Francesco Molinari looking good in Mr. Palmer’s Red Cardigan after winning the 2019 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill! Photo Credit: Google Search

Francesco Molinari won the prestigious Arnold Palmer Invitational, which dates back to the 1966 Florida Citrus Open, coming from way behind shooting an 8-undr Sunday 64! Teeing off at 12:05 pm with Billy Horschel, a full hour and 40 minutes before the 1:45 final pairing of Matthew Fitzpatrick and Rory McIlroy.

Fitzpatrick, yet to win in 45 PGA TOUR events, had a one stroke lead over Rory McIlroy after Round 3. McIlroy who shot a sizzling 66 on Saturday looked destined to repeat as the API Champion. In 2018 he shot a Sunday 64 to win at Bay Hill for the first time and received the red cardigan sweater given in memory of Arnold Palmer. Palmer, who passed on September 25, 2016 at the age of 87. This was the third tournament without the physical presence of Mr. Palmer. Marc Leishman won the red cardigan sweater in 2017. Jason Day, the 2016 Champion, was the last to win with Arnold there to congratulate him.

Of course, Tiger Woods owned Bay Hill, winning the API eight times in fourteen years (200-2013). The last two back-to-back in 2012 and 2013. Tiger was injured (neck strain) and did not play in the 2019 API.

A Tribute to Arnold Palmer, Forever The King! (1929-2016)

Mr. Palmer, It was an Honor to Meet You!

Mr. Palmer’s Legacy is alive at Bay Hill with the new domed Experience Exhibit off the 10th fairway!

Molinari, Italy’s best all-time golfer, fully came out on the world golf stage in 2018. After winning for the sixth time on the European Tour (2018 BMW PGA Championship) and the first time on the PGA TOUR (2018 Quicken Loans National); he won his first major at the 2018 Open Championship at Carnoustie Golf Links. The he wrapped up his breakout season by winning 5 out of 5 points for Europe as they won the 2018 Ryder Cup on the Albatros Course of Le Golf National just outside of Paris, France.

Molinari made a 44-foot bomb on the 18^th hole, longer yet similar to Rory’s dramatic putt to win by 3 strokes in 2018 and Tiger Woods historic putts made there, to post 12-under and eventually win by 2 strokes over Fitzpatrick (Sunday 71, sole 2^nd) and 4 strokes over McIlroy (Sunday 72, T6). Molinari became the first to win by making a pin-in putt on 72^nd hole!

Congratulations Francesco Molinari, 2019 Arnold Palmer Invitational Champion!

Always a thrill to be at Bay Hill… Mr. Palmer’s legacy and presence live on…

The Arnold Palmer Invitational is one of only five tournaments given “invitational” status by the PGA Tour, and consequently it has a reduced field of only 120 players (as opposed to most full-field open tournaments with a field of 156 players). The other four tournaments with invitational status are the Genesis Open, RBC Heritage, the Fort Worth Invitational, and the Memorial Tournament. Invitational tournaments have smaller fields (between 120 and 132 players), and have more freedom than full-field open tournaments in determining which players are eligible to participate in their event, as invitational tournaments are not required to fill their fields using the PGA Tour Priority Ranking System. Furthermore, unlike full-field open tournaments, invitational tournaments do not offer open qualifying (aka Monday qualifying).

Frosty My Love, Gone All Too Soon…

With Frosty My Love!

Been a few years since I have been at Bay Hill, first time since the King & Frosty have passed. Mr. Palmer would be pleased as this tournament continues to grow amidst just the right Arnie’s Army spirit permeating this special place. Golf course is in great shape. Good to make a few new friends and run into a handful of old friends including the beautiful Katherine Deen Way in the umbrella dress! Will be a great finish! Go Rory!   (Andy Reistetter; Facebook Post with 30 Pics, Saturday 3/9/19)

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Denny McCarthy Wins Web.com Tour Championship; FINALS Top 25 Get Tour Cards!

Denny McCarthy strolls up to get his trophy after winning the Tour Championship by 4 strokes!

Denny McCarthy, with the confidence of knowing his PGA TOUR card was secure coming into the week at No. 11, was ‘Mr. Consistency,’ and won the Web.com Tour Championship by four strokes. By doing so he ascended ten spots into the No. 1 position of the FINALS to bump that regular tour card into one that is all-exempt for the upcoming 2018-19 season.

Sungjai Im has one of those all-exempt cards as well having earned it by being No. 1 on the Combined Regular Season and FINALS Money List. Having sewn up that distinction coming into the Tour Championship he elected not to compete this week at the Atlantic Beach Country Club.

McCarthy, with his precise and lengthy drives, made his move on the back nine with birdies at Nos. 13 and 14 while his competitors in the final group—Sepp Straka, Curtis Luck, and Lucas Glover—faded a bit in the heat of the day and the moment.

The next wave of 50 new golfers on the PGA TOUR has arrived!

Glover shot even par on the front nine, stumbled with a double bogey on the par-4 11^th hole but recovered with four birdies on the final seven holes to finish solo second. He rose from No. 40 to No. 7 in the FINALS and has a tour card for next year in addition to his medical exemption from June knee surgery.

Sepp Straka, the leader by one stroke going into the final round, had it 3-under through No. 10 but suffered a triple bogey on the difficult par-4 16^th hole to shot and even-par 71. Though he slipped to a T3 finish he went from No. T80 to No. 20 in the FINALS and earned his tour card for next season!

Australian Curtis Luck was running out of luck towards the end of Round Three and the start of the Final Round. Bogeying the 16^th and 17^th though saving par after hitting into the water near the 18^th green on Saturday. He started with three bogeys today. However, his Sunday 71 and T8 Finish maintained his rock solid spot at No. 16 to earn his card for next season!

It was a 5-way tie for third in the Tour Championship as Chase Wright (64), Cameron Davis (66), Ben Silverman (68), and Cameron Tringale (69) joined Straka.

