Billy Hurley III was the highlight of the weekend, winning the Quicken Loans National to earn his first career PGA Tour victory. He was joined in the winner’s circle this week by Lydia Ko on the LPGA Tour, Henrick Stenson on the European Tour, and very nearly by Charlie Woods on the junior circuit.
We’ll also check in on the rapidly declining Olympic golf player pool, see how Oakmont looks after the U.S. Open, and find out why there won’t be a Greenbrier Classic this year. All that plus Gary Player being Gary Player.
Let’s hit the links.
Hole #1: Billy Hurley III Wins First PGA Tour Event
Billy Hurley III, a Navy vet, wins his first PGA Tour event at the Quicken Loans National. “I couldn’t think of a better tournament for my first PGA Tour win,” said Hurley. [ Link]
Hole #2: Lydia Ko Wins in Arkansas
Picking up her third win of the year, Lydia Ko won the Northwest Arkansas Championship, played at Pinnacle Country Club (shoutout to TST reader and forum member Kyle Paulhus, a member at Pinnacle CC). Ko has now shot under par in all 12 rounds she’s played at Pinnacle [ Link]
Hole #3: Tiger’s Son Finishes T2 at Junior Event
Look, I never said Tiger was better than Jack. I said the Woodses were better than the Nicklauses! [ Link]
Hole #4: A Complete List of the Golfers Who Have Withdrawn From the Olympics
I can’t really blame them. [ Link]
Hole #5: CBS Reporter Kyle Porter Plays Oakmont After the Open
It’s an eerie thing, playing a golf course right after the professionals roll through. [ Link]
Hole #6: Rules Change Suggestions from Golf Digest
Look, the Rules of Golf suck. They’re overbearing, they seem insane, and they’re impossible to memorize. And yet