Only two official events are left for both the PGA TourThe LPGA TourIn the 2022 calendar year.
After the Cadence Bank Houston Open, the PGA Tour will close the year at The RSM Classic, Sea Island Resort, Saint Simons Island in Georgia on Nov. 17-20.
The LPGA will close its season in Florida with two stops: the Pelican Women’s Championship outside Tampa this week and the CME Group Tour Championship scheduled for November 17-20 in Naples.
Thankfully, thats not the only professional golf played between now & New Years Day. On Monday, the The Matchs latest editionThe announcement was made. The competition will feature four of the biggest names in the game. Tiger Woods Rory McIlroy vs. Jordan Spieth Justin Thomas. They will play 12 holes at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair (Florida) on Dec. 10.
Woods will likely be available to play before then, which is a good thing for golf fans. The Hero World Challenge will be held in the Bahamas from Dec. 1 to 4. Many of the top players in the world are part of the initial field, including Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Jon RahmThomas, Spieth. Woods hasn’t yet stated whether he plans to compete in Bahamas. There are still three spots available in the field.
Woods may also be playing in the PNC Championship, which is scheduled for December 15-18 in Orlando with his son Charlie. However it hasnt been confirmed if he will. Woods finished second last year with his son.
Here are the top professional golf events this week.
Whats next on PGA Tour?
Cadence Bank Houston Open
When: Thursday-Sunday
Where: Memorial Park Golf Course (Houston)
Defending champion Jason Kokrak
Purse: $8.4 Million
Three stories to keep an eye on:
Scheffler goes for No. 1:Scheffler, who is the reigning Masters champion will be able to reclaim the Official World Golf Rankings top spot from McIlroy if he wins or finishes second at the Houston Open. He led Houston by 54 holes and was tied for second in Houston. Kokrak wont be there to defend his title, as hes currently playing on the LIV Golf circuit.
Scheffler played better at Mayakoba after a disappointing performance at the Presidents Cup. He was 0-3-1 at Quail Hole and tied for 45th at the CJ Cup. He tied for third with a 9 under 62 in the final round. Scheffler gave up the putter that won him four times last season and tried a new one. Scheffler went back to his old putter and putted much better. Scheffler will play in the Houston Open, his final PGA Tour event of 2022.
Rankings can be great; it was certainly fun being No. Scheffler spoke to reporters in Mexico about his position as No. 1 in the world. Its something I hope to return to, but its certainly not something that will occupy a lot my thoughts.
Hook emHouston granted two exemptions to sponsors Cole Hammer Travis VickThey teamed up to help Texas win 2022 NCAA championship. Vick, a senior golfer from Houston is the 11th-ranked in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. Vick tied for 43rd at 8-over at the U.S. Open as the low amateur. After an opening-round 80, Vick missed the cut at Mayakoba. Hammer, a Houston native, qualified for Chambers Bays 2015 U.S. Open when he was 15. Hammer missed finishing in the top 40 with ties on Mondays Korn Ferry Tour Q School stage, which would have guaranteed him starts in the first 8 events next season.
All hail the champs!The World Series trophy is certain to be on-site at the Houston Open this week. Jim Crane, Houston Astros owner, established the Astros Golf Foundation to ensure that a PGA Tour event remained within the city. The Memorial Park Golf Course was renovated by the foundation in 2019. It cost $34 million. Tom Doak, architect, rebuilt the course. He is a four-time major champion. Brooks KoepkaConsultant. After nearly six decades, the Houston Open returned to Memorial Park for 2020. Houston residents can play the course on weekdays for $30
Whats next on LPGA Tour?
Pelican Women’s Championship
When: Thursday-Sunday
Where: Pelican Club, Belleair (Florida).
Defending champion Nelly Korda
Purse $2 million
Three stories to keep an eye on:
Loaded fieldThe LPGA seasons last event will feature a stellar field that includes seven of top 10 and 15 top 25 players in Rolex Womens World Golf Rankings. Jin Young Ko(2), Lydia Ko (3); Korda ((4)). Brooke Henderson (6), Lexi Thompson (7), In Gee Chun (8), Hyo Joo Kim (9), Jennifer Kupcho (11), Celine Boutier (13), Sei Young Kim(14), Xiyu Line (15), Hye Jin Choi (19), Hannah Green (21) and Ayaka Fuue (22). Last season Korda rebounded after a triple bogey at the 17th hole, and made a 21-foot birdie at the 18th hole to force a four-way playoff. She shot a 23-footer in the first playoff to win the seventh LPGA tournament.
Lincicomes return:Brittany Lincicome, a two-time Chevron Championship champion, will be making her LPGA return after maternity leave. She hasnt played since she missed the cut at the KPMG Womens PGA Championship in June. She competed on LPGA Tour until she was 33-weeks pregnant. Sophia, her daughter, was born in August. Lincicome last week said, Just slowly getting it back to me. Its a little bit rusty but Im hoping it will be like riding a bicycle and itll just come back to me. At least, the Tampa resident will be able to go home for the week.
Sorenstams event:The Pelican Women’s Champion will be called The Annika Driven by Gainbridge at Pelican. Annika Sorenstam (a 10-time major champion) will host the event. The tournament organizers hope to make it the Arnold Palmer Invitational for womens professional golf.