Atlantic Beach CC is the host venue for the Web.com Tour Championship!

Wright had already earned his tour card in the regular season. Davis improved his FINALS position two slots to No. 5. Silverman and Tringale, were rockets in the final week of the year to secure their tour cards. Silverman from No. T85 to No. 22. Tringale from No. T83 to No. 21.

Fabian Gomez (68-68-69-63; T17 Finish; from No. 29 to 24) was the fifth player to gain entry into the FINALS Top 25 joining Glover, Straka, Silverman, and Tringale in achieving tour cards for next season.

On the other side of the equation, the five players who dropped out of the FINALS Top 25 in the fourth and final event were: : Brian Campbell, Aaron Baddeley, Joseph Bramlett, Scott Pinckney, and Lanto Griffin.

FINALS Top 25 Bubble Watch:

The Happy Graduating Class celebrating their tour cards!

The five players that moved INTO the FINALS Top 25 at the Web.com Tour Championship were: Lucas Glover (64-64-68-69; 2^nd Finish; from No. 40 to 7), Sepp Straka (65-66-64-71; T3 Finish; from No. T80 to 20), Cameron Tringale (63-67-67-69; T3 Finish; from No. T83 to 21), Ben Silverman (63-68-67-68; T3 Finish; from No. T85 to 22), and Fabian Gomez (68-68-69-63; T17 Finish; from No. 29 to 24).

The corresponding five players that moved OUT of the FINALS Top 25 at the Web.com Tour Championship were: Brian Campbell (69-68-69-69; T46 Finish; from No. 25 to 28), Aaron Baddeley (68-67-CUT; from No. 20 to 30), Joseph Bramlett (71-68-CUT; from No. T21 to T32), Scott Pinckney (71-71-CUT; from No. 24 to 34), and Lanto Griffin (69-72-CUT; from No. T21 to T32).

Others near the cut off No. 25 point:

No. 20:   Sepp Straka (65-66-64-71; T3 Finish; from No. T80 to 20)

No. 21:   Cameron Tringale (63-67-67-69; T3 Finish; from No. T83 to 21)

No. 22:   Ben Silverman (63-68-67-68; T3 Finish; from No. T85 to 22)

No. 23:   Michael Thompson (66-68-64-71; T21 Finish; from No. 18 to 23)

No. 24: Fabian Gomez (68-68-69-63; T17 Finish; from No. 29 to 24).

No. 25: Jim Knous (67-69-70-71; T57 Finish; from No, 17 to 25)

No. 26:   Justin Lower (68-66-66-69; T21 Finish; started and stayed at No. 26)

No. 27:   Henrik Norlander (67-67-67-68; T21 Finish; started and stayed at No.27)

No. 28:   Brian Campbell (69-68-69-69; T46 Finish; from No. 25 to 28))

No. 29:   Matt Every (64-68-70-67; T21 Finish; from No. 30 to 29)

No. 30:   Aaron Baddeley (68-67-CUT; from No. 20 to 30)

Tringale put it all in perspective with his comment on Saturday—“Yeah, I was hoping last year was my last time here.”

Hopefully this is the year the Top 25 from the Regular Season and the FINALS Top 25 make it for good on the PGA TOUR!

Play well!

Straka Leads Web.com Tour Championship after Three Rounds but Anything Happen come Sunday!

The Web.com TOUR Championship- the finale of the FINALS!

On Moving Day, Sepp Straka shot a Saturday 64, to keep his dream alive of capturing one of the twenty-five 2018-19 PGA TOUR cards! His would be a meteoric rise to the FINALS Top 25 projected No. 3 position from T80 at the start of the week.

The pressure is mounting—low scores are still possible—but the low round of the day has progressively increased as the pressure and reality of ‘Do-or-Die Sunday’ becomes overbearing to those on, above or below the bubble. Additionally there is extra ‘Do-or-Die’ pressure to finish high atop the leaderboard for guys like Straka, Lucas Glover, Cameron Tringale, Chris Paisley, and Ben Silverman who have come from oblivion to contending for one of the twenty-five coveted tour cards.

Round One Thursday low round was a 61 by Paisley, Round Two was a 62 by Peter Malnati (who was safe as No. 3 starting the week), and Round Three was a Paisley Encore, this time a 63!

Atlantic Beach CC is the host venue for the Web.com Tour Championship!

Paisley (61-74-63) was out starting the week, in after Round One, out after Round Two, but made the cut, and is now No.33 after Round Three. The Englishman still has a chance to make the FINALS Top 25 with a strong Sunday finish!

Glover (64-64-68) has risen from No. 40 to No. 12; Curtis Luck (67-65-64) is safe beginning the week at No. 16 and now projected No. 7; Denny McCarthy (64-65-67) also is safe beginning at No. 11 and now projected No. 5.

On Friday Cameron Tringale followed a Thursday a 63 with a Friday 67, good enough for solo 3^rd, two strokes back of Glover. The 2017 FINALS Graduate was also a FINALS pole vaulter this year going up 68 spots from T83 to T15. In 26 PGA TOUR events this year he had only one Top-25 and finished No. 195 in the FedExCup Points Standing. In the first three FINALS events he has gone CUT-T56-CUT so he needs a big week at Atlantic Beach CC.

Starting on the back nine on today, Tringale birdied his first hole and then added two more birdies before bogeying the 18^th. But he bounced right back with a birdie on the first and then one more on the 4^th hole. “Had a lot of good looks and none of them fell. Kind of wish I had a couple more chances out there, but I’m pleased with my position. I didn’t force this round, just kind of let it come,” commented Cameron after the round.

“Well, it’s why we’re here. It would mean a lot. It’s been a long year and I’m excited about golf for the first time in a while, to be honest. So that has kind of fueled my vigor this week and kept—has given me some perspective on just what this week is and really just to let it happen,” added Tringale.

