Mens professional golf seemed to have missed its chance on a weekend when there was no (tackle football) football to compete against for TV viewers.
Rain, wind and hail interrupted the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, which many of the PGA Tours top players skipped ahead of this weeks elevated WM Phoenix Open, which is offering a $20 million purse. Elias reported that 14 other players pulled out from the tournament just before the end, the most withdrawals in a PGA Tour event ever since 15 pulled out at the 2007 Stanford St. Jude Championship.
Englands Justin RoseFinally, he won Monday to end a 4-year drought and to claim his 11th victory in the PGA Tour. He also received an invitation to the Masters in April. The former world No. The former world No. 1 player has fallen to 71st on the Official World Golf Ranking; he now ranks No. 35 after winning at Pebble Beach.
Sometimes you can be trending [the wrong way]Rose stated that you try a little too much. I think the format of this week, playing alongside amateurs, kinda mellowed me to the point that I let it happen. I let my good golf come forward. Its evident that it was a learning experience.
The Saudi International, where LIV Golf was based, saw little drama. Abraham AncerIt was a wire-to-wire winner. Cameron YoungAncer finished 2 shots behind Young, who is the reigning Rookie-of-the-Year on the PGA Tour. Young was playing with a conflicting event release from the PGA Tour. He is currently in the field for WM Phoenix Open.
Heres what happened this weekend in professional golf for men:
PGA Tour
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
Pebble Beach, California
Winner: Justin Rose
How he wonThe former world No. The former world No.1 player won Monday by three shots to end a four year drought without a win. The Englishman, who endured rain, wind and stops, became the first European winner of this event. Rose is 42 years old and has been a winner of the PGA Tour since 1996. Phil Mickelson captured the 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island at 50, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. Rose had a bogey on Roses first hole before he played the final 17 holes without a bogey at 6 under. After the Monday morning restart, Rose had birdies on three of his five first holes. Rose made a hole in one on the Spyglass Hill 15th hole in the second round. Hes the first winner of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am to have a hole-in-one since World War II.
Rodgers wins the pro-am
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron RodgersBen Silverman of Canada was his partner. They won the pro-am section at Pebble Beach. It was reduced to 54 holes due to weather delays. Rodgers called the win significant as it was something that had been on Rodgers bucket list.
Rodgers and Silverman beat Peter Malnati and Don Colleran (retired president and CEO of FedEx) by 1 shot. Keith Mitchell Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh AllenMitchell was not happy about the fact that Mitchell had taken 4 shots back.
Rodgers was playing from a 10 handicap. This meant that he was getting 10 shots each round. Twitters handicap police discovered Rodgers had a 3.0 indexAccording to the Wisconsin State Golf Association (Wisconsin State Golf Association), this would have been adjusted due to Pebble Beachs difficulty. The Sporting News reportedRodgers had a handicap of 4.6 when he teamed-up with Tom Brady in order to defeat Allen. Patrick Mahomes1 up in The Match 6 June.
ESPN reported Monday that a Pebble Beach Pro-Am official said that the tournaments committee assigns handicaps based on GHIN (the USGAs Golf Handicap Index Network). Mondays GHIN listing for Rodgers index showed it as 3.0.
Mitchell seemed convinced that Rodgers wasnt playing to his actual handicap, regardless of how high it may be.
Mitchell stated that he believed Josh and he won. Mitchell spoke to reporters at Pebble Beach on Saturday. Aaron Rodgers doesnt count. His handicap was terrible. I haven’t looked. [at the scoreboard]. I believe we were. [winning]On 18, we might have been up there. If we finish second to Aaron, I consider us the winner of the trophy.
Case closed. @K_m_MitchellRodgers is a sand bandit, he said it himself
— Tron Carter (@TronCarterNLU) February 6, 2023
Darius Rucker, a country singer, also seemed amused by Rodgerss gestures.
Might not be enough. 😂@DariusRuckerCant believe he gives it! @AaronRodgers12Stroke @ATTProAm. pic.twitter.com/AyCocj7QYH
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 3, 2023
Augusta National adds length
The opening round at the 87th Masters will be played in just 59 days. Augusta National Golf Club announced Monday that there has been a significant improvement to the par-5 hole 13, which has historically been the most difficult on the iconic course.
The 13th hole, Azalea, has been increased by 35 yards to 545 yard. It was the only change in distance that was listed in the Masters media guide. The club released it Monday. The courses length has been updated to 7,545 yards.
Raes Creek protects the green on the difficult dogleg-left green, making it more difficult for golfers whether to try to hit the green in two. Augusta National purchased land from Augusta Country Club in order to move the 13th tees.
Eureka Earth had previously shown construction on the hole.
Is 545 the most trending ?!?!? Asking a friend…😝#TheMasters #Masters2023 https://t.co/8cgyFXEln3
— Eureka Earth® (@EurekaEarthPlus) February 6, 2023
Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley stated that Bobby Jones vision of the hole had been dramatically altered by the increased distance between the tee and the players at last years Masters.
Ridley stated that the 13th hole doesnt present the same challenges as it has historically. The fact that players hit middle to short irons into the hole is not how it was meant to be played is not a good sign. Its an iconic hole, which has caused me to resent it. Along with 12, 15 and possibly 12, these are the holes that have made the most history at Augusta National. This has been a counter to everything. It is something we are likely to do at some point. We dont have much to say right now.
Two more PGA Tour players join TGL
Monday Billy HorschelAnd Max HomaThey were the latest players to join TGL (the new prime-time league of golf being run by). Tiger WoodsAnd Rory McIlroy.
