A Lesson Learned: Playing in the rain

A Lesson Learned: Playing in the rain











Doug Wade, PGA May 6, 2013 10:04 AM



Watching the final few holes of the Wells Fargo Championship, it was fascinating to watch the drama of a crowded leaderboard and watch the world's best golfers battle each other, their own emotions and - the weather.

Congratulations to Derek Ernst, the 4th alternate coming into the week, the 2013 champion leaving Quail Hollow. Just making it to the weekend had to be a big win for him - much less, overcoming all the factors noted earlier.

Perhaps the key shot of the tournament was Ernst's shot on the final hole of regulation, a 6-iron he hit to four feet on the difficult 18th hole, one of only four birdies made on the hole on the final day. To do that, under that pressure - in the cold, wind and rain - well, that's just really impressive.

And for this week's "A Lesson Learned", I want to share three quick tips about playing in rain and cold.

Growing up and now working in Ohio, I've played my share of rounds in the rain. Some of my most rewarding rounds have come in tough conditions. Golf is an outdoor sport, playing against the weather is every bit a part of the game as water hazards and trees along the fairway. And even more, if you can handle shots when conditions turn tough - you're already one up on the rest of your group.

1.) Be prepared: Not to weigh you down but do you have rain gloves, extra towels, even an umbrella in your bag? You'd be surprised how many people do not. The goal when playing in the rain is to not think too much about playing in the rain. Those who are not prepared are constantly worried about wet gloves, water dripping down their back, etc. Know that conditions can change - and be prepared.

2.) Stay controlled: When it's time to focus on the shot, solid contact is more important than ever when conditions get tough. Don't give yourself any easier opportunities for mistakes by overswinging. A common mistake is the feeling that you have to swing harder - that's actually the most harmful thing you can do. The chance for the club to slip in your hands or your feet to slip on the swing are only increased in wet conditions. A shorter, more compact swing with more club will only help you in these situations. Think back to Phil Mickelson who really had the tournament in his grasp until making bogeys on two of the final three holes - including a short iron on the 17th hole that he pulled way right (a classic case of overswinging).

3.) Adapt to the course: When it rains, the course changes right in front of you. If you watched the end of the Wells Fargo Championship, you noticed how hard it was for even the world's best players to get their chips and putts to the hole as the conditions got slower and wetter. Be aware of what the rain, cold and wind can do to your shots. Wet conditions mean less spin for shots but slower greens and softer fairways. Adjust your game and club selection accordingly.

Doug Wade is the Head Golf Professional at Miami Valley Golf Club in Dayton Ohio. Doug is a former All Big-Ten golfer for The Ohio State University, where he graduated in 2002. Wade has played in many championships including the 2012 PGA Championship at the Ocean Course on Kiawah Island. Feel free to learn more about Doug Wade atwww.dougwadepga.com, and on Twitter at@DougWade_PGA

Chapman kicks off festivities for 2013 Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid

Chapman kicks off festivities for 2013 Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid











PGA.COM May 6, 2013 11:11 AM

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Roger Chapman (L) was at Bellerive Country Club on Monday for Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid …



By John Kim PGA.com

ST. LOUIS -- Roger Chapman, winner of the 2012 Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid, helped kick off festivities Monday for the 2013 Senior PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club outside of St. Louis. Chapman was joined by PGA of America President Ted Bishop, Governor of Missouri Jay Nixon, Hall-of-Fame shortstop and St. Louis Cardinals icon Ozzie Smith (Gateway PGA Foundation President) as well as other executives from the PGA of America and KitchenAid.

Chapman's win in the 2012 Senior PGA Championship at Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor, Mich., was Englishman's first Champions Tour victory and first major title. He defeated John Cook with a 13-under-par 271 total.

Just two months later, Chapman became a two-time major champion with a win at the U.S. Senior Open. Monday's media day started with a round of golf for the assembled executives and media followed by a video presentation of Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid highlights and a video tribute to Chapman's dominant performance at the 2012 championship. A question and answer session and one-on-one interviews were then conducted and a ceremonial raising of the flag as the 2013 Senior PGA Championship banner was raised above Bellerive. Chapman and other officials then went to visit K Life, an urban renewal project in downtown St. Louis, which incorporates PGA Reach -- a program to mentor at-risk youth, using many of the principles and lessons from golf.

LPGA: Park holds onto No. 1 ranking over Lewis

LPGA: Park holds onto No. 1 ranking over Lewis










The Sports Xchange May 6, 2013 12:20 PMThe SportsXchange



Korea's Inbee Park continues to hold a firm grasp on the No. 1 spot in the LPGA Rolex Rankings with a 1.09-point lead over American Stacy Lewis.

Park finished seventh at the Kingsmill Championship in New Jersey on Sunday, one shot behind Lewis.

Norway's Suzann Pettersen, who lost in a playoff to Christie Kerr, moved up two spots to No. 3 in the world, followed by Korea's Na Yeon Choi. Former No. 1 Yani Tseng continued her slide and is now fifth after finishing in a tie for 24th at the Kingsmill.

Kerr moved up two spots with her victory to re-enter the Top 10, just ahead of fellow American Paula Creamer.

Where's the Beef? Governing Bodies Don't Show Statistical Proof Backing Anchoring Ban

Where's the Beef? Governing Bodies Don't Show Statistical Proof Backing Anchoring Ban











Ryan Ballengee May 21, 2013 11:16 AM


COMMENTARY | I support the anchoring ban. I don't support the lack of data to support the rationale of it.



The USGA and R&A, golf's governing bodies, simultaneously announced Tuesday they would move forward with a ban of the anchored stroke they proposed in November 2012. A new rule, known as Rule 14-1b, will be enacted starting Jan. 1, 2016, barring any player
from anchoring a golf club directly against the body or by creating a pivot point attached to the body.





It's the right thing to do.



Anchoring offers a decided advantage on the greens as compared to the traditional style of putting. Any player -- though admittedly a small sample size of the broader number I've played with over the years -- that I've teed it up with that anchors has admitted as much. Players who anchor their putter tend to pace their putts better and have more confidence to swing the putter freely (which is ironic) on shorter putts.



What has informed my opinion, however, is not what should inform a far-reaching decision made by the game's governing bodies. Their decision should be backed by longitudinal studies with statistical data that suggest proof of the advantage most traditionalists claim the anchored stroke offers. It isn't.



On Tuesday, USGA president Glen Nager said data was and is irrelevant to the discussion. The governing bodies were very coy to enact this ban as a playing rule, not an equipment rule.