The CUT fell at 5-under with 66 players making the cut. Notable names to miss include Ricky Barnes, Aaron Baddeley, and defending champion Jonathon Byrd,

Tringale put it all in perspective with his final comment—“Yeah, I was hoping last year was my last time here.”

FINALS Top 25 Bubble Watch:

The FINALS Top 25 golfers will be the next wave to the PGA TOUR!

The five players that have moved INTO the FINALS Top 25 after Round Three relative to the start of the week are: Sepp Straka (65-66-64), Lucas Glover (64-64-68), Justin Lower (68-66-66), Henrik Norlander (67-67-67), Cameron Tringale (63-67-67).

Ben Silverman (63-68-67), Matt Every (64-68-70), and Ben Crane (64-69-74) were in after Round Two but now stand OUT as Nos. 26, 27, and 32 respectively.

The corresponding five players that have moved OUT of the FINALS Top 25 after Round Two relative to the start of the week are: Brian Campbell (69-68-69), Aaron Baddeley (68-67-CUT), Joseph Bramlett (71-68-CUT), Lanto Griffin (69-72-CUT), and Scott Pinckney (71-71-CUT).

Wes Roach (67-67-68) was out after Round One but became the ‘Bubble Boy’ at No. 25 going into Round Two and now sits at No. 23!

Jim Knous (67-69-70) was out after Round Two but is now the new ‘Bubble Boy’ at No. 25.

Others near the ‘Bubble Boy’:

No. 20:   Justin Lower (68-66-66)

No. 21:   Dylan Frittelli (65-72-68)

No. 22:   Henrik Norlander (67-67-67)

No. 23:   Wes Roach (67-67-68)

No. 24: Cameron Tringale (63-67-67)

No. 25: Jim Knous (67-69-70)

No. 26:   Ben Silverman (63-68)

No. 27:   Matt Every (64-68-70)

No. 28:   Brian Campbell (69-68-69)

No. 29:   Aaron Baddeley (68-70-CUT)

No. T30:   Joseph Bramlett (71-68-CUT) and Lanto Griffin (69-72-CUT).

Michael Thompson (66-68-64) was out after Round Two but is now in again at No. 17 after a Saturday 64.

Sure to be an exciting Sunday finish at the 2018 Web.com Tour Championship at Atlantic Beach CC!

Let’s see what happens tomorrow!

Glover’s Pair of 64s Leads Web.com Tour Championship; The Six Players IN/OUT of FINALS Top 25!

The Web.com TOUR Championship- the finale of the FINALS!

A pair of 7-birdie, bogey-free rounds of 64 to open for Lucas Glover, the 2009 U.S. Open Champion!

What happened to the U.S. Open Champion along the way?

A left knee injury in 2012 and a slump in 2015 after his 5-year exemption ran out brought the 3-time PGA TOUR winner back to the Web.com FINALS three years ago. He finished 14^th and returned to the PGA TOUR.

In the 2015-16 season he had two Top-10s in 23 events, making nearly a million dollars and finishing No. 106 on the FedExCup Points Standing to retain his card. Even better in the 2016-17 season where he finished 3^rd at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, T6 at THE PLAYERS Championship, and made nearly two million dollars and finishing No. 43.

But this year he played in only 18 PGA TOUR events, none since the U.S. Open due to knee surgery. Looks like the gutsy competitor is back healthy and in good form!

Atlantic Beach CC is the host venue for the Web.com Tour Championship!

Dennis McCarthy (64-65) is in second place one stroke behind Glover. He matched Glover’s 14 birdies but also had one bogey on the difficult par-4 16^th hole today. McCarthy played on the PGA TOUR this year—22 events, one Top-10, made a half million dollars and finished No. 149.  He is doing well in the FINALS with T5, T9, and T12 finishes and went from No. 11 to a projected 4^th in the FINALS—pretty much a lock on a 2018-2019 PGA TOUR card.

On Friday Cameron Tringale followed a Thursday a 63 with a Friday 67, good enough for solo 3^rd, two strokes back of Glover. The 2017 FINALS Graduate was also a FINALS pole vaulter this year going up 68 spots from T83 to T15. In 26 PGA TOUR events this year he had only one Top-25 and finished No. 195 in the FedExCup Points Standing. In the first three FINALS events he has gone CUT-T56-CUT so he needs a big week at Atlantic Beach CC.

Starting on the back nine on today, Tringale birdied his first hole and then added two more birdies before bogeying the 18^th. But he bounced right back with a birdie on the first and then one more on the 4^th hole. “Had a lot of good looks and none of them fell. Kind of wish I had a couple more chances out there, but I’m pleased with my position. I didn’t force this round, just kind of let it come,” commented Cameron after the round.

“Well, it’s why we’re here. It would mean a lot. It’s been a long year and I’m excited about golf for the first time in a while, to be honest. So that has kind of fueled my vigor this week and kept—has given me some perspective on just what this week is and really just to let it happen,” added Tringale.

Hard to follow up a good round with another good round?

Just ask Chris Paisley who shot a 10-under par 61 in Round One and a 3-over par 74 in Round Two. The last tee time on Thursday afternoon off No. 10 became the last tee time on Friday morning off No. 1. It was a flat front nine to start with a bogey on No. 2 and a birdie on No. 6, which was the only hole he did not birdie in a 4-out-of-5 birdie streak to finish on Thursday. But the 4-birdie, eagle to finish initial performance on the back nine at Atlantic Beach CC was not to be repeated. Instead of eagling the 18^th he bogeyed it to finish off a 3-over 39 on the same back nine holes. A thirteen stroke differential for the round of a lone birdie and four bogeys!

Paisley falls back to T33 and a projected FINALS finish at No. 77, but with two more rounds to turn it around.

The CUT fell at 5-under with 66 players making the cut. Notable names to miss include Ricky Barnes, Aaron Baddeley, and defending champion Jonathon Byrd,

Tringale put it all in perspective with his final comment—“Yeah, I was hoping last year was my last time here.”

