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Lickliter II among open qualifiers at Sony

Frank Lickliter II successfully navigated the four-spotter for this week's Sony Open in Hawaii.

Lickliter turned in a 66 at the Arnold Palmer Course at Turtle Bay in Kahuku, Hawaii, to share runner-up honors with Eric Dugas and Martin Trainer. A 65 gave Derek Tolan medalist honors. FL2 is a two-time PGA TOUR winner, but he went just 1-for-3 during the 2013 season and was a frequent attendee at the Monday sprints. If there's a positive spin, it's that one of his three personal-low 62s occurred at Waialae in 2004, the last time he survived the cut at the Sony (solo fourth). Tolan is a career 1-for-3 in TOUR events (T32, 2012 Puerto Rico Open). Dugas missed the cut in both of his previous PGA TOUR starts, including the 2012 Sony. And in his only previous TOUR appearance, Trainer tied for 71st at the 2011 Reno-Tahoe Open. The field at Waialae Country Club is now complete at 144.

Source: PGATOUR.com

Tue, Jan 7, 2014 10:38:00 AM

Connecticut native Stegmaier opens with 64

Beginning off No. 10 tee, World No. 424 Brett Stegmaier circled seven birdies in a nine-hole span en route to a 6-under-par 34-30=64 on Day 1 of the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut, to sit T2, one back of leader Jordan Spieth.

This is the Connecticut native's fourth appearance and he's yet to play more than 36 holes, missing cuts in 2016 (by 10) after rounds of 72-77, as well as 2010 and 2006, the latter his professional debut. It's his 21st start of the season, posting one top 25 among just seven made cuts (T21, RSM Classic). The University of Florida product was also T2 after 18 holes at the Genesis back in February, eventually finishing T39 (66-75-68-72). He found nine (of 14) fairways and 14 greens in regulation, posting 2.659 SG: Tee-to-Green. Stegmaier offset a walk-off bogey-5 at nine with seven birdies, including four straight at holes 13-16, 18, 1 and 3, four from between 10 and 16 feet, recording 1.500 putts per GIR and 3.371 SG: Putting.

Jun 22 - 7:02 PM

Wagner one back at Travelers w/ season-low 64

World No. 282 Johnson Wagner spun a season-low 6-under-par 31-33=64 in the first round of the Travelers Championship to sit T2, one shy of leader Jordan Spieth.

This is the 37-year-old's 11th Travelers with one prior top 25, a T17 in 2011 where he was T2 thru 36 holes (65-63) fading after rounds of 71-69. He's making his 20th start of the season, entering 140th in the FedExCup standings, and this ties his highest position on the leaderboard after any round. The Virginia Tech product was T2 after Rounds 2 and 3 at the season-opening Safeway, eventually finishing a season-best T3, which is his lone top 10 of the season. He squared a lone bogey-5 at five, offset by seven birdies at Nos. 1, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10 and 18, five from between 10 and 20 feet, kicking off with a pitch-in 3 at the first from 69'3" away. The Texas native hit nine (of 14) fairways and 12 greens in regulation, posting 1.500 putts per GIR and 4.750 SG: Putting, currently No. 1 in the latter. His previous low this season was 65/R1 in Napa, though he did shoot 64 two times while teamed with Brian Harman at the Zurich.

Jun 22 - 6:44 PM

Spieth season-tying-low 63; leads Travelers

Making his tournament debut, World No. 6 Jordan Spieth twirled a season-tying-low 7-under-par 31-32=63 in the first round of the Travelers Championship, good a one-shot lead over Johnson Wagner and Brett Stegmaier.