Playing rules are not subject to the statistical sandbox the governing bodies have created for equipment manufacturers. Golf equipment can only be so long, hit the ball so far, transfer so much energy and so forth. Statistics, albeit a dubious set of them, guided the decision to adopt new regulations on grooves in 2008.



Playing rules, instead, are dictated by the idea of passing the smell test of what is golf. It's the game's equivalent of constitutional law. The USGA and R&A are the Supreme Court. They have their guiding document, the Rules of Golf, and create new playing rules -- amendments -- when they interpret a need to amend and clarify what that document says. That's a cop-out.



The governing bodies should have proposed this ban armed with data that could silence critics that claim there's no true advantage in anchoring the putter, or any club. It would have made the PGA Tour and PGA of America look foolish in opposing a ban that will level the playing field. It would have made Webb Simpson's protestations look goofy.



Here's some data, courtesy of writer Matt Cooper, that helps the case of the governing bodies. Look at the case of Adam Scott.



The Masters champion began using the broomstick he wields now at the 2011 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. He has since played 42 stroke-play events with the long putter. In that span, he averages 29.3 putts per round. In the 42 events before the switch? Scott took 30.6 putts. In a four-round tournament, that's five strokes. Five.



In professional golf, five strokes is a lot. It makes a cut. It wins a tournament. It wins a major. Five strokes at Augusta? Angel Cabrera has a third major if Adam Scott doesn't save a handful of shots.



But that's just one guy. The governing bodies had to pursue long-term statistical data to garner broad-base support for this decision. They didn't, probably because it would take too long and cost too much money. Naysayers, however, will put on their tin-foil hats and claim there is no supporting data.



Webb Simpson, the reigning U.S. Open champion and one of the most vocal defenders of the anchored stroke, has been using the long putter for more than half his life, long before his PGA Tour days. No one could study Guan Tianlang, the 14-year-old Chinese amateur who made history by making the cut at the Masters in April, because he has anchored the putter from the beginning.



Speaking of the Masters, Augusta National has not definitively weighed in on the anchoring ban. They are ade facto governing body and, at this point, a proverbial kingmaker on this rule. The USGA and R&A, representing two majors, obviously support the ban. The PGA of America does not. Neither does the PGA Tour which, while it does not have a major, runs every non-major tournament of significance. Does the Masters support the ban?



Four of the last six majors have been won by players using the anchored stroke. Three of those four winners took their first major title using that stroke. That was enough for the governing bodies to examine and now implement a ban of the putting stroke they used to achieve major glory. That, however, is not enough to convince the 26 million golfing Americans to coalesce around this ban. And that might lead to bifurcation of the Rules of Golf, which is a consequence the USGA and R&A don't want.



Ryan Ballengee is a Washington, D.C.-based golf writer. His work has appeared on multiple digital outlets, including NBC Sports and Golf Channel. Follow him on Twitter @RyanBallengee.

R&A, USGA to ban anchored putters by 2016

R&A, USGA to ban anchored putters by 2016










The Sports Xchange May 21, 2013 12:00 PMThe SportsXchange


Golf's governing body officially approved a rules change that will outlaw the use of putters anchored to the body beginning in 2016.

The hotly-debated issue has divided the golf community for the past few years, especially with four of the past six major championship winners using long putters that were anchored to their bodies -- effectively creating a hinge.

The Royal & Ancient Golf Club and the U.S. Golf Association (USGA) said Rule 14-1b would take effect in 2016. It wouldn't ban long putters commonly referred to as "belly putters," but would prevent golfers from anchoring them to their belly or chest.

"We recognize this has been a divisive issue, but after thorough consideration, we remain convinced that this is the right decision for golf," R&A chief executive Peter Dawson said.

Masters champion Adam Scott, reigning U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson and 2011 PGA Championship winner Keegan Bradley all use belly putters, and Ernie Els used one while winning last year's British Open.

Bradley and other professional golfers, including Tim Clark and Carl Pettersson, have been vocal in their opposition belly putter ban, while Tiger Woods has been a strong proponent of the rules change along with Brandt Snedeker and Steve Stricker.

"I hope they go with the ban," Woods said this week. "Anchoring should not be a part of the game. It should be mandatory to have to swing all 14 clubs. And as far as the PGA Tour, I hope they do (ban) it as soon as possible to be honest with you. I've always said that. I've always felt that golf you should have to control your nerves and swing all 14 clubs, not just 13."

The PGA Tour now must decide whether to establish its own criteria or align with the new rule. Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said in February that a ban on belly putters by golf's governing bodies would be a "mistake," although he favors everyone playing by the same rules.

In a statement Tuesday, the Tour said: "We would like to thank the USGA for providing the opportunity for input and suggestions relative to Rule 14-1b over the last several months. During that time, various questions were raised and issues discussed.


"We will now begin our process to ascertain whether the various provisions of Rule 14-1b will be implemented in our competitions and, if so, examine the process for implementation.

"In this regard, over the next month, we will engage in discussions with our Player Advisory Council and Policy Board members.

"We will announce our position regarding the application of Rule 14-1b to our competitions upon conclusion of our process, and will have no further comment on the matter until that time."

The Tour statement references the 90-window the R&A and USGA provided for commentary on the proposed rule change.

"We strongly believe that this rule is for the betterment of the game," USGA president Glen Nager said. "Rule 14-1b protects one of the important challenges in the game -- the free swing of the entire club."

Opponents of the ruling fear the ban will have a far-reaching impact through the amateur levels of the game -- turning off golfers who have turned to belly putters for increased enjoyment. However, the game's governing bodies have determined that anchoring a putter to the body is a departure from how golf was intended to be played.

"Intentionally securing one end of the club against the body, and creating a point of physical attachment around which the club is swung, is a substantial departure from that traditional free swing," Nager said. "Anchoring creates potential advantages, such as making the stroke simpler and more repeatable, restricting the movement and rotation of the hands, arms and clubface, creating a fixed pivot point, and creating extra support and stability that may diminish the effects of nerves and pressure."

Clark is one of a handful of golfers who have used belly putters since joining the PGA Tour, and rose to the forefront of the debate with a speech during a players-only meeting. However, the debate hasn't been nearly as divisive on the European Tour and other tours around the world.

While Clark and Scott have argued players using belly putters win due to thousands of hours of practice rather than the use of a belly putter, the issue for players including Snedeker is the "anchoring" of a club.

"I feel like they should be banned," Snedeker, who led the Tour in strokes gained putting and was second in total putting while using a conventional putter in 2012, said in November.

"I've got no problem with longer putters if you want to make sure they're not anchored; I've just got a problem with anchoring.

"There's a reason why guys that have belly putters use them -- they work," he continued. "If they didn't work, they wouldn't use them."