FINALS Top 25 Bubble Watch:

The six players that have moved INTO the FINALS Top 25 after Round Two relative to the start of the week are: Lucas Glover (64-64), Cameron Tringale (63-67), Sepp Straka (65-66), Ben Silverman (63-68), Matt Every (64-68), Ben Crane (64-69),

Chris Paisley (61-74 was in after Round One but now is at No. 77 and made the cut, playing the weekend and still has a chance to make the FINALS Top 25.

The corresponding six players that have moved OUT of the FINALS Top 25 after Round Two relative to the start of the week are: Jim Knous (67-69), Brian Campbell (69-68), Aaron Baddeley (68-67-CUT), Lanto Griffin (69-72-CUT), Scott Pinckney (71-71-CUT), and Joseph Bramlett (71-68-CUT).

Wes Roach (67-67) was out after Round One but now is the ‘Bubble Boy’ at No. 25.

Others near the ‘Bubble Boy’:

No. 20:   Ben Crane (64-69)

No. 21:   Dylan Frittelli (65-72)

No. 22:   Sepp Straka (65-66)

No. 23:   Ben Silverman (63-68)

No. 24: Michael Thompson (66-68)

No. 25: Wes Roach (67-67)

No. 26:   Jim Knous (67-69)

No. 27:   Justin Lower (68-66)

No. 28:   Henrik Norlander (67-67)

No. 29:   Brian Campbell (69-68)

No. 30:   Aaron Baddeley (68-70-CUT)

Sure to be an exciting weekend at the 2018Web.com Tour Championship at Atlantic Beach CC!

Let’s see what happens tomorrow in Round Three!

Paisley 61 to Open in Round One; Six Players IN and Six OUT of FINALS Top 25!

The Web.com TOUR Championship- the finale of the FINALS!

Chris Paisley, starting off No. 10 in the last tee time of the afternoon wave, finished his first nine holes birdie-eagle to post a 30 and then continued on to post a tournament leading 61. The Englishman’s stellar performance vaulted him up the FINALS Money List 97 slots from T100 to a projected 3^rd place finish if he goes on to win the Web.com Tour Championship!

While Paisley won for the first time on the European Tour back in January it was the $216,900 he won in four PGA TOUR starts this year that qualified him for the 4-event FINALS competition. The two-time winner at the University of Tennessee missed the cut in the first three FINALS events and needs to keep doing what he is doing—and finish in a two-way tie for 4^th or better—to become a PGA TOUR member next year

The morning wave had little wind and hot, ideal conditions for scoring on the 6,849 yard par-71 course at Atlantic Beach CC that features five par-3s ranging from 153 to 229 yards.

Scoring this week will likely determine the fate of a handful of golfers…

Ben Silverman, in the 8^th threesome off the 10^th tee birdied the two second nine par-3s and three other par-4s making the turn at 5-under 31. Then on the first nine he posted five 3s but no deuces on the three par-3s—birding two par-4s and the par-5 6^th hole—to post a 32.

How does one shoot an eight-birdie, no bogey 63?

Tactically and statistically: Drive it 285 yards on the two hole the tour measures (T69), hit 11 of 13 fairways (T45); hit all 18 greens and take only 28 putts on those greens. You do the math—no 3-putts—and eight of those putts went in for birdie!

Silverman, out of Canada, is still a great hockey player according to his PGA TOUR profile.

Finishing 10^th last year on the Web.com Regular Season Money List he got off to a good start on the 2017-18 PGA TOUR finishing T7 at Sanderson Farms and T8 at the RSM Classic. At one time he was ranked 43 in the FedExCup Points Standing. However as his 28-event rookie PGA TOUR season went on he started missing cuts; at one time 3-of-4 and then three straight. He rebounded with a T11 finish at the Fort Worth Invitational, a T12 at the Barbasol, and a T11 at Barracuda. Missing the cut at the regular season finale at the Wyndham, the husband of Morgan and father to 1-year-old Jack Palmer (interesting, wonder who his idols are?), finished 136 in FedExCup Points, just outside the Top 125 to retain a fully-exempt tour card.

Atlantic Beach CC is the host venue for the Web.com Tour Championship!

Then he headed to the Web.com Tour FINALS and hasn’t played well until this morning finishing T58—CUT—CUT. Yesterday he was T103, well outside one of the Top 25 FINALS spots. Today he went from T85 to 12^th and needs to go on and finish strong and retain that fully exempt card after all.

Cameron Tringale posted a 63 in the afternoon to tie Silverman two strokes behind Paisley. The 2017 FINALS Graduate was also a FINALS pole vaulter in the first round going up 72 spots from T83 to 11^th. In 26 PGA TOUR events this year he had only one Top-25 and finished No. 195 in the FedExCup Points Standing. In the first three FINALS events he has gone CUT-T56-CUT so like Paisley and Silverman he needs a big week at Atlantic Beach CC.

FINALS Top 25 Bubble Watch:

The FINALS Top 25 golfers will be the next wave to the PGA TOUR!

The six players that moved INTO the FINALS Top 25 and their Round One scores: Chris Paisley (61), Cameron Tringale (63), Ben Silverman (63), Ben Crane (64), Matt Every (64), and Lucas Glover (64).,

The corresponding six players that moved OUT of the FINALS Top 25 and their Round One scores: Wes Roach (67), Aaron Baddeley (68), Lanto Griffin (69), Brian Campbell (69), Joseph Bramlett (71), and Scott Pinckney (71).

Looks like it was 64 or better to open!

Let’s see what happens tomorrow in Round Two!

2018 Web.com Tour… on the way to the FINALS and the Tour Championship!

The Web.com TOUR Championship- the finale of the FINALS!