This is Spieth's sixth career 18-hole lead/co-lead in 120 career events (112 pro). He's 1-for-5 converting those, winning the 2015 Masters (wire-to-wire). It's the 23-year-old's second 18-hole lead/co-lead this season in 16 starts, joining the Zurich Classic, where he (and teammate Ryan Palmer) were T1 after Day 1, eventually finishing solo 4th. He chased the Zurich with two missed cuts, T2 in his DEAN & DELUCA title defense, T13 at the Memorial, and T35 at the U.S. Open (73-71-76-69). The Texan found eight (of 14) fairways and 15 greens in regulation, gaining 3.059 strokes approaching-the-green and 5.233 tee-to-green. He squared a lone bogey-5 at nine (failed sand save), silenced by eight birdies at Nos. 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 13, 14 and 18, posting 1.533 putts per GIR and 1.827 SG: Putting. Spieth's split featured four from between eight and 23 feet, needing 27 total putts. The 63 matches a season low which he'd shot two prior times, most recently at the WGC-Mexico/R3.

Jun 22 - 6:21 PM

Ormsby's 64 nabs BMW International Open lead

Wade Ormsby caressed a magnificent 8-under-par 30-34=64 to claim the round one lead in the BMW International Open at Golfclub Munchen Eichenried, one clear of Thomas Detry.

Coming off three missed cuts, the Australian revealed in his post-round Sky Sports interview that he was uncomfortable with his ball-striking and arrived at the course early for a lesson with his coach. It is something, he added, "that is unusual for me." Perhaps that should change because he was electric on the back nine (his first), ticking 11, 12 and 13 in a row before closing with three more birdies in four holes at 15, 16 and 18. Becalmed for five holes on the front nine, he closed the round out with more red at the two front nine par-5s, 6 and 9. It’s only the second round one lead of his career. The previous came at the 2015 KLM Open when he carded an opening 61.

Jun 22 - 1:04 PM

Sergio sparkles on Germany return; T2 with 66

Sergio Garcia usually shines the week after the U.S. Open and did so again today after opening his bid for victory at the BMW International Open in Germany with a 6-under-par 33-33=66, good enough for T2 in the clubhouse with the morning wave finishing up.

That's just one swing behind leader Thomas Detry of Belgium. The last four times Garcia has played the week after the year's second major, he's made the top seven on three occasions (5-25-2-7 his full results) and he's on course for another good post-U.S. Open week after making it look easy at Golfclub München Eichenried today. A former runner-up at this venue (2011), Garcia set out from the 10th and registered his first birdie at No. 11. He picked off further red numbers at 16 and 18 before adding a second nine of 33 coming home. That was thanks to birdies at 5, 6 and 8. So far so good for the Masters winner and a first title since his Augusta National triumph is now very much on the cards.

Jun 22 - 7:39 AM

Detry fires 65; posts clubhouse lead at BMW

Thomas Detry torched Golfclub München Eichenried for a 7-under-par 32-33=65 in round one of the BMW International Open in Germany, good enough for a one-shot clubhouse lead over Sergio Garcia and Joost Luiten.

They say many good rounds start with a bogey (although who are 'they' and is it really the case?) and the young Belgian's morning lap opened with a square after taking five swishes at the par-4 1st. But after that, it was tale of birdies and one dramatic eagle for the rookie. Detry recovered from his opening bogey with back-to-back circles at 2 and 3 and made further gains with red numbers at 5, 6 and 9. His second nine featured seven pars but he hoisted himself to 7-under with a pair of deuces at 12 and 13, the latter for eagle after he holed out with his second shot. This is the best first-round score (by two strokes) of his brief European Tour career.

Jun 22 - 7:30 AM

Mr. 58 Furyk returns to scene of the crime

World No. 79 and 2018 Ryder Cup Team Captain Jim Furyk returns for his sixth Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands, site of his historic Sunday 58 to close out last year's edition, posting the mother of all back-door top 10s, climbing 65 places on the leaderboard to T5.

Furyk was one of 18 players last year to make the cut on the number, chasing an opening 3-over 73 with bogey-free 66, saving par from 7'0" at the ninth (his final hole) to make the weekend. He was over-par again in R3 (72), beginning R4 in the third group of the morning, 5 hours and 19 minutes before the final pairing was scheduled out. In his 23rd season on TOUR and 1,959th career round, Furyk pelted all 18 greens, carding one hole-out eagle-2 and 10 birdies, including a personal best seven straight, en route to besting the field average in R4 by 10.658 strokes. He became the first player to shoot 58 on TOUR and the first to record two sub-60 laps. The 47-year-old checks in this week 137th in the FedExCup and off a T23 at the U.S. Open, which was the best finish of 11 U.S. Open champs that were at Erin Hills, and ended a streak of six straight missed cuts on TOUR.

