John McLaren, a caddie of 'extraordinary ability,' to retire
Paul Casey finished with a 68 in Las Vegas, thus closing a remarkable chapter for a British man of “extraordinary ability.” The description refers specifically to his caddie, John McLaren, who has worked his final tournament in America. McLaren, known in caddie circles as “Johnny Long Socks” for his sartorial sense above the shoes, is stepping away after 31 years, the last six with Casey.
news.yahoo.comWestwood leads at Sawgrass, gets another shot at DeChambeau
That's how it was last week at Bay Hill, when DeChambeau came from one shot behind to beat Westwood with a par on the final hole at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Westwood, who turns 48 next month, no longer has to go up a few classes to face DeChambeau, golf's fearsome heavyweight. Also four shots behind was Brian Harman, who began his day by holing a wedge for eagle and shot 69. DeChambeau can't blast away at Sawgrass because of the bending tree-lined fairways and water hazards. He also knows from recent experience — seven days ago — that it might not be easy the way Westwood is playing.
Conners builds 1-shot lead at Bay Hill as McIlroy lurks
Conners surged into the lead with a 25-foot eagle putt on the par-5 16th hole — his second eagle on that hole in two days — for a 3-under 69 and a one-shot advantage over former Bay Hill winner Martin Laird (67). He was two shots behind, along with Viktor Hovland and Lanto Griffin, who each had a 68. The forecast featured plenty of rain Saturday, which figures to make Bay Hill play longer and tougher, while also keeping the greens from getting as crusty as they were last year when Tyrrell Hatton won with a closing 74. He won at Bay Hill in 2011 on a final round so tough a 75 was enough to get the job done. He played in the morning, had a pair of birdies and came to the 16th, the easiest at Bay Hill.
Late eagle from the fairway stakes Spieth to lead at Pebble
“It's a good lesson to learn for tomorrow, how quickly things can change out here,” Spieth said. The pin on the 16th was cut to the left on a severely pitched green, and it was perfect. This was the second time this week he holed out from the fairway, and now he is on the cusp of winning again. This is the second straight week Spieth has had at least a share of the lead. Spieth didn’t have to contend with what he predicted to be a “mean” day at Pebble Beach.
Johnson, Thomas part of 4-way share atop Masters leaderboard
What two days have shown is that Masters experience only goes so far on a soft course with rye grass that isn't grown in quite the way it usually is in April. Another Masters rookie, Sungjae Im (70), was in the group another shot behind that included Patrick Cantlay (66), who contended for the green jacket last year. “You have to really throw all the past knowledge out the window this week, as weird as it is,” Thomas said. Johnson quickly became the first player this week to reach 10 under with three birdies around Amen Corner. The two-time Masters champion shot 68 in the morning on a long, soft course.
Johnson joins Masters lead after round of record scoring
The opening round was delayed nearly three hours at the start by heavy rain, and with limited daylight in November, there was no way to complete the round. Greg Norman still holds the record for lowest opening round, a 63 in 1996, the year he lost a six-shot lead to Nick Faldo in the final round. There were 53 rounds under par in the 92-man field and 24 rounds in the 60s, both Masters records for any round. The previous mark was 47 rounds under par in the second round of 1992 (83-man field). This is his fifth Masters, and not only his lowest score, but the first time he has shot par or better in the opening round.
The Latest: Johnson shares Masters lead, play suspended
Play has been suspended in the second round of the Masters, with 48 players yet to finish. While the second round won’t be completed until Saturday morning, Langer is assured of getting through. Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Cameron Smith and Abraham Ancer all have a share of the lead after finishing the second round at 9-under 135. ___11:50 a.m.Dustin Johnson is pulling away from the field in the second round of the Masters. The second round is underway at the Masters, and the first round hasn't quite finished up yet.