From The Bahamas, to Latin America, to Mexico, and to eighteen states in America, the Web.com Tour Championship has arrived in Florida. Last, but not least, and certainly the most major event of the year—the Web.com Tour Championship—starts tomorrow at the Atlantic Beach Country Club. Outside of Jacksonville, Florida, about 10 miles due north of the home club of PGA TOUR members—TPC Sawgrass—there are 25 memberships yet to be given out at the conclusion of play on Sunday. Not your ordinary club memberships, these FINALS 25, plus the Top 25 already earned in the regular season, these tour cards come with the right to compete on the PGA TOUR during the 2018-19 Season!

Atlantic Beach CC is the host venue for the Web.com Tour Championship!

Those Top 25 earned and guaranteed 2018-19 tour cards from the regular season include (in order of combined FINALS and Regular Season earnings) Sungjae Im, Kramer Hickok, Anders Albertson, Sam Burns, Scott Langley, Cameron Champ, Martin Trainer, Kyoung-Hoon Lee, Sebastián Muñoz, Kyle Jones, Alex Prugh, Chase Wright, John Chin, José de Jesús Rodríguez, Adam Svensson, Josh Teater, Carlos Ortiz, Wyndham Clark, Adam Long, Julián Etulain, Chris Thompson, Joey Garber, Brady Schnell, Roberto Castro, and Hank Lebioda.

Six of these guaranteed, already appointed PGA TOUR members for 2018-19, are not playing this week—Sungjae Im (No. 1), Sam Burns (4), Alex Prugh (11),  John Chin (13),  Joey Garber (22), and Roberto Castro (24).

Sungiae Im has the No. 1 spot on the combined Regular Season and Finals locked up by a mere $165 over Kramer Hickok. Even if Hickok wins this week he cannot overtake Im; his $180k winner’s check will fall $165 short.

The above guys are golden no matter what happens at the Atlantic Beach CC this week.

The final outcome may well come down to the par-5 18th at ABCC, the only hole that Jack Nicklaus ever double-eagled on tour!

As of now the “FINALS 25” include the winners of the first three FINALS events—Sangmoon Bae, Kramer Hickok, Robert Streb—then in order of FINALS Money List: Peter Malnati, Matt Jones, Anders Albertson, Hunter Mahan, Adam Schenk, Cameron Davis, Seth Reeves, Max Homa,             Roger Sloan, Denny McCarthy, Shawn Stefani, Roberto Díaz, Stephan Jaeger, Dylan Frittelli, Curtis Luck,        Jim Knous, Michael Thompson, Nicholas Lindheim, Aaron Baddeley, Joseph Bramlett, Lanto Griffin, and Wes Roach.

Since Kramer Hickok and Anders Albertson have previously qualified for their tour cards, Nos. 26 and 27, Scott Pinckney and Brian Campbell, respectively, would earn their tour cards if nothing changes this week.

Things will change this week and the next five on the bubble hoping to advance (excluding Alex Prugh and Kyle Jones who have also previously qualified for their 2018-19 tour cards) are: Justin Lower, Henrik Norlander, Ben Crane, Fabián Gómez, and Matt Every.

This will be an exciting week at Atlantic Beach CC!

Already, it’s been an exciting year on the Web.com Tour with spectacular golf being played at the optimum moment in the careers of these young and seasoned professional golfers!

Both Michael Arnaud and Alex Prugh have posted scores of 60! Arnaud’s 11-under 60 was in the second round of the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation. He would post 65-63 on the weekend and win by five strokes.

Prugh’s 10-under 60 was also in the second round. Unfortunately he followed the 60 with a 72 and finished well back of Trevor Cone in the Ellie Mae Classic at TPC Stonebrae.

Both players posted an 8-under 27 nine-hole score on the way to posting those two rounds of 60.

Arnaud had the hottest streak right off-the-bat, or I mean golf club, going 9-under in the first seven holes (B-E-B-B-E-B-B) of posting that round of 60. He reached 11-under through 16 holes, only to par his final two holes for a course record-tying 60.

Arnaud’s 27-under 257 total was the record 72-hole score this year on the Web.com Tour.

The best come-from-behind on the last day to win so far this year was six strokes by both Scott Langley in the Panama Championship and Cameron Davis in the Nashville Golf Open Benefitting the Snedeker Foundation.

Here is the 2018 roll call of Web.com Champions:

Sungjae Im won The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay; Adam Svensson won The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club on Winding Bay; Scott Langley won the Panama Championship at Panama GC in  Panama City; Ben Taylor won the Club Colombia Championship at Bogota CC in Colombia; Martin Trainer won El Bosque Mexico Championship by Innova at the El Bosque CC in Leon, Guanajuato; Julián Etulain won the Chitimacha Louisiana Open presented by NACHER at Le Triomphe G&CC in Broussard; Sam Burns won the Savannah Golf Championship at Landings Club- Deer Creek GC; Eric Axley won the North Mississippi Classic at the Country Club of Oxford; José de Jesús Rodríguez won the United Leasing & Finance Championship at Victoria National GC in Newburgh, Indiana; Stephan Jaeger won the Knoxville Open at Fox Den CC; Michael Arnaud won the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation at the Thornblade Club in Greer, South Carolina; Cameron Davis won the Nashville Golf Open Benefitting the Snedeker Foundation at the Nashville Golf & Athletic Club; Joey Garber won the Rex Hospital Open at the TPC Wakefield Plantation in Raleigh, North Carolina; Chase Wright won the Rust-Oleum Championship at the Ivanhoe Club in Ivanhoe, Illinois; Brady Schnell won the Wichita Open Supporting Wichita’s Youth at the Crestview CC in Wichita,  Kansas; Anders Albertson won the Lincoln Land Championship presented by LRS at Panther Creek Country Club in Springfield, Illinois; Nelson Ledesma won the LECOM Health Challenge at Peek’n Peak Resort on the Upper Course in Findley Lake, New York; Cameron Champ won the Utah Championship presented by Zions Bank at the Oakridge Country Club in Farmington; David Skinns won the Pinnacle Bank Championship presented by Heartland Chevy Dealers at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha, Nebraska; Martin Trainer won for the second time this year at the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper at the Highland Springs CC in Springfield, Missouri; Sepp Straka won at the KC Golf Classic at the Nicklaus GC at LionsGate in Overland Park, Kansas;  Trevor Cone won the Ellie Mae Classic at TPC Stonebrae in Hayward, California; Sungjae Im won for the second time this year at the final Regular Season event—the WinCo Foods Portland Open presented by Kraft-Heinz at Pumpkin Ridge GC on the Witch Hollow Course in North Plains, Oregon;