Justin Thomas, Jon Rahm, Adam Scott, Collin MorikawaMatt Fitzpatrick and Matt Fitzpatrick also committed to playing in TGL, which will begin play in 2024. The remaining 18-player roster is now filled with six three-player teams competing Monday night matches.
Homa stated in a statement that I believe theres an opportunity to push boundaries for golf fans’ viewing experience. TGL is another example that shows how we can appeal more to younger sports fans. TGL’s progressive approach and its use technology will further elevate how golf fans engage with the game. It was something I had heard about from the beginning.
Homa, Horschel took part in the Presidents Cup first time at Quail hollow.
Horschel, who was a former University of Florida player, stated that I have always enjoyed match-play and team formats, dating back my days playing for Gators. It will be a great experience to be part of a TGL Team and to compete in this format on a regular basis next season. As a passionate player who loves to get energy from the fans, competing in prime time will be a great environment.
Moving up or down
Moving up
Todds form was deteriorating since his win in back to back starts in 2019. His second-place finish at Pebble beach was his best finish in 80 starts.
The Stanford star felt right at ease on the Pacific Coast. He tied for second at 15. Under, his first top-10 of the season and tied for his best finish in tour.
After shooting a 9-under-63 to take the lead in the first round, Lebioda was able to cool down. At 9 under, he tied for 15th. This was a significant improvement for a player who had missed seven consecutive cuts dating back to July.
To tie for seventh at 12 over, the former Arizona State star had three birdies on Mondays last four holes to tie for seventh. It was his best finish in a year since a tie for third at Bermuda Championship in October.
Moving down
Spieth was disappointed to finish tied for 63rd at even-par. In the 10 starts, Spieth had six top-10s for the 2017 winner at Pebble Beach.
The U.S. Open champion is currently recovering from a neck injury and his performance was not as good. After a round of 76 in the third round, he missed the cut. It was his first missed cut while on tour since Junes Memorial.
McNealy was excited to play Pebble Beach, but he pulled out during the third round due to a shoulder injury.
Kitayama was 1 shot behind the lead going into the final round, but he struggled to post a 4-over score of 76 and tie for 29th. Kitayama had bogeys on three of his final holes and was 5 over.
DP World Tour/LIV Golf arbitration starts
The long-awaited arbitration hearing involving DP World Tour members and those who were suspended from playing in LIV Golf tournaments began in London on Monday.
A three-person Sports Resolution Panel will decide if the DP World Tour can suspend the golfers and fine them and prohibit them from playing on the European Ryder Cup team. Keith Pelley, CEO of DP World Tour and a long-standing member Lee WestwoodThe hearings are expected to last for five consecutive days. A decision isnt expected until two to three weeks.
Thirteen players have challenged the suspensions of fines and penalties, including Ian Poulter, Westwood, Patrick ReedAnd Graeme McDowell. Poulter, Adrian OtaeguiAnd Justin HardingInitially, they challenged their suspensions & fines. They received a stay in July from a British Court. This allowed them play in the Scottish Open and led directly to the arbitration hearings.
According to Westwood, There has been much said and it will benefit for impartial judges and then we all can get on with it. Westwood spoke to The Telegraph of London Monday. I don’t know anything about appeals and what not, and I may have been wrong, but this will draw the line and that will it.
The Weeks Best
Best drive
The best bounce!
51 yards is the longest drive on this hole❗️
Joseph Bramlett’s 357-yard 3-wood was helped by the cart path. pic.twitter.com/QOa6iVxjY7
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 5, 2023
Best approach
He enjoyed the Ancers throughout the weekend.
THAT approach shot 🎯 @Abraham_Ancer #PIF_SaudiIntlGolf #SeeItAll pic.twitter.com/tJNjhfacLp
— Saudi International | السعودية الدولية (@SaudiIntlGolf) February 4, 2023
Best chip
Did the former Welsh footballer play the wrong sport?
Multi-sport athlete⚽️
Its no problem to follow the cart path @GarethBale11. pic.twitter.com/7EOuM3IE4M
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 2, 2023
Best putt
Good morning, indeed.
Good morning Doc Redman😎 pic.twitter.com/iQ9Gdf8buA
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 5, 2023
Best up and best down
Height is a benefit. Ask Pau Gasol.
Take a look at these shots @PauGasol! 😮
He crosses the trees to get the up-and down👏 pic.twitter.com/YrRAy2966h
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 4, 2023
Best recovery
He had a punchers shot.
How do you make a birdie when you are not there??@PeterMalnatiOn Sundays round, he hit a wild recovery shot on hole 1.💪
(Presented by @CDWCorp) pic.twitter.com/tHEQ5SNZGR
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 6, 2023
Best social media
Another Full Swing” trailer is available to get you fired up. It will be available on Netflix starting February 15.
👀Full Swing hits @netflix Feb. 15th pic.twitter.com/y7Q4Yuv5cM
— Brooks Koepka (@BKoepka) February 6, 2023
Absolute grinding
The strong gusts are not coming for a while
The wind at No. 7 is no joke💨💨 pic.twitter.com/G6SEqMGKeE
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 6, 2023
She said yes!
Shes not my girl anymore.
Eric Cole proposes at Pebble. @ATTProAmTwo back of the lead at 6-under
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) February 3, 2023
Doe.
* *@JustinRose99Takes the lead solo with a putt to be admired. pic.twitter.com/CSnNzhoPVE
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 5, 2023
This was… interesting
A round table with Patrick Reed, Faisal Salhab, Saud Al Sharif & Othman Almulla.#PIF_SaudiIntlGolf #SeeItAll pic.twitter.com/bcYjHF5h6K
— Saudi International | السعودية الدولية (@SaudiIntlGolf) February 5, 2023
We were Raptors. We dominated.