Latest news with #FedExCup
The Advertiser
6 hours ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Major winner 'very sorry' for damaging Oakmont lockers
Wyndham Clark has delivered an apology for damaging Oakmont Country Club lockers in anger last week at the US Open. Clark missed the cut at the third major championship of the season, going 74-74 (eight over par) through two rounds. On Saturday, social media posts from golf podcaster Todd "Tron Carter" Schuster of "No Laying Up" showed photos he obtained from the Oakmont locker room. Two of the lockers' doors were seriously damaged, with Schuster connecting it to Clark. Oakmont officials later confirmed Clark's locker had been damaged. Clark was asked about the incident Thursday at the Travelers Championship after he opened with a six-under 64. "Yeah, I mean, I've had a lot of highs and lows in my career, especially this year some lows," Clark said. "I made a mistake that I deeply regret. I'm very sorry for what happened." "But I'd also like to move on, not only for myself but for Oakmont, for the USGA, and kind of focus on the rest of this year and things that come up. "I still want to try to make the Ryder Cup team. I still am on the outside looking in for the FedEx Cup. So I'm starting to move on and focus on those things." Clark did not comment further on the matter. It was not known whether he had apologised directly to Oakmont. It was the second straight major where Clark, the 2023 US Open champion, had to apologise for aggressive behaviour. At the PGA Championship in May, following a poor drive, Clark threw his driver toward the back of the tee box. It crashed into signage with a volunteer standing mere feet away, and the head of the club snapped off. Wyndham Clark has delivered an apology for damaging Oakmont Country Club lockers in anger last week at the US Open. Clark missed the cut at the third major championship of the season, going 74-74 (eight over par) through two rounds. On Saturday, social media posts from golf podcaster Todd "Tron Carter" Schuster of "No Laying Up" showed photos he obtained from the Oakmont locker room. Two of the lockers' doors were seriously damaged, with Schuster connecting it to Clark. Oakmont officials later confirmed Clark's locker had been damaged. Clark was asked about the incident Thursday at the Travelers Championship after he opened with a six-under 64. "Yeah, I mean, I've had a lot of highs and lows in my career, especially this year some lows," Clark said. "I made a mistake that I deeply regret. I'm very sorry for what happened." "But I'd also like to move on, not only for myself but for Oakmont, for the USGA, and kind of focus on the rest of this year and things that come up. "I still want to try to make the Ryder Cup team. I still am on the outside looking in for the FedEx Cup. So I'm starting to move on and focus on those things." Clark did not comment further on the matter. It was not known whether he had apologised directly to Oakmont. It was the second straight major where Clark, the 2023 US Open champion, had to apologise for aggressive behaviour. At the PGA Championship in May, following a poor drive, Clark threw his driver toward the back of the tee box. It crashed into signage with a volunteer standing mere feet away, and the head of the club snapped off. Wyndham Clark has delivered an apology for damaging Oakmont Country Club lockers in anger last week at the US Open. Clark missed the cut at the third major championship of the season, going 74-74 (eight over par) through two rounds. On Saturday, social media posts from golf podcaster Todd "Tron Carter" Schuster of "No Laying Up" showed photos he obtained from the Oakmont locker room. Two of the lockers' doors were seriously damaged, with Schuster connecting it to Clark. Oakmont officials later confirmed Clark's locker had been damaged. Clark was asked about the incident Thursday at the Travelers Championship after he opened with a six-under 64. "Yeah, I mean, I've had a lot of highs and lows in my career, especially this year some lows," Clark said. "I made a mistake that I deeply regret. I'm very sorry for what happened." "But I'd also like to move on, not only for myself but for Oakmont, for the USGA, and kind of focus on the rest of this year and things that come up. "I still want to try to make the Ryder Cup team. I still am on the outside looking in for the FedEx Cup. So I'm starting to move on and focus on those things." Clark did not comment further on the matter. It was not known whether he had apologised directly to Oakmont. It was the second straight major where Clark, the 2023 US Open champion, had to apologise for aggressive behaviour. At the PGA Championship in May, following a poor drive, Clark threw his driver toward the back of the tee box. It crashed into signage with a volunteer standing mere feet away, and the head of the club snapped off. Wyndham Clark has delivered an apology for damaging Oakmont Country Club lockers in anger last week at the US Open. Clark missed the cut at the third major championship of the season, going 74-74 (eight over par) through two rounds. On Saturday, social media posts from golf podcaster Todd "Tron Carter" Schuster of "No Laying Up" showed photos he obtained from the Oakmont locker room. Two of the lockers' doors were seriously damaged, with Schuster connecting it to Clark. Oakmont officials later confirmed Clark's locker had been damaged. Clark was asked about the incident Thursday at the Travelers Championship after he opened with a six-under 64. "Yeah, I mean, I've had a lot of highs and lows in my career, especially this year some lows," Clark said. "I made a mistake that I deeply regret. I'm very sorry for what happened." "But I'd also like to move on, not only for myself but for Oakmont, for the USGA, and kind of focus on the rest of this year and things that come up. "I still want to try to make the Ryder Cup team. I still am on the outside looking in for the FedEx Cup. So I'm starting to move on and focus on those things." Clark did not comment further on the matter. It was not known whether he had apologised directly to Oakmont. It was the second straight major where Clark, the 2023 US Open champion, had to apologise for aggressive behaviour. At the PGA Championship in May, following a poor drive, Clark threw his driver toward the back of the tee box. It crashed into signage with a volunteer standing mere feet away, and the head of the club snapped off.