In the first three tournaments of the FINALS: Robert Streb won the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship on the Scarlet Course at The Ohio State University in Columbus; Kramer Hickok won the DAP Championship presented by NewBrick at the Canterbury Golf Club in Beachwood, Ohio; Sangmoon Bae won the Albertsons Boise Open presented by Kraft Nabisco at Hillcrest CC in Boise, Idaho.

Who will win the 2018 Web.com Tour Championship this week at the Atlantic Beach Country Club, in Atlantic Beach, Florida?

Stay tuned…

In the end, Bart Bryant won the 2018 Dick Sporting Goods Open and became the first two time winner of the PGA TOUR Champions event at En-Joie Golf Club in Endicott, New York. But the story lines were strong throughout the week starting with a clinic on Wednesday with World Golf Hall of Fame member Annika Sorenstam! Thursday was the traditional Johnny Hart Memorial Christian Fellowship Breakfast followed by the nontraditional John Daly! Friday night’s entertainment was Blake Shelton. Through in good times meeting family and friends and a few spiedies and another memorable DSGO was enjoyed by all!

Here, in nine social media posts and 191 published pictures, is the wonderful experience of Andy’s Golf & Travel Diary with many thanks to the tournament staff, the volunteers, the professional golfers and my friends outside the ropes!

ANNIKA in the HOUSE!!! In my hometown, Greater Binghamton, NY; Triple Cities- Binghamton, Johnson City, & Endicott! #DSGO.   CLICK HERE for First Meeting Annika Sorenstam in  January 2011!

(Andy Reistetter, 8/15/18; Facebook Post with 1 Pic)

Always good to come home to the DSGO… see old friends… make new ones! And it is only the Wednesday Pro-Am! And if it IS Wednesday at the DSGO it’s meatball sandwiches from Mario’s Pizza Owego! Annika this evening! Johnny Hart Memorial Christian Fellowship Breakfast and John Daly in the morning! Blake Shelton on Friday! Best golfers in the world age 50 & over right here in the Greater Binghamton area! Hope to see y’all out at En-Joie Golf Course enjoying the golf, the concert, & life! #DSGO Mario’s Pizza Owego

(Andy Reistetter, 8/15/18; Facebook Post with 30 Pics)

WOW, what an amazing evening with World Golf Hall of Fame member Annika Sorenstam on a beautiful Southern Tier of New York evening! With Master of Ceremony Dave Marr it was an exceptional event unlike any other on any tour! Annika’s instructional clinic was amazing & well demonstrated as she holed her very first putt from 30 feet, a downhill, left-to-righter! She also reenacted her four footer to shoot 59! Sinking that one too! Putting is all about pace! Every putt stroked is straight, aim left or right! You can’t hide from your weaknesses. Face your fears! Having a pre-shot routine (her’s is exactly 24 seconds) beats any nervousness! At the end she answered questions and ended with why she left the competitive game… I had found,and climbed my Mount Everest… there were other mountains/passions to pursue, namely marriage, being a Mom & businesses too! As Dave Marr pointed out; the WGHOF golfer made a graceful transition to being a Hall of Famer mother… to which the audience respected Annika Sorenstam with a standing ovation! Inspirational moment! #DSGO

(Andy Reistetter; 8/15/18; Facebook Post with 30 Pics)

What a fun-filled last five days at the DICK’S Sporting Goods Open! First on Wednesday it was the miraculous job by Anthony Chapman and his team to save the golf course from torrential rain and flooding, to the degree that both Wednesday and Thursday pro-ams went on as scheduled! Wednesday evening was ANNIKA Sorenstam’s short game clinic on the 18th green, a definite crowd favorite! Up early Thursday morning for the The Johnny Hart Memorial Christian Fellowship Breakfast at the Kularah Shriners’ Hall!

David Marr mc’d the spiritual sharing of 1987 Masters Champion Larry Mize and 2010 DSGO Champion and ‘Boss of the Moss” Loren Roberts. With many references to Biblical Scriptures, the trials, tribulations and success living life on tour, and heartfelt story-telling this has become the best fellowship breakfast on tour! I asked Loren and Larry to share their most personal inspiration experiences over the years in the Triple Cities. Loren stated that without a doubt the DSGO is the best community-supported tournament and a not-to-miss event for the Champions Tour players (as evidenced by the strong field every year). Larry said that it happened yesterday when a guy came up to him in the parking lot and offered to pray with and for him and he did! As I like to say this is the “Valley of Spiritual Growth” and an awesome place to be and live whenever you can! Please mark your calendars for the Thursday morning breakfast for the 2019 DSGO! God Bless! #DSGO

(Andy Reistetter; 8/16/18; Facebook Post with 30 Pics)

John Daly Day, Thursday of the DSGO, courtesy of Security Mutual! Long John told some great stories! Then there was the Bernard Langer interview which is always a class act! I felt like I lived in St. Andrews, Scotland when he complimented the community for their support of the DSGO and their knowledge of golfer! Then it was off to see the beautiful golf course that was saved from destruction by Anthony Chapman and his team after torrential rain caused severe flooding in the Triple Cities and part of the golf course. Well the fun and games are over as with the end of Thursday comes Friday and the start of the 2018 DSGO! So excited to be here to not only have a fun time but to see some great golf too! #DSGO