Round 1: Casey leads, Woods in hunt as field plays catch-up
Five-time and defending champion Tiger Woods dropped a turn-back-the-clock round of his own, relying more on experience than current form to post a 68. “There is a sense of ease when I come here, just because I understand how to prepare for this golf course,” Woods said after hitting 10 of 14 fairways and 15 of 18 greens. Small wonder, then, that Woods flashed a wide grin when asked what was most encouraging about the round. “This golf course, as much as I’m trying to attack it, it can bite back,” he said. Still to be determined is how much firmer the greens and the rest of the golf course will get.
Why Wisconsin is in ‘crisis mode’ amid surging coronavirus cases
Dr. Paul Casey, emergency department medical director at Bellin Hospital in Green Bay, Wisconsin, told CNBC that his state was in "crisis mode" as one in three Badger State residents has the coronavirus. "All hospitals across the state are either at or nearing capacity," Casey told "The News with Shepard Smith." According to the Wisconsin Department of Health, there are 293,388 confirmed cases in the state with 43,001 cases in just the past seven days. A record number of Americans — 143,000 — tested positive on Wednesday with the coronavirus, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Jha added that while the nation's testing capacity has increased, it isn't fast enough to keep up with the surge of new Covid cases.
cnbc.comFast start: Tiger bucks his Masters history with opening 68
Defying his lackluster form not to mention a history of slow starts at these hallowed grounds, Woods shot a bogey-free 4-under 68 on Thursday in the opening round of the Masters, a tantalizing display by the defending champion in his quest for a record-tying sixth green jacket. Woods hasn't played much this year, returning warily from a five-month layoff to play a half-dozen tournaments leading up to the Masters. It was only the second time he's broken 70 in the opening round at Augusta, matching the 68 he shot to begin the 2010 Masters. More telling, it was his first bogey-free round in a major championship since the 2009 PGA Championship at Hazeltine. “I got off to a fast start today, which is good, but I think everyone is,” Woods said.
DeChambeau shoots 70 in 1st round of Masters; 'I got greedy'
But DeChambeau wasn’t able to back that up Thursday in the opening round, shooting a 2-under 70 to end the day five strokes behind leader Paul Casey. It’s still Augusta National, and it’s the Masters. DeChambeau hit his drive 313 yards into the pine straw behind a tree. Not a 5, the score to shoot for for everyone else at Augusta National, from Bobby Jones to President Dwight Eisenhower to Tiger Woods. “Sometimes I can get a little greedy, and I like taking risks,” DeChambeau said.
Casey rides the buzz of Masters history to 65 and early lead
Paul Casey matched his lowest score at the Masters with a 7-under 65, giving him a two-shot lead among half the field fortunate to play in perfect scoring conditions. It was the fifth hole, which he bogeyed all four rounds last year when he won the Masters. He was joined by Xander Schauffele, a runner-up to Woods last year, who had seven birdies in his round of 67. The delay was the last thing the Masters needed with limited daylight hours leading to the two-tee start. The loudest cheer — applause, certainly not a roar — came for Nicklaus and Player hitting tee shots so early that they couldn't see where they landed.
The Latest: Woods off to bogey-free start in Masters defense
Also, it’s the first bogey-free round for Woods in a major since the 2009 PGA Championship at Hazeltine. The 43-year-old Englishman is leading the Masters after shooting a 7-under 65 in the opening round. But he turned things around in his return to Augusta National, which was delayed for seven months by the coronavirus pandemic. ___2:05 p.m.Tiger Woods is off to a strong start in defense of his Masters championship. He has six top-10 finishes at Augusta National, including a second-place finish in 2010 and a tie for second in 2016.
Green Bay on 'verge of a crisis' as virus overwhelms hospitals, Wisconsin doctor says
A hospital in northeast Wisconsin is considering pausing elective procedures as health officials grapple with rising coronavirus cases and a double-digit positivity rate. "We are on the verge of a crisis in Green Bay and our surrounding counties," Casey said in an appearance on "The News with Shepard Smith." The Midwest state set a fresh one-day record of 3,132 new Covid-19 cases, topping the previous record that came just days prior, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. More than 80% of Wisconsin's hospital and intensive care unit capacities are in use, according to the state's health department website. The rise in cases can be attributed to "Covid fatigue," people who refuse to wear masks and small gatherings, he said.
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