Source: PGATOUR.com

Jun 21 - 12:45 PM

Garcia heads from Erin Hills to south Germany

Sergio Garcia had to settle for T21 in the U.S. Open; next up is a trip to Golfclub München Eichenried for the BMW International Open.

The Masters champ has been steady if unspectacular since his Augusta National breakthrough (30-20-12-21) but will now look to step it up at Golfclub München Eichenried. He has a good record there and, from five starts, boasts a second place in 2011, top sevens in 2001 and 2013 and another top 25 in 2004. Overall in Germany, he's posted top 25s in 10 of his 13 tournaments. One obvious question for an elite player is how will they perform the week after a major? Sergio's stats are encouraging. Across this event and the Travelers Championship (the PGA TOUR's usual post-U.S. Open tournament), he's recovered from his exertions at the year's second major with finishes of 5-25-2-7 over the last four years. Add that to his course and location form and gamers should have every confidence in the Spaniard this week.

Source: EuropeanTour.com

Jun 21 - 6:10 AM

Knox returns to Travelers for title defense

World No. 41 Russell Knox posted four rounds of 68 or better en route to his victory at the 2016 Travelers Championship, returning this week for a chance to defend his title.

Knox landed 57-of-72 greens in regulation last year, gaining 5.87 strokes approaching-the-green. He circled 20 birdies by week's end while swallowing just six bogeys (and nothing worse). That was good enough for a one-shot victory over Jerry Kelly. It was his fifth time playing the event, with a T13 in 2013 being his only other top 60. More recently, Knox ranks 57th in the FedExCup race this year, but most of his damage was done in the fall. While his form isn't jumping off the page, gamers should expect a solid week out of the defending champ as he takes on a course he really likes. After that, he's expected to head overseas to play in a few prep events before the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

Source: PGATOUR.com

Jun 20 - 10:58 AM

Kaymer seeks to break 3 year winless streak

Former tournament champion Martin Kaymer took a private plane from Erin Hills to Munich for this week’s home match, the BMW International Open at Golfclub München Eichenried.

Kaymer has enjoyed (and endured) a slightly cock-eyed record at Eichenried. Back in 2008 he claimed victory on the course, but even then he proved that he’s well capable of poor rounds on the track, posting 68-63-67 to hold the 54-hole lead before adding a 75 as he limped home. He owns another three efforts that are T21 or better, but he’s missed four cuts and was T58 on debut back in 2003. Since T4 in the Honda Classic he hasn’t finished better than T16 although he briefly threatened to do so last week when a second round 69 at the U.S. Open got him to T19, but he spent the weekend going backwards with laps of 75 and 73. It’s now exactly three years since his last win, the 2014 U.S. Open.

Source: EuropeanTour.com

Jun 20 - 6:42 AM

Hoge headlines the Travelers Monday qualifier

Tom Hoge twirled a 5-under-par 35-32=67 during the Monday qualifier into this week's Travelers Championship, earning his way alongside Chase Seiffert, Neil Johnson, and Zach Zaback (all finishing at 5-under 67).

Hoge traded four birdies and an eagle with just one bogey today at Ellington Ridge Country Club. The TCU alum currently ranks 181st in the FedExCup standings, so any and all starts are crucial for his hopes of 2018 status. Neil Johnson will be making his second career PGA TOUR starts (MC/2017 Puerto Rico Open). Chase Seiffert missed the cut in his PGA TOUR debut (2013 St. Jude Classic) and finished T74 in his only other start (2017 RSM Classic). Lastly, Zach Zaback will be making his PGA TOUR debut. The UConn Husky alum is from Farmington, Connecticut, and calls TPC River Highlands his home course.

Source: PGA.com -- Connecticut Section

Jun 19 - 3:55 PM