(Andy Reistetter; 8/16/18; Facebook Post with 30 Pics)

Best thing about the DICK’S Sporting Goods Open is enjoying the Lupo’s S&S Charpit SPIEDIES near the 14th tee! EVERY DAY, EVERY WAY… chicken, pork, and throw in a sausage for a little extra spice! Thanks Patti & Pat! See you next year! #DSGO The Original Lupo’s Char-Pit http://www.andygolftraveldiary.com/admittedly-addicted-to-…/

(Andy Reistetter; 8/17/19; Facebook Post with 4 Pics)

Friday’s first round had some great golf but it was all only a prelude to Sunday’s dramatic finish and the Blake Shelton concert! Doug Garwood opened up with an 8-under par 64 followed by 65s by Marco Dawson and Michael Bradley. Other notable scores included Bart Bryant (68), brothers Jay Haas (68) and Jerry Haas (69), Bernard Langer (70), Joey Sindelar (69), Father Gibby Gilbert (78) and son Gibby Gilbert III (74), and John Daly (73). Yeah Blake Shelton! #DSGO

(Andy Reistetter; 8/17/19; Facebook Post with 22 Pics)

Post concert DSGO Round Two on Free Admission Saturday! Whether on the PGA TOUR Champions or Regular, Saturday is moving day! Michael Bradley (1st 65-68), Bart Bryant (T2 68-67), and Marco Dawson (T2 65-70) were moving in the right direction whereas Doug Garwood (T7 64-73), Clark Dennis (T4 66-70), and Woody Austin (T7 66-71) were heading in the wrong direction. Play was suspended for 3 hours from 10 am to 1 pm due to rain and course conditions but all golfers were able to finish their round. Other notable scores included flip-flopping brothers Jay Haas (T17 68-71) and Jerry Haas (T7 69-68), Bernard Langer (T17 69-70), Joey Sindelar (T48 69-73), Jeff Sluman (T17 69-70), Father Gibby Gilbert (76th 78-82) and son Gibby Gilbert III (T42 74-68), and John Daly (T68 73-77). #DSGO

(Andy Reistetter; 8/18/19; Facebook Post with 30 Pics)

Another exciting Sunday finish at the PGA TOUR Champions Dick’s Sporting Goods Open! With a Sunday bogey-free 7-under par 65 Bart Bryant became the first two-time champion of the DSGO! Starting two stroked behind Round 2 leader Michael Bradley, Bryant caught him with his 5^th birdie of the day at the par-4 10^th hole. Note that Bradley shot a 3-under par 34 on the first nine holes that includes 3 par-5s and only 1 par-3. Bryant birdied the 11^th to take the lead only to have Bradley birdie the par-5 12^th to draw even again. After matching pars for two holes, Bradley blinked with a bogey on the difficult par-4 15^th. Both golfers parred the 16^th and 17^th and birdied the 18^th! What a great week at the 2018 DSGO!

(Andy Reistetter, 8/19/19; Intended Facebook Post with 30 Pics)

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Photo Credit: Google Photos.

2018 US Open:   Did Phil Mickelson Cheat or just Use the Rules of Golf to His Advantage?

Interesting dialogue during “TV Golf Watching with Andy’s Golf & Travel Diary” during the third round concerning the antics of Phil Mickelson on the 15^th green. Did he deserve the ‘10’ recorded on the scorecard or disqualification?

Here are is the dialogue and many interesting points of view:

I don’t think Tiger, Jack, Arnold, or ANYONE has ever intentionally hit a moving golf ball like Phil just did! New era for the game!

A very bizarre moment. It’s like he has a mini meltdown.

If Bones was on the bag, Phil’s 81 would have been a 75!

Had intent, think that is cheating!!!

It was definitely intentional: 1.) he ran to the ball as it was moving; 2.) he admitted in interview it was intention

He knew what he was doing. 2 instead of 4 more. Smart man.

So what. He (intentionally or unintentionally) broke the rules and took a penalty. That’s the game.

Cheating implies the intent to not get caught. There was no chance of that happening.

Twitter is really laying into him. Things happen we’re human. I don’t think it was intentional like some are making it to be.

He admitted it was intentional….said he didn’t want to go “back and forth”…..Heck yes it was intentional

Not a bad move if you are trying to keep your score within reason. Better the known than the unknown.

Well that’s kind of sad

Definitely calculated, definitely intentional, definitely cheating… John Daly never had the intent, only to relieve the pain!

Photo Credit: Google Photos.

So much for trying to be understanding…It does appear the intent to cheat was in play

Ended up taking 5 to get down……missed the moving putt, missed the come-backer, tapped in, add 2….not sure how smart that was. I think he could have gotten down in less than 5 from where the moving ball eventually stopped.

Don’t think he was “intentionally cheating’ either. I think he blew a gasket and is now trying to justify taking 5 to get down form the first missed putt. I call this being a Doofus

I’m split on how I feel about what he did. I am not a Phil fan and no one is bigger than the organization but at the same time, most tournaments would have watered the greens last night and there is usually a little collar around them. An impossible golf course isn’t really fun to watch.

I would cover that bet a 100/1 that he could have gotten it down in less than 5 shots that he spent after hitting the moving ball. Be serious. He had a brain cramp and is now trying to act like he is smarter than everyone by saying the 2-shot penalty was the lessor of two evils. PM is a doofus and sanctimonious. He got caught speeding on this one. Golf course is fine.

Photo Credit: Google Photos.

Nothing wrong with the course other than the weather & fast fairways & greens. These guys bitch at courses they can’t shoot -10, instead of using their skill & patience. This is a course to test the professional golfer & show how he can adjust & calculate for the weather & course conditions. Not moan & complain like the typical public course hack

How is it “cheating”? Either his emotions took over and he blew up or he was continuously taking advantage of the rules. Cheating is breaking the rules with the intention of not getting caught.