7 hours ago
- Sport
Jordan Spieth withdraws after 13 holes from Travelers with shoulder blade injury
CROMWELL, Conn. -- Jordan Spieth was forced to withdraw from the Travelers Championship after 13 holes Thursday when tightness in his shoulder blade reached a point he couldn't swing without pain. Spieth said the injury appeared out of nowhere, perhaps from sleeping on it in a bad position. He noticed it on the range, had his physical trainer work on him before teeing off and it never got any better. He was 5 over for his round, with no birdies, when he informed playing partner Luke Clanton he could not continue and was taken off in a cart. 'I've never withdrawn from an event ever anywhere at any level, so I didn't really know what to do. It just became too much,' Spieth said. "I didn't see it turning around until probably Saturday. These things kind of last an extra day, and no matter what I was going to do, it was just going to be ... I don't know, it's unfortunate. 'I've been doing everything right, and I think it was just very random.' The timing was a blow to Spieth, who got into his first signature event this year without needing to rely on a sponsor exemption. His wife is due to give birth to their third child in a few weeks, and there were no plans to add a tournament before the British Open. Spieth has moved back into the top 50 in the world ranking and the top 40 of the FedEx Cup despite a late start to the season because of surgery on his left wrist last August. He said he felt a tug on both sides of his neck and upper back as he worked through his bag on the range. He stopped the session to get work on it, but as the round began it wasn't getting any better. The next goal was to finish the round because there is no 36-hole cut. 'It's a weird situation with an elevated event and no cut and important points,' he said. 'It's like, 'Well, what's the downside if I can finish, even if it's ugly?' And then I hit my tee shot on 13, and it legitimately really hurt.' Spieth tied for 23rd in the U.S. Open and was on the fringe of contention at the Memorial before he tied for seventh. ___
The Irish Sun
8 hours ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Jordan Spieth groans in agony and forced to pull out of Travelers Championship with injury
JORDAN SPIETH let out an ear-piercing groan as his Travelers Championship hopes ended with agonising injury at the 13th hole. The three-time 3 Jordan Spieth revealed he was in real pain as he withdrew 3 The Texan could be excused for taking a ride off the course The ex-World No.1 revealed his back had earlier locked up. The 31-year-old did all he could to battle on, having never pulled out of a tournament before. But after struggling to five-over after 12 holes, he accompanied his 13th tee shot with a cry of pain that meant enough was enough. So the Ryder Cup star had to exit early from the final Signature Event of the season at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut. READ MORE IN GOLF Earlier in the round he was spotted using a muscle massager on his upper back. But he explained his body had started to lock up even before that - during a warm-up on the ranges. Spieth was still keen to give the tournament a go as it's a no-cut event with extra FedExCup points at stake. Most read in Golf 3 Spieth was uncomfortable playing a 12th-hole bunker shot Credit: Reuters BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK And he said after his unfortunate early ending: "Everything was great in my gym session, and I've been very, very excited to go out and play. "Things have been getting better and better, and then my right scap [scapula on the upper back] just kind of locked — like tightened midway through the warm-up." Watch Bob MacIntyre's classy reaction after JJ Spaun holes winning putt at US Open Spieth said the problem moved up "all of a sudden" - then was all across his back. He ended his practice 30 minute early for treatment from a physio before starting the opening round. Spieth explained his loud near-grunt of anguish by saying his 13th tee shot "legitimately really hurt". It meant he was "not going to be able to make a backswing that's even useful, and that's what happened on the [earlier] bunker shot." The Texan has just returned from wrist surgery but insisted his new injury was a surprise. Spieth began the event at 37th in the season's rankings - knowing that the top 70 in early August go into the FedExCup Playoffs and the top 50 make next year's Signature Events. He said his new setback was "incredibly frustrating" as he went into the Travelers Championship "very confident". Spieth added:" Everything I had done in practice and the pro-am showed me it's going to be a really good event. "It's just a very weird circumstance. It's disappointing ... we're having a baby here in a couple weeks, so I'll have some time off now, obviously, to get healthy. "But hopefully, after a few days, I go through the right process to just get right back to where I was."