Marci Doyle, executive director of Pelican Women’s Championship, stated that this is going to be her baby. We are excited to create that, maybe to set the template in golf and take it to a whole new level. Its all about improving it. I would say that it was a very good one. Were excited.
The Official World Golf Ranking
Moving up
Matt Fitzpatrick
Current rank 9
Previous rank: 10It is the U.S. Open champion’s highest ranking on his PGA Tour career. He has only made one PGA Tour start in this season, tying for the 13th place at The CJ Cup.
Max Homa
Current rank 16
Previous rank: 18Homa and Lacey welcomed Cam, their first child, on October 30th. For the rest of us, however, his daddy duties dont limit his time on twitter.
I just set my alarm for 4:06am. I should be up by 4:15am, but this extra minute sounds wonderful. https://t.co/iNnOMNnf8e
— max homa (@maxhoma23) November 1, 2022
Brian Harman
Current rank 24
Previous rank: 38Harman finished second at Mayakoba alone, four shots behind Henley. Henley is a former Georgia star. Harman and Henley are now the first couple from the same college to win at the same PGA Tour event, since Patrick Reed (Augusta University), and Henrik Norlander (2021 Farmers Insurance Open).
Russell Henley
Current rank 33
Previous rank: 59After many close calls, Henley finally won at Mayakoba with a 4-stroke victory. Henley won his fourth PGA Tour title and first since the 2017 Houston Open. He had only won once before, in six starts where he held a lead after 54 holes.
Taylor Montgomery
Current rank: 65
Previous rank: 68The PGA Tour rookie is a top-15 player. He tied for 10th at Mayakoba. This was his fifth top-15 finish in the same number of starts. The FedEx Cup standings have the former UNLV star at number nine. He is ranked seventh in birdie average (5.1), third for shots gained: putting (1.699) and 12th for shots gained: total (1.972).
Moving down
Collin Morikawa
Current ranking: 10
Previous ranking: 9The two-time major champion has had a difficult year, mainly due to his poor putter. Trevor Immelmans comments about his inability to keep up with his early success were criticized by Morikawa. Morikawa was not sure if it was a compliment from Immelman.
Wow, thats hard for me to hear from him. Morikawa said that he didnt care much about what he said because he doesnt believe thats my bar. I think there is so much more I can do. I have been at the bottom of the putting rankings. I don’t think I’ve even come close to being an average putting player. If I can improve my putting, I believe there is so much more I can do. I dont know. It hurts. I dont like hearing that.
Current ranking: 35
Previous ranking: 31Johnson, LIV Golf’s first individual champion and captain of its team champ, has approximately 35 million reasons to not be concerned about his OWGR position, which has been at its lowest point since 2010. LIV golf awarded him more than $35 million in prizes and bonuses.
Current ranking:
Previous ranking: 117The former world No. 1 golfer was ranked 71st after playing in his last PGA Tour event at the AT&T Byron Nelson. The Englishman was tied for 13th at DP World Tours BMW PGA Championship.
Current ranking: 160
Previous ranking: 155Mickelson continues to fall in the world rankings, as do other LIV golfers. Its Lefty’s lowest ranking since January 1993 when he was ranked at 168th.
Record
It was a great weekend for the Georgia Bulldogs. The UGA football team defeated No. 1 Tennessee 27-13 at Sanford Stadium, to take control over the SEC East. Two former Georgia stars finished 1-2 at the World Wide Technology Championship in Mayakoba, Mexico. Henley won the race for the first-time since 2017, and Harman finished 4 strokes ahead of him. Harman, who is a two-time winner of the tour, spoke with ESPN on Monday.
Q: What if you have no choice but to lose?
A: Russell has been playing some very good golf. He came close to Hawaii last year. Ive played with him many times, and his game has always impressed me. He has won four times at this venue. Hes got the pedigree and I don’t think he gets the respect he deserves for how good his game actually is.
Q: What was the most successful thing about your time in Mexico?
A: This course has always been my lunch. My best finish there before this week was probably in my 20s or 30s. Ive been hitting it better these last six months than on tour. I believe being able to hit more greens has kept me out of trouble. This course should be good for me, but it hasn’t in the past because of too many greens missed.
Q: How did you celebrate your solo second?
A: I arrived back from Mexico Sunday night and was at my farm by 9:45 on Monday morning. Its just how I feel. I put on my headphones and start working on the property. It stops me from practicing for at most a few days.
Q: Did Georgia beat Tennessee on Saturday?
A: I ran home from the course on Saturday to catch the last quarter of the third and fourth quarters. Saturday was a busy day for me as I was checking my phone on the back 9. I couldnt help but to check my phone on Saturday. I could see it on my phone.
Q: Were there any concerns about the Volunteers entering the game?
A: I did a lot of flip-flopping. I couldn’t tell if Tennessee had 2019 LSU vibes. Or if they were Georgia-style teams from the Mark Richt era. It was the latter, thankfully.
Q: Is it not nice to wrap up the 2022 year at Sea Islands RSM Classic in just two weeks?
A: I sleep in my own bed. Sea Island is a place that is very dear to me. Its great to be able end the year on a positive note and play in a place that I am familiar with. Its going to be a very special tournament because Ill have my family and friends out to watch me.
Q: Your family is getting bigger?
A: Our son, Jack, is almost 3½ months old. It was a logistical nightmare, but he has been an absolute blessing. He has been amazing. My daughter, Cooper, is 6 and Walter, my first son, is 4½. Its a lot.