I agree. Though this seemed pretty calculating on his part, he used the rules to save 5 or 6 strokes & stay in the tourney. Sometimes you can use the rules to your advantage but he took the proper strokes & penalty, so he didn’t cheat but it is hard to admit that. If he admits it, everyone will say he cheated, so he is going to take it as it lies.

Breaking the rules is breaking the rules; cheating is when you break the rules knowing that it is to your advantage relative to the field. Something you would do alone and then rationalize and justify that it was the right thing to do! #DQPhilNOW #USOpen

Photo Credit: Google Docs.

What is the difference in breaking the rules and getting caught; and breaking the rules and not getting caught? Integrity…

Cheat—verb—act dishonestly or unfairly in order to gain an advantage, especially in a game or examination.

2-shot penalty…no DQ – at this point…doubt they would GO BACK and DQ him at this point…

Twitter reports Phil’s response to people questioning what he did: “Toughen Up”.

Would not upset me if they DQ’d him, but I will take “they won’t”, you have “they will” …IMHO, I thought they had grounds once he admitted his intention to breach the rules.

“Taking advantage of the rules”…..it’s his birthday. We should just move on like he is!

I am not a lawyer but it seems to me that the rules make a provision for DQing a player with intent to have advantage when striking a moving ball.

Why not just put rocks on the greens. USGA needs to re-think this debacle. Phil took advantage of the rules. I believe he knows them better than the USGA. He took 2 strokes by rules. Better than 4 more he could have taken. USGA is becoming a joke.

It’s one thing to play it as it lies and utilize knowledge of the rules to your advantage and another thing to intentionally use the rules to lower your score; that’s called cheating!

I don’t think he cheated. He was just pissed. Who cares? He hit a moving ball took two shots and moved on

Isn’t getting the ball in the hole in the fewest strokes possible “using the rules to lower your score”?

I don’t think we need to be discussing this right now… he’s nowhere near contention

I’m not a fan of Phil. I tell you he handled it well. He’s human and nobody knows the true level of his frustration.

His interview was awesome: I’ve wanted to do it many times and I finally did it.

Yeah but it was clearly premeditated… intent… motive was not honorable…. #DQPhilNOW

Those of us who never have known the pressure of these tournaments cannot say what we would do. He used a rule to his advantage. Not illegal! He didn’t cheat IMO. Cheating would be moving a ball to better a shot. Move on people! Phil is a great human being and player of the game

The way they set up US open courses is not as fan friendly, creates many opinions but not as fun to be live as Masters on Sunday with the traditional pins and the boys throwing darts.

AGN always plays tough Thur-Fri and then is set up for scoring for wknd. I think they have figured out how to MASTER the fan experience.

If you’re knowingly going to break the rules Phil, next time just lay your bag down behind the hole. Just fixed your problem!

I think they will soften things up for tomorrow both in texture and areas they put the pins. There were 2-66’s shot out there today. At the Open the greens feed away from the hole, on tour they set the pins where the greens feed to the hole. Tomorrow you’ll see a different course than today!

He took the 2 stroke penalty and moved on. And it has happened just not reported or blatant like Phil. Everything today is caught on camera. I still love Phil.

I thought he threw in the towel.

I thought he demonstrated what the others were feeling.

I think Phil had intent to take advantage by swatting his ball backwards and should be DQ’d as called for in the rules of golf. He could have made a 10 or 12 or who knows what had he finished the hole properly as called for by the rules of golf; i.e. let a moving ball come to a stop and play it as it lies!

He used rules to his advantage. It was an unfair pin… Golf is a game you play the game the best way you see fit.. It’s a game. You don’t have to like or agree with it… He took his penalty for his actions… He did not cheat … my opinion.

I don’t think that Phil will be teeing up at Shinnecock on Sunday…..USGA will reconsider after what he admitted in his interview

D Q Phil, huh

We will see. I love the comment, “He lost his mind”

Phil thinks he is summa cum laude…always has to be the smartest guy in the room when he talks. He could have declared the first putt that got away unplayable. Replayed from where he originally putted and probably saved 3 shots or more. Phil’s explanation about how smart he was in “using the rules” to his advantage was BS….his explanation has huge holes in it. Just saying.

BS because he could have saved himself 2-3 shots if he knew the Rules as well as he says he does…I call BS on his explanation. Declare the first putt unplayable, putt from original spot……any player that really knows the rules would opt for that 100 times out of 101 rather than what he did.

You do know you may declare you ball “unplayable” anywhere, repeat, anywhere on the golf course…including on the putting green. Would that have not made a lot more sense than the debacle he created, he could have saved 2-3 shots….I don’t call that insane.

Oh this should be good… Mike Davis USGA CEO & John Bodenhamer governance guy … more wind than they thought… the greens just think… the hole location on 15… probably too tough this afternoon… Zinger the golf course got away from you…. is the governance guy his bodyguard or is he going to speak too? The wind (on Long Island mind you) caught you off guard. Yeah Buck asks the Phil question…. DQ him now? Rule 32-7…. BS he did not just stop the ball… what video did you review? Will be no DQ Rule 14-5… bunch of lawyers at the USGA! YES Shinnecock Hills is one of the great golf courses! #DQPhilNOW #USOpen

Wind? Who thought there would any wind way out there on the end of Long Island? They have the golf course hooked up to life support now and just hope it can hang on until they get out of there tomorrow and leave Shinnecock to deal with the debacle.

Should be DQ’d on the spot! Total BS. If he has any integrity at all, he’ll WD. They all played the same course, but the later guys played a much tougher course. Yesterday, the early guys had it much tougher. DJ has played in brutal conditions 2 days in a row.

They have 10 years to get prepared for hosting a U.S. Open…they can study weather patterns, prevailing winds, rain averages, everything, everything they need to know about what may happened during the week the event is scheduled. and the USGA can screw it up in a New York heart beat….they need to clean house …..hire some professionals to set up and run the events.

I just hope the golf course gets through the night. It is on life support now.