The Sun
8 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Jordan Spieth groans in agony and forced to pull out of Travelers Championship with injury
JORDAN SPIETH let out an ear-piercing groan as his Travelers Championship hopes ended with agonising injury at the 13th hole. The three-time Major winner withdrew from the £15million tournament amid what he called "weird circumstances" on day one. 3 3 The ex-World No.1 revealed his back had earlier locked up. The 31-year-old did all he could to battle on, having never pulled out of a tournament before. But after struggling to five-over after 12 holes, he accompanied his 13th tee shot with a cry of pain that meant enough was enough. So the Ryder Cup star had to exit early from the final Signature Event of the season at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut. Spieth hitched a ride on a buggy to depart the scene. Earlier in the round he was spotted using a muscle massager on his upper back. But he explained his body had started to lock up even before that - during a warm-up on the ranges. Spieth was still keen to give the tournament a go as it's a no-cut event with extra FedExCup points at stake. 3 And he said after his unfortunate early ending: "Everything was great in my gym session, and I've been very, very excited to go out and play. "Things have been getting better and better, and then my right scap [scapula on the upper back] just kind of locked — like tightened midway through the warm-up." Watch Bob MacIntyre's classy reaction after JJ Spaun holes winning putt at US Open Spieth said the problem moved up "all of a sudden" - then was all across his back. He ended his practice 30 minute early for treatment from a physio before starting the opening round. Spieth explained his loud near-grunt of anguish by saying his 13th tee shot "legitimately really hurt". It meant he was "not going to be able to make a backswing that's even useful, and that's what happened on the [earlier] bunker shot." The Texan has just returned from wrist surgery but insisted his new injury was a surprise. Spieth began the event at 37th in the season's rankings - knowing that the top 70 in early August go into the FedExCup Playoffs and the top 50 make next year's Signature Events. He said his new setback was "incredibly frustrating" as he went into the Travelers Championship "very confident". Spieth added:" Everything I had done in practice and the pro-am showed me it's going to be a really good event. "It's just a very weird circumstance. It's disappointing ... we're having a baby here in a couple weeks, so I'll have some time off now, obviously, to get healthy. "But hopefully, after a few days, I go through the right process to just get right back to where I was."
USA Today
8 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
5 things we learned Thursday at the Travelers, from Scheffler's 62 to Spaun's slowdown
5 things we learned Thursday at the Travelers, from Scheffler's 62 to Spaun's slowdown Scottie Scheffler surged, J.J. Spaun stumbled, and Austin Eckroat broke through on a revealing Thursday at TPC River Highlands. CROMWELL, Conn. — TPC River Highlands is never going to be confused for Oakmont Country Club, site of last week's U.S. Open, but what the host venue of the Travelers Championship lacks in brutality, it makes up for in excitement and positive vibes. Players who qualify for this PGA Tour signature event love being at this no-cut, elevated FedEx Cup point event. With ideal scoring conditions in the morning, players with early tee times took advantage of receptive greens and soft fairways to go low — and a few of them showed flashes that they could be around on Sunday. When all the scorecards were signed, Scottie Scheffler and Austin Eckroat were atop the leaderboard at 8-under 62, two shots better than Wyndham Clark, Rory McIlroy and Keegan Bradley. Cameron Young shot an opening-round 65 and is in sixth, while eight golfers are tied for seventh at 4 under, including Viktor Hovland, Jason Day and Tommy Fleetwood. Here's five things we learned on Thursday in Cromwell: Scheffler shrugs off U.S. Open frustrations with a dialed-in 62 Scottie Scheffler didn't need to be perfect Thursday at TPC River Highlands — but on a few swings, he came awfully close. The world No. 1 fired an 8-under-par 62 in gusty afternoon conditions, matching Austin Eckroat for the early lead at the Travelers Championship. It was methodical, controlled golf — the kind that has become Scheffler's calling card. While others battled wind that kicked up just after lunch, Scheffler leaned on elite ball-striking and a tidy putting day to post his lowest round since winning at TPC Craig Ranch. One shot stood out. A 3-iron into the par-4 13th — flat flight, barely right of the flag, exactly the number — was, in his words, 'pretty much exactly what I was trying to do.' 'Very rarely throughout a tournament do you hit one exactly how you intend to,' he said. 