"The understandable objections of these relative few cannot prevent adoption of a rule that will serve the best interests of the entire game going forward," Nager said. "Indeed rather than being too late, now is actually a necessary time to act, before even larger numbers begin to anchor and before anchoring takes firm root globally."

In a statement, the LPGA announced it will abide by the rules set by the USGA and the R&A.

"The LPGA has consistently conducted our official events in accordance with the Rules of Golf as established by the USGA and the R&A. We recognize the need for an independent governing body to maintain the rules of the game," the statement read. "We trust in the ability and expertise of both the USGA and R&A to make the decisions that are in the best interests of the game.

"The USGA provided ample time and opportunity for us to not only educate our players, but also to solicit input, concerns and feedback surrounding Rule 14-1b. While we know that not every one of our members is in favor of the rule change, the LPGA will continue to respect and follow the Rules of Golf which includes the implementation of Rule 14-1b in January of 2016."

How much impact the ruling will have exactly will play out over the next two-plus years. Scott, for one, has no intention of ditching his long putter.

"I don't think there will be much for me to change,' he told the Daily Mail earlier this month. 'If I have to separate the putter a millimeter from my chest, then I will do that.

"Tomorrow would be enough time for me (to change). I don't see myself putting any different looks-wise."

Three Issues More Important Than Anchored Putting

Three Issues More Important Than Anchored Putting
The Anchored Putting Stroke Ban Is a Huge Issue in Golf, but It Is Just the Tip of the Iceberg











Adam Fonseca May 21, 2013 12:19 PM




COMMENTARY | On the morning of May 21, the United States Gol
f Association (USGA) and the Royal & Ancient Golf Club (R&A) did exactly what everyone thought they were going to do: officially ban the anchored putting stroke.





While the ban won't go into effect until January 1, 2016 -- when the Rules of Golf will be updated with new rule 14-1b -- golfers on the professional circuit have already begun making their gradual change back to a traditional putter.

A handful of players and opponents to the anchoring ban -- most notably U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson, PGA champion Keegan Bradley, PGA of America president Ted Bishop and PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem -- have already expressed their displeasure in various public forums. Lawsuits may or may not be filed by various "anchorers" on both the PGA and European tours. Some players may even feel like their livelihoods have been threatened by the Powers That Be.

Still, regardless of one's stance on the anchored stoke debate, I can't help but wonder if this will all be much adieu about nothing. Surely there are more pressing issues in professional golf that require as much -- if not more -- attention.

Here are three examples off the top of my head, in no particular order:

1) Slow play - Over the past two years, perhaps the only topic discussed and debated more frequently than an anchored putting stroke is slow play on any tour. Golf fans are sure to remember the drama surroundingPGA Tour pro Kevin Na. Formerly the poster child for anxiety-crippled swing thoughts, watching Na play a round of golf was akin to watching a snail cross the Brooklyn Bridge. The same could be said about Ben Crane, whose painstakingly slow attention to detail routinely stretched golf rounds over the five-hour mark.

Then there was the curious case of Tianlang Guan at this year's Masters. While Guan's situation was handled exactly how it should have been (believe it or not), many fans questioned the Augusta National officials' tact in penalizing the 14-year-old in his second round. "What was Augusta trying to prove?" wondered fans and players alike. Consistency in slow-play penalty enforcement remains a topic that must be addressed.

2) Golf ball technology - Perhaps the biggest issue that remains unaddressed while hiding in plain sight is how far golf balls are flying these days. We've all been led to believe that 460 cc drivers and spring-like clubhead faces are to blame for drives over 350 yards, but let's not overlook the multi-layered technology buried in the golf ball's core.

The world's best golf courses are being shrunk by a little white -- or sometimes florescent yellow -- object built to easily fly over fairway bunkers and cut yards off difficult doglegs. Restricting the flight on golf balls will have a much greater impact than what any anchored putting stroke could hope to match.

3) Drug testing - It is definitely the elephant in the clubhouse thanks to the recent Vijay Singh debacle, and professional golf has officially entered the performance-enhancing drug era. This topic remains the most polarizing in that many pundits remain unconvinced that PEDs have any impact on a professional golfer's talents. That's not the point. The fact that there is no comprehensive policy on drug testing in pro golf -- at least to the standard defined by America's four major sports -- is the biggest area of concern.

Even if there is absolutely no issue with PED use on tour, the governing bodies should be inclined to establish a steadfast policy to make sure it stays that way. Anything less keeps the proverbial door wide open for speculation and accusations to run rampant among players.



Adam Fonseca has been writing and blogging about golf since 2005. His work can be found on numerous digital outlets including the Back9Network and SB Nation. He currently lives in Chicago with his wife. Follow Adam on Twitter @chicagoduffer.

Adoption of Anchoring Ban a Matter of Stroke Integrity, Not Advantage

Adoption of Anchoring Ban a Matter of Stroke Integrity, Not Advantage
As the Hammer Drops on Anchoring, the Misconception Remains











Chris Chaney May 21, 2013 12:49 PM




COMMENTARY | The hammer has come down on the anchor, but do
we even understand why?



Ask the biggest opposers of the inclusion of Rule 14-1b -- the Keegan Bradleys, Webb Simpsons, Tim Clarks and Carl Petterssons of the world -- why they feel the ban is unjust and they spring into advantage-speak.

"Do I think they should be banned? No, and here's why,"Simpson said last year at the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island when asked about the anchored stroke. "You take a wooden driver compared to a 460 cc titanium, and to me that's a lot bigger difference than a 35-inch putt to a 45-inch putter.

"Last year, the strokes-gained putting, nobody in the top-20 used a belly putter or a long putter. If anybody says it's an advantage, I think you've got to look at the stats and the facts."

The jury remains out on the factual side of the anchoring ban. As Simpson noted, there is no statistical evidence that points to an advantage being gained by sticking a club into your belly or sternum. The problem with their argument is that the ruling bodies proposing the ban are not disputing whether an advantage is gained by anchoring a putter.

The entire ban is based around the use of an anchor point and, thus, the legitimacy of the stroke itself.

"Throughout the 600-year history of golf, the essence of playing the game has been to grip the club with the hands and swing it freely at the ball," USGA Executive Director Mike Davis said when the ban was proposed in late November of 2012.



"The player's challenge is to control the movement of the entire club in striking the ball, and anchoring the club alters the nature of that challenge. Our conclusion is that the Rules of Golf should be amended to preserve the traditional character of the golf swing by eliminating the growing practice of anchoring the club."

The touring pros fighting the ban and the governing bodies attempting to enforce it are comparing apples to oranges. There will be no winner in the debate because they are arguing different presumptions as to why the ban would be introduced.

The question of the advantage an anchored stroke does or does not provide is a matter of personal opinion, and one that is interesting when taken into perspective.

If this anchoring stroke provides no advantage as Simpson and others have argued, then why do they use it? For guys playing for upwards of a million dollars a week, you'd think that they would use the equipment that gives them the best opportunity to win.

There is little doubt that the timing of the inquisition into the anchored stroke's legality is a matter of recent history. Incorporated into the game some 25-30 years ago, the procedure was deemed passable, almost pitied by those in power as a fading pro's last grasp at calming a balky putter.

However, with four of the six last major championship winners yielding anchored putters, purists have called for a revisiting of the putter's legality. The run of major championships won by players with anchored putters also conjures ideas that despite claims to the contrary, anchored strokes take some of the nerves out of putting.

After all, on the biggest stages in the game when the pressure is compounded the most on Sunday afternoons, players who use the so-called "cheat-sticks" are taking home more trophies than players using traditional putters.

While the ban was approved early on May 21, the debate will not die an easy death. Both the PGA of America and the PGA Tour have voiced their oppositions to the proposed ban, bringing bifurcation -- a division of two sets of rules, one for the professionals and one for amateur golfers -- into the mix.

Despite the decision to enact the ban, we must remember that this is not about the advantage the anchored putter does or does not provide -- it's about the legality and legitimacy of the stroke.

The governing bodies have decided that anchoring a stroke takes away from the integrity of the swing, not that it gives players an advantage. The argument of the latter is moot.

The next step is how and where the ban will be enforced. How will the PGA Tour and PGA of America react to the approval of 14-1b, and what affect will it have on all levels of golf?

One thing has been crystal clear in this murky pool of rules, this debate will not end today, tomorrow or a year from now. Expect to hear about anchoring the putter until the rule becomes law on January 1, 2016.

Chris Chaney is a Cincinnati, Ohio-based sportswriter. He has written for multiple outlets including WrongFairway.com, Hoopville.com, The Cincinnati (OH) Enquirer and The Clermont (OH) Sun.

Follow him on Twitter @Wrong_Fairway.

Woods 'done' talking about Garcia

Woods 'done' talking about Garcia










The Sports Xchange May 29, 2013 4:20 PMThe SportsXchange



Tiger Woods would like to see talk of his feud with Sergio Garcia go away, once and for all.

Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday before the start of the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio, Woods tried to deflect questions about Garcia.

"That's already done with," Woods said. "It's done; time to move on."

Asked about an inflammatory racial stereotype that Garcia used last week when speaking about Woods in England and other issues such as the R&A's recent ban on anchored putters and rules violations, Woods wasn't biting.

"I have four wins (this year)," Woods said with a straight face.

Tournament host Jack Nicklaus, whose 18 major championships are four more than Woods has won, addressed the situation between two of the world's top players rather succinctly.

"It's stupid," he said. "Do guys have an issue with one with another? They usually resolve it themselves. You guys want to resolve it in the newspapers today. I mean nobody needs that. And I think they both finally said it's enough. ... Today, you're in a fish bowl. And there are a lot of mountains made out of molehills."

Woods did address a question about racism.

"I live it," he said. "It's happened to me my entire life, and it's happened to me my entire career. So that doesn't surprise me. It exists all around the world, not just in the sport of golf. It exists everywhere."

Woods comes to Muirfield as the defending champion and five-time winner of the Memorial, which starts Thursday. It's his first event since winning The Players Championship earlier this month and a tuneup for the U.S. Open in two weeks ag Merion Golf Club, which he played on Tuesday.

"It's about this week and it's about winning this event," he said.

95th PGA Championship History Exhibit open through Labor Day

95th PGA Championship History Exhibit open through Labor Day











PGA.COM May 30, 2013 8:56 AM


PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- The 95th PGA Championship History Exhibit - Celebrating the Champions of the Season's Final Major -- will commemorate the Championship's return to New York by opening May 24, at the Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC).

From Friday, May 24 through Labor Day Monday, Sept. 2, golf enthusiasts and history lovers may enjoy a tour of some of the rarest artifacts and memorabilia which uncover the tradition of the PGA Championship and its past 94 Champions, including a display of defending PGA Champion Rory McIlroy, which will be unveiled on June 3.

The PGA Championship History Exhibit will be open daily in the Rochester Museum & Science Center's Patricia F. Hale Gallery: Mondays-Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sundays from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

The 95th PGA Championship will be conducted Aug. 5-11, at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y. The Rochester Museum & Science Center also hosted the PGA Championship Exhibit in 2003, when the PGA Championship was last conducted at Oak Hill and won by Shaun Micheel.

The PGA Championship History Exhibit debuted in Louisville, Ky., in 2000, and travels to host PGA Championship cities. The exhibit features memorabilia spanning from Jim Barnes' driver used to capture the inaugural Championship in 1916; a walking stick once used by the legendary Walter Hagen; Gene Sarazen's niblick (today's 9-iron); Jack Nicklaus' wedge, which he used as he captured the 1980 PGA Championship at Oak Hill; the wedge that Phil Mickelson's used to clinch his 2005 victory; Y.E. Yang's 3-hybrid that sealed his historic 2009 triumph; and memorabilia from McIlroy's historic win at Kiawah Island's famed Ocean Course.


"The PGA Championship History Exhibit is a special journey behind the great Champions who have been both premier performers and among the leaders of the advancement of golf worldwide," said PGA President Ted Bishop. "The PGA of America is pleased that the Rochester Museum & Science Center, a popular destination for both those in New York and tourists from around the globe for 100 years, will serve as host to this remarkable collection from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day. New York is one of the great sports participation states in the country, and we anticipate we will have outstanding support once again leading up to the 95th PGA Championship this summer."

The RMSC opened its doors to the public on Sept. 13, 1912. The RMSC continues to celebrate its centennial year with the community it serves through various activities, events and opportunities, as it honors its past and looks forward to the next 100 years of discovery, exploration and inspiration. Offering fun and educational programs and experiences, the RMSC builds futures in the important areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The RMSC also serves as a community-gathering place where visitors participate in shared, hands-on learning. In addition, the RMSC seeks to boost the local economy through workforce preparation and tourism.

"We are eager to draw visitors to Rochester, as well as delight the many golf and history fans in our community with the PGA Championship History Exhibit," said Kate Bennett, president, Rochester Museum & Science Center. "It is a privilege to host an exhibit that honors a beloved tradition that families have enjoyed for years. Now, they can experience the PGA Championship together in a new way—its past and present all at once. This is an honor."

The Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC) is located at 657 East Avenue in Rochester, N.Y., 75 miles east of Buffalo; 80 miles west of Syracuse, N.Y.; 5 hours west of New York City; and 2.5 hours from Toronto. Admission to the Museum during the Exhibit is: $13 for adults; $12 for seniors and college students; $11 for children ages 3-11; and free for PGA members, RMSC members and children under age 3. Family and Guests of PGA members will pay a special $5 rate. For more information, visit www.rmsc.org. For questions on the golf exhibit, please call (585) 271-4320. About the 2013 PGA Championship

The PGA Championship perennially features the strongest field in golf and is considered one of the largest sporting events in the world. Since 1916, golf's best professionals have been competing for the PGA Championship's coveted Wanamaker Trophy; a list of champions that includes: Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh, Davis Love III, Jack Nicklaus, Sam Snead, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan and Walter Hagen. Tickets will be available for purchase through the 2013 PGA Championship website, www.pga.com/pgachampionship, or by phone at (800) PGA-GOLF.

About The PGA of America

Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry. By creating and delivering world-class championships and innovative programs, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. As The PGA nears its centennial, the PGA brand represents the very best in golf.

About the Rochester Science & Museum Center

Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC) includes the Science Museum, Strasenburgh Planetarium and Cumming Nature Center. Offering experiences at the Museum with more than 200 interactive exhibits, Planetarium with a 65-foot dome and Nature Center on 900 acres, the RMSC stimulates community interest in exploration. In addition, the more than 1.2 million RMSC collection items tell the story of Rochester's past including its rich history of innovation and invention. RMSC receives major funding from Monroe County, where it is of the top two most visited attractions serving children and families. For more information about RMSC, visit www.rmsc.org.

Is Caroline Wozniacki Killing Rory McIlroy's Career?

Is Caroline Wozniacki Killing Rory McIlroy's Career?











Ryan Ballengee May 30, 2013 5:48 PM


COMMENTARY | Women make a lot men do a lot of crazy things. They make their hearts flutter, the ice in their veins melt and cause them to max out their credit cards on a nice diamond ring.



But do they ruin sports careers?



Ever since world No. 2 Rory McIlroy and Caroline Wozniacki got together in the summer
of 2011 after McIlroy broke through for his first major at the U.S. Open, the cynical thought has been that they'll ruin the other professionally speaking with all this love business.





With the Danish former No. 1 getting bounced in the second round of the French Open, and McIlroy opening the Memorial Tournament on Thursday with an embarrassing 6-over 78, the question is bound to arise again. After all, McIlroy is on the way to another missed cut, while Wozniacki hasn't advanced into the quarterfinals of any tournament she has entered since early April.



If it is being argued that Wozniacki is killing McIlroy's career, then certainly the opposite argument could be made.



Turns out, however, neither seems to have much of an effect on the other.



It should be first said that while a good golf result isn't exactly the same as a good tennis result, but it's not too hard to compare golf leaderboards and tennis brackets. It's 1.68-inch white balls and 2.63-inch fuzzy, neon balls, not apples and oranges. So a top-10 finish in golf is probably as good as making it to the quarterfinals or semifinals of a tennis tournament, depending on the size and strength of field.



Dating back to the start of the 2012 season -- accounting for the end of the relationship "honeymoon" period -- McIlroy and Wozniacki have competed in their respective sports at approximately the same time on 19 different occasions, including this week in Dublin, Ohio, and Roland Garros near Paris, respectively.



Of the 19 tournaments McIlroy and Wozniacki have played at about the same time, they have had similar-type finishes in 10 of those, or just a little more than half of the time. The trend lately has been for the lovebirds to fare about the same more often than not in 2013.



At the outset of the year, that wasn't true, however, as McIlroy traveled to Abu Dhabi to be unveiled as the next Nike Golf megastar staffer with a reported nine-figure endorsement deal...only to miss the cut. Meanwhile in Australia, Wozniacki advanced to the fourth round of the Aussie Open, the first major on the tennis calendar.



After that, though the next two concurrent-ish events had a lot in common. McIlroy was unceremoniously bounced in the first round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play in Arizona while Wozniacki was a Round 1 victim in Malaysia. Then a few weeks later, Caro got to the finals at Indian Wells, while McIlroy finished T-8 behind Tiger Woods while in the running on Sunday at Doral.



McIlroy enjoyed a decent first part of April, finishing runner-up in an emergency start against a lesser field at the Valero Texas Open before a top-25 effort at the Masters. It was right around then that Wozniacki dropped into a deep slump, where she has beaten no more than one opponent in her last five tournaments.



The Ulsterman, however, has also dropped into a May slump for the second consecutive year. He missed the cut last week at the BMW PGA Championship and his 78 to start at Muirfield Village has him poised to be a trunk-slammer on Friday. He missed three consecutive cuts in May last year before getting it together in Memphis, only to then miss the cut again at the U.S. Open.



Here's the thing, however: McIlroy is still No. 2 in the world and has a pair of majors. Wozniacki is dropping down the women's tennis rankings and has never hoisted a Grand Slam singles title. (McIlroy one-ups his girlfriend again, having been on two consecutive winning Ryder Cup teams. Wozniacki has never put much stock in the doubles game.)



But there's a lot more going on in the lives of both players than an undying love. It's a particularly turbulent time for McIlroy. He is reportedly cutting ties with his representation at Horizon Sports Management after just 18 months to step out on his own with his father, Gerry, leading Team McIlroy.



His ballstriking is outstanding, but McIlroy's putting is atrocious of late. He ranks 100th on the PGA Tour in strokes gained putting. He was 82nd last year, but was monumentally productive with the other 13 clubs in his bag.



Then there's the pressure of trying to stick close to Tiger Woods when he is clearly resurgent, having won four times on the PGA Tour this season, owning the No. 1 spot in the Official World Golf Ranking by just-post-hydrant margins and the betting favorite to win a 15th major at next month's U.S. Open. And, oh yeah, they're on the same Nike Golf staff where it was expected at the outset of 2013 that they would be 1 and 1a for the Swoosh.



So if anyone if McIlro-rried about Rory and his prospects to win a third major in as many seasons, there are way more important things to fret about than Caroline Wozniacki.



Rory's got plenty of problems. Caroline isn't one.



Ryan Ballengee is a Washington, D.C.-based golf writer. His work has appeared on multiple digital outlets, including NBC Sports and Golf Channel. Follow him on Twitter @RyanBallengee.

Phil Mickelson Playing Smart at Merion

Phil Mickelson Playing Smart at Merion
Conservative Approach Off Tee Plus Steady Short Game Has Lefty in Great Position After First Round











Mark McLaughlin June 13, 2013 4:18 PM




COMMENTARY | Phil, you're no longer an idiot.

Your decision to leave driver in the bag offsets


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any questions we had about your transcontinental commute for a 7:11 am first-round tee time at the US Open at Merion Golf Club.



And your commitment to dial back your aggressive style to keep your ball in play around a penal, rain-soaked East Course at Merion is paying dividends in the form of a 3-under-par 67 and the early first-round lead.

That's a far cry from the freewheeling mentality you've carried into past US Opens, most notably the decision to hit driver on the 72nd hole at the 2006 Open at Winged Foot which led to double bogey, a bitter second place finish and your classic line, "I am such an idiot."

Sure is nice to be playing approaches from the fairways on 11 of 14 holes. And stroking birdie putts on 14 of 18 greens.

It must have been tough to play the 500-yard 18th hole with a three-wood and five-wood while your buddy Keegan Bradley was hitting driver, mid-iron but you ended up with a par.

It's also encouraging that your short game has not suffered from this new, low-key approach. Your clutch putts for par on the rugged third, fifth and sixth holes tell me that you can handle the misses that are inevitable on such a tightly pinched setup.

All those par saves remind me of your run at Winged Foot in 2006. Just don't go crazy with any heroic attempts to salvage wayward tee shots with 3-iron recoveries from the deep rough.

Your round even had some gravy, like the delicate 20-footer for birdie on the first hole, the kick-in birdie after a precise wedge to a rain-softened seventh green and then the bomb on the ninth, your 17th hole on probably your longest day of the year.

That rain delay had Merion playing about as receptive as it will all week and you took advantage. Even better, you can sleep in tomorrow morning while the afternoon wave finishes up their first rounds.

This calculated risk strategy seems to be working out. So far, so good.

Mark McLaughlin has reported on the PGA Tour for the New York Post, FoxSports.com, Greensboro News & Record, and Burlington (N.C.) Times-News. He is a past member of the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association. Follow him on Twitter@markmacduke.

Mystery of Merion starts to unfold at US Open

Mystery of Merion starts to unfold at US Open











PGA.COM June 13, 2013 4:41 PM

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The U.S. Open has returned to Merion after 32 year away.(Getty Images)


By Doug Ferguson, Associated Press

ARDMORE, Pa. - The affection was genuine. Even better was beating Jack Nicklaus in a playoff. So when Lee Trevino got his hands on the U.S. Open trophy in 1971, the man who never lacked for one-liners gushed, "I love Merion, and I don't even know her last name."

For this generation of stars, Merion is more like a blind date.

No other course with four U.S. Opens had to wait such a long time - 32 years - for another chance to test the world's best players. Even with Tiger Woods back to No. 1 and winning at a ridiculous rate, so much of the talk at this major championship has been about Merion.

For years, it was considered too small to handle such a big tournament and the big hitters with their modern equipment. And with soft greens from more than 6 inches of rain in the last week, the question is whether the course will yield the kind of scores rarely seen at the toughest test in golf.

On Thursday, the mystery of Merion will start to unfold.

"It's been how long, 32 years? And with all the technology since then?" Steve Stricker said as he headed to the first tee Wednesday for one last practice round. "Someone asked me the other day about someone shooting a 62. And what I wanted to say was, `You're crazy.' But you just don't know. We don't know what's going to happen. And in a way, that's kind of cool."

Not so cool was the weather expected for the opening round.

Merion already took a beating last Friday when more than 3 inches of rain sent water over the edges of some bunkers and left small streams on fairways and greens. More rain on Monday caused the course to be closed three times.

The forecast called for increasing clouds, gusts and showers Thursday morning, with stronger storms likely to arrive around noon.

"Sure, we want it firm and fast," USGA Vice President Thomas O'Toole said Wednesday. "We happen to play a sport that's played outdoors. We received significant rain over the last week, and some tell us that we'll have even more significant rain tomorrow. So it's not a perfect world. It's not a perfect game. But we take what we're dealt with."

Whether a golf course is big or small, soft greens typically are a recipe for low scores. Then again, Merion is not a typical golf course.

It measures 6,996 yards on the scorecard - the shortest of any major championship in nine years - and has a stretch of seven holes in the middle that are short even by yesterday's standards. Compare those holes with the scorecard from when Ben Hogan won the 1950 U.S. Open at Merion, and four of those holes were actually longer by a few yards in Hogan's day.

Players typically reach for the wedge to chip out of the rough around the greens at the U.S. Open. At Merion, they could be hitting wedge into the green for their second shot on at least six holes. That's what has caused all the clamor about low scores.


And with the rain, it's reminiscent of how Congressional was vulnerable two years ago, when Rory McIlroy shattered U.S. Open scoring records at 16-under 268.

"I've been reading about how many scoring records are going to be broken," Nick Watney said. "I've been around here once. And I think that's insane. It's funny to me. People look at the yardage and think it's going to be easy. Even if it's soft, the greens are sloped. The rough is thick. OK, we'll have wedges into some of the greens, but that doesn't mean you make birdie on all those holes. There's enough tough holes to counteract that."

Even so, the winning score has gone down in each of the four previous U.S. Opens at Merion, from Olin Dutra at 13 over par in 1934 to David Graham winning at 7 under in 1981, the last time this major championship was here.

"Where did David Graham shoot 7 under? From there?" Nick Watney asked as he pointed the end of his driver to a spot some 30 yards from where he was standing. "Because he didn't do it from here."

Watney was standing in the middle of the putting green. He took three steps to his right and was standing on the 14th tee. As an example of longer holes being made more difficult, a new tee on the 464-yard hole is where members practice putting.

The biggest fear with rain on the horizon is what will happen the rest of the week. The forecast is reasonable after Thursday, but in soft conditions, balls start to pick up clumps of mud as the sun starts to dry the course. And while players often are allowed to lift, clean and place their golf balls in the fairway in muddy conditions on the PGA Tour, they don't do that at the U.S. Open.

The USGA famously referred to the local rule as "lift, clean and cheat."

"We wouldn't be adopting that rule this week," O'Toole said.

It all begins with Cliff Kresge hitting the opening shot of the 113th U.S. Open at 6:45 a.m. local timeThursday - weather permitting, of course.

Woods, McIlroy and Masters champion Adam Scott play Thursday afternoon in the power grouping of Nos. 1, 2 and 3 in the world. Sergio Garcia plays on the opposite side of the draw, teeing off Thursday morning. So does Phil Mickelson, who left Philadelphia on Monday when the weather was bad to practice in San Diego. He planned on being home, anyway, so he could watch his oldest daughter graduate from the eighth-grade. Mickelson was scheduled to arrive about 4:15 a.m. Thursday, just three hours before his tee time.

Stricker called Merion the "longest short course I've ever played." Graeme McDowell is another guy who isn't buying into the fear over low scoring.

"Everyone is saying that it's going to be 62s and 63s on this golf course, which I kind of disagree with at the minute," McDowell said. "I think 10 or 11 of these golf holes are as tough as any U.S. Open I've seen."

The lowest score in major championship history is 63, and it has happened only four times in the U.S. Open - Johnny Miller at Oakmont in 1973 on a soggy course, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf on the same day at Baltusrol in 1980 during a wet week, and Vijay Singh on a rain-softened course at Olympia Fields in 2003.

"You've got more birdie opportunities than ever," Ernie Els said. "I'm playing my 21st U.S. Open, so I've seen a lot of trouble out there. But this is one where you can get on a run. You can make some 3s. That's not a number that's really familiar in the U.S. Open. But as I say, you start missing shots, the rough is as bad as I've ever seen it."

Tiger Woods appears to tweak wrist on second swing of U.S. Open

Tiger Woods appears to tweak wrist on second swing of U.S. Open











Eric Adelson June 13, 2013 6:39 PMYahoo Sports





ARDMORE, Pa. – Five years after limping through his last major victory with a serious leg injury, Tiger Woods appears to be dealing with new pain.



Three times in 11 holes the No. 1 golfer in the world shook his left wrist after hitting a shot out of the thick rough at Merion Golf Club. The first came on the very first hole of the U.S. Open when Woods grimaced in after hitting the approach shot, only his second swing of the tournament.

Four holes later, Woods again landed in the right rough and used a wood to put his second shot onto the green. After following through, however, he winced and grabbed the same wrist.







View gallery.Woods struggled in the early goings Thursday. He was 1-over par through four holes before play was suspended due to weather – a delay he likely appreciated.



Woods' playing partners, Adam Scott and Rory McIlroy, were both 1-under under through four before the weather horn blew while the threesome was on the fifth green.

Woods dropped another stroke after play resumed, but got back to plus-1 after dropping a lengthy putt – 60 feet or so – on No. 6.

Then at 11, Woods again found himself in the rough and again he shook his wrist after hitting the shot, this time in the most demonstrative manner yet. A few moments later, as Woods was lining up a par putt, play was suspended for the day due to darkness. Tiger would make the putt after play resumed Friday, but bogey the 12th en route to a 3-over 73. he's six shots back of first-round leader Phil Mickelson, who fired an improbable 67.

All three shots that caused Woods' pain came while he was trying to hit out of the rough, which is quite deep at Merion. In both cases, Woods tried to recover from errant tee shots with forceful swings through the thick grass. He did not need any medical attention.

After the partial round, Woods didn't say much and didn't address his wrist. "I've got a lot of holes to play tomorrow," he said.

Wrist injuries are very common in golf, as players propel the club at rapid speeds through every swing. Woods tweaked his right wrist last year, in the first tournament of 2012 at Pebble Beach, yet did not need to withdraw.






Related coverage on Yahoo! Sports:

Duke notches first PGA Tour win in playoff over Stroud

Duke notches first PGA Tour win in playoff over Stroud











June 23, 2013 6:52 PM



(Reuters) - Tour veteran Ken Duke beat fellow AmericanChris Stroud with a birdie on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff to win the Travelers Championship on Sunday to notch his first PGA victory at the age of 44.

After they both parred the 18th in the first hole of sudden-death, they returned to the 18th tee. This time Dukeknocked his approach inside three feet and sank the winning birdie putt after Stroud's long birdie try trickled by the hole.

Both players finished the regulation 72 holes in 12 under par at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut, with Duke firing a four-under 66 and Stroud chipping in at the last to post a 67 and force the playoff.

Graham DeLaet of Canada finished one stroke out of the playoff on 11-under-par 269 after shooting 69.

Another stroke back was 2012 Masters champion Bubba Watson, who relinquished the lead with a triple-bogey six on the par-three 16th after finding the water fronting the green with his tee shot.

(Reporting by Larry Fine in New York; Editing by Mark Meadows)

Golf-U.S. PGA Tour Travelers Championship scores

Golf-U.S. PGA Tour Travelers Championship scores











June 23, 2013 6:52 PM


June 23 (Infostrada Sports) - Scores from the U.S. PGA Tour Travelers Championship at the par-70 course on Sunday in Cromwell, Connecticut

Ken Duke wins play-off at the second extra hole

268 Ken Duke (U.S.) 69 68 65 66

268 Chris Stroud (U.S.) 66 69 66 67

269 Graham DeLaet (Canada) 65 70 65 69

270 Bubba Watson (U.S.) 63 67 70 70

271 Webb Simpson (U.S.) 65 69 72 65

J.J. Henry (U.S.) 68 67 68 68

272 Ryan Moore (U.S.) 68 70 66 68

Charley Hoffman (U.S.) 61 73 66 72

273 Angel Cabrera (Argentina) 67 72 71 63

Stuart Appleby (Australia) 69 67 69 68

Morgan Hoffmann (U.S.) 68 71 66 68

Jeff Maggert (U.S.) 70 70 65 68

274 Rickie Fowler (U.S.) 72 68 70 64

Brendan Steele (U.S.) 68 68 72 66

Ricky Barnes (U.S.) 67 68 71 68

Russell Knox (Britain) 69 67 69 69

Justin Rose (Britain) 67 68 68 71

275 Kevin Sutherland (U.S.) 69 70 68 68

Keegan Bradley (U.S.) 69 65 72 69

Patrick Reed (U.S.) 66 66 73 70

Tommy Gainey (U.S.) 66 67 70 72

Jim Herman (U.S.) 69 67 67 72

Nick O'Hern (Australia) 67 66 68 74


276 Gary Christian (Britain) 71 69 70 66

Greg Owen (Britain) 70 69 69 68

Jerry Kelly (U.S.) 67 68 71 70

Andres Romero (Argentina) 71 68 67 70

Hunter Mahan (U.S.) 62 71 70 73

Nicholas Thompson (U.S.) 71 66 66 73

277 Bryce Molder (U.S.) 67 70 73 67

Cameron Percy (Australia) 71 68 71 67

Erik Compton (U.S.) 72 66 71 68

Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) 69 70 70 68

William McGirt (U.S.) 67 68 73 69

Aaron Watkins (U.S.) 69 69 70 69

Chris Williams (U.S.) 71 68 69 69

John Merrick (U.S.) 65 71 71 70

D.J. Trahan (U.S.) 71 68 68 70

Brian Davis (Britain) 72 67 66 72

Marc Leishman (Australia) 66 70 68 73

Justin Thomas (U.S.) 72 66 66 73

Richard Lee (U.S.) 66 71 66 74

278 Jonas Blixt (Sweden) 70 67 73 68

Chez Reavie (U.S.) 71 69 70 68

Bo Van Pelt (U.S.) 67 70 72 69

K.J. Choi (South Korea) 70 68 70 70

Harris English (U.S.) 72 67 69 70

Vijay Singh (Fiji) 70 68 69 71


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Ian Poulter (Britain) 73 66 67 72

