV golfers from playing in the Masters, Meeker’s attorney wrote. Plaintiffs assert that Augusta National and TOUR aligned as a response to LIV.[ed]There is some doubt among top professional golfers that they would be banned at future Masters Tournaments. This theory is completely bogus as shown by the Masters allowing LIV golfers to participate in the 2023 tournament.
Augusta National announced Dec. 20 that all golfers who have qualified for the Masters using its previous criteria will be invited by Augusta National to play in April.
Garcia withdraws from the DP World Tour dispute
Scott Crockett, communications director at DP World Tour, stated to reporters in Dubai this week LIV Golf players Sergio Garcia, Branden Grace Charl SchwartzelThey have resigned as appellants at an upcoming arbitration hearing. This hearing will determine whether the DP World Tour can suspend their participation in conflicting LIV golf events.
Thirteen LIV golf players, including Ryder Cup long-time participants Ian Poulter, Graeme McDowell Lee Westwood2018 Masters champion Patrick ReedThe case is being heard by the Sports Resolutions Arbitration and Media Centre in London. The hearing before a three-person panel, convened by Sports Resolutions Arbitration and Media Centre of London, is scheduled for February 6.
The decision wont be made until several weeks after the hearing. Both sides can appeal the decision.
Keith Pelley, CEO at DP World Tour said that the result is whatever it is to reporters in Dubai. I believe its a crucial moment for our tour, to protect our tour, and for our members on all levels.
Photo of a baby!
Joel DahmenWithdrew last weeks American Express. Lona, his wife and their first child were welcomed into the world by him. Riggs was born at 11:26 am. ET on Thursday. Where is his bucket hat, anyway?
Hey, remember me?
No.1 golfer in the World 1 golfer Rory McIlroyThis is her first appearance at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
On the tee in Holywood, Northern Ireland…@tommckibbin8 🤝 @McIlroyRory #HeroDDC | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/FuRng5Su5W
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 24, 2023