'That was one of the few.' Scheffler showed no signs of lingering disappointment from last week's U.S. Open, where a poor start had him grinding just to make the weekend. Instead, he said Oakmont gave him more confidence, not less, particularly for how he stayed engaged mentally. 'I'm not going to sit around and waste time with what-ifs,' Scheffler said. 'I felt like last week was, oddly enough, as good as I've been mentally on the course throughout the season.' That mindset, paired with another elite round, suggests the defending champion at the Travelers Championship may not done winning this summer. Austin Eckroat found what he's been searching for all season Sometimes it's a major swing overhaul. Sometimes it's just one tiny tweak. For Austin Eckroat, it turned out to be the latter — a slight adjustment to the position of his right hand on the grip — and the result was a career-best 62 that gave him the early lead. Eckroat's been dealing with a left miss that's plagued him all year, but a pair of weeks at home, some input from friends and family, and a fresh look at his grip allowed him to feel like himself again. The confidence showed. 'I wasn't fearing the left ball today, which is huge,' Eckroat said after posting eight birdies and an eagle. 'It just felt really solid.' Eckroat hit 10 of 14 fairways, 15 of 18 greens and finish the day ranked No. 1 in Strokes Gained: Putting (+3.337). That, ladies and gentlemen, is how you get it done on the PGA Tour. It's fitting that this happened at TPC River Highlands, the site of his first professional start back in 2021. Eckroat reflected on that when he talked with the media Thursday morning, noting that back then he was a college kid with no logos on his shirt and his professional career in front of him. Today, he's a two-time PGA Tour winner looking to reassert himself—and he made a solid statement early. Rory McIlroy regains form Scoring chances at RBC Canadian Open and last week's U.S. Open were few and far between, which is why Rory McIlroy said the Travelers Championship and TPC River Highlands is, 'a nice tonic compared to last week.' McIlroy took advantage of easier scoring conditions Thursday to shoot a bogey-free 64, and his game appeared to be back in the form that helped him win the Players Championship and the Masters earlier this season. He hit eight of 14 fairways, 15 of 18 greens and needed just 27 putts in the first round to card six birdies. Asked what his approach was to this week, McIlroy said, 'I just want to see some good golf and see some better shots. I think if you concentrate on that, and you're concentrating on your quality of golf and concentrating on just trying to play to the best of your ability, the result will take care of itself.' McIlroy's 64 was his first sub-70 round since the second round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow in May and ties his low-round of the year, another 64 he shot on Sunday at the Texas Children's Houston Open in March. McIlroy and his partner at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, Shane Lowry, did shoot 64 in the opening-round Fourball session. Wake up: Davis Riley makes the most of his opportunity Talk about making the most of a late call. Davis Riley wasn't sure he'd even be in the Travelers Championship field until early Thursday morning. But when he got the word that he was in, he quickly turned opportunity into action by firing a 4-under 66. The Mississippi native has been on a heater, riding the wave of his victory with Keegan Bradley at the Zurich Classic and his strong showing at the U.S. Open. On Thursday, he kept the momentum going with a sharp, controlled round in the early wave. There's an ease to the way Riley is playing right now. The ball-striking is there, the putter's behaving, and even the mental game — often a challenge for young pros — is trending in the right direction. 'It was kind of a perfect morning to go out and score,' he said. 'Got the call, made the most of it.' Whether he can keep riding this run remains to be seen, but Riley's trending — and with that kind of trajectory, even a last-minute tee time can turn into something special. The Hangover, J.J. Spaun edition After draining a 64-foot bomb to win the U.S. Open on Sunday, J.J. Spaun's life has been a blur. Morning TV hits, radio interviews, celebratory texts, congratulatory hugs — you name it, Spaun's been part of it. What he hadn't done before arriving at TPC River Highlands? Practice. Hit balls. Prepare. That all caught up with him Thursday. Spaun shot a 3-over-par 73 in the opening round of the Travelers, a score that landed him near the bottom of the leaderboard on a day when the field averaged just under 69. The round included two birdies, three bogeys, and one double-bogey — a recipe for a gentle comedown after his career-defining high at Oakmont. But if the sluggish start surprised anyone, it probably wasn't Spaun. The good news? There's no cut at the Travelers. So Spaun will have at least 54 more holes to decompress, settle back into a rhythm, and maybe pick up where he left off on Sunday night. At the very least, he beat someone. Nick Dunlap brought up the rear with a 76.