Tag Ridings (U.S.) 68 65 71 74

279 Camilo Villegas (Colombia) 65 70 75 69

Lee Dong-Hwan (South Korea) 72 68 70 69

Tom Gillis (U.S.) 69 69 71 70

Brad Fritsch (Canada) 70 69 70 70

Kevin Stadler (U.S.) 68 67 73 71

Brian Gay (U.S.) 68 69 71 71

Brian Harman (U.S.) 69 69 69 72

280 Zach Johnson (U.S.) 65 70 75 70

Noh Seung-Yul (South Korea) 68 68 72 72

Robert Streb (U.S.) 67 70 70 73

Chris Kirk (U.S.) 66 72 69 73

Tim Clark (South Africa) 73 67 66 74

281 Dicky Pride (U.S.) 67 71 72 71

David Mathis (U.S.) 67 71 72 71

Mark Wilson (U.S.) 70 69 71 71

Heath Slocum (U.S.) 71 69 70 71

Brendon De Jonge (Zimbabwe) 67 67 75 72

Tim Petrovic (U.S.) 69 70 70 72

282 David Branshaw (U.S.) 67 71 72 72

283 Rod Pampling (Australia) 65 74 71 73

Chad Campbell (U.S.) 70 69 70 74

284 Casey Wittenberg (U.S.) 68 69 71 76

Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 66 66 72 80

287 Lee Westwood (Britain) 67 73 69 78

Two early starters set course record at Meadows

Two early starters set course record at Meadows












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View gallery


Corey Prugh admitted to having nerves before he teed off, but still shattered the existing Meadows Course record. (Montana Pritchard/The PGA of America)

PGA.COM June 23, 2013 7:29 PM


By T.J. Auclair, PGA.com Interactive Producer

SUNRIVER, Ore. - Prior to a shot even being hit in the 46thPGA Professional National Championship at the Sunriver Resort on Sunday, all 312 players in the field knew that if there was a low score to be had, it would be at the Meadows Course.

The Meadows is being used along with the more difficultCrosswater Club for the first two rounds before the cut is made and play moves exclusively to Crosswater for the final 36 holes.

What players probably didn't realize, is just how low some could go at the Meadows.

Playing early and through a pitter-patter of rain that picked up in intensity at times, Corey Prugh and Rod Perry each blitzed the Meadows Course to the tune of an amazing, course-record, 8-under 63 to share the clubhouse lead.

Prugh and Perry were an incredible five shots better than fellow early starters Kirk Hanefeld, Stu Ingrahamand David Muttitt. All three finished with a 3-under 68.

"As long as it's not cold, nothing really bothers me," said Prugh, a PGA assistant Professional at Manito Golf and Country Club in Spokane, Wash. "It wasn't cold and wet is fine with me. I'm from the Northwest and it gets wet up here. I tried to keep it pretty simple. I got lucky, a few putts fell - even a couple from some distance. I actually missed a couple of short ones, but I hit them good. As long as you're hitting them fine, they'll fall in eventually. It was pretty simple. I just putted good."

Prugh, the older brother of Alex Prugh, who plays on the Web.com Tour and has played on the PGA Tour, finished seventh in his PNC debut a year ago, which earned him a trip to the PGA Championship. Even with those experiences under his belt, Prugh still felt some nerves when he teed off Sunday morning.

"I have tons of nerves always.," he said. "Tiger said once, 'If you're not nervous, you don't care.' I'm always nervous. The experience was good as a confidence booster meaning that I didn't have to reinvent some sort of wheel to get as good as I believe I am, but as good as everybody else is."


Without question, the putter was friendly to Prugh in Round 1. Like Perry, he needed just 25 putts.

Playing the back nine first, Prugh parred his first three holes before rolling off six consecutive birdies beginning on No. 13. Birdie putts from 10 and 15 feet, respectively, dropped on holes 14 and 15, before Prugh buried a 40-footer for birdie at No. 16 and a 20-footer at 18.

"The greens were perfect," Prugh said. "Hats off to the grounds crew at both places. It's just perfect. It's easy. The greens aren't too tricky to read and they're rolling at a perfect speed. Early on they felt a little slow with the rain, but I figured it out. Sometimes you figure it out, I guess and some days you don't."

For his part, Perry - the PGA Head Professional at Crane Lakes Golf Course in Port Orange, Fla., who tied for second at the 2012 PNC - also got hot on the back nine after going out in 3-under 32.

Perry birdied Nos. 11-14 to get to 7 under before picking up one last birdie on the par-5 17th to finish at 8 under.

"I knew I was on the lesser of the evils today, playing the Meadows Course," said Perry, who believed that he last posted a 63 in a 2010 North Florida PGA Section event. "So, I knew I needed to get off to a good start, knowing that tomorrow was going to be more challenging and playing in the afternoon (at Crosswater Club), the wind was going to blow more and also playing the more difficult golf course. I just loved the golf course. It's in perfect condition and the greens were phenomenal. You can make some putts if you're lucky enough to hit it in there close. I was fortunate to do that today."

Perry missed only three greens and got what he called his big break of the round with his putter.

"I got away with one," he said. "I didn't get up and down (for birdie) from the greenside bunker on 10 (a 534-yard par 5), and felt like I had dropped half a shot. I knew the big guys are going to be hitting long irons in there, no problem. Then, I made about a 45-footer on 11 that was moving pretty good. It just happened to hit the center of the hole. That kept my round together. If that putt goes by four or five feet and I miss it, all of a sudden I've dropped a shot and half starting the back nine. I got a cookie out of the cookie jar without getting my hand slapped."

There's still plenty of golf to be played in Round 1, but Prugh and Perry both set an early mark that'll be difficult to top. So good, in fact, that it broke the competitive course mark of 65, set by 2004 National Champion Bob Sowards of Dublin, Ohio, in the second round of the 2007 PGA Professional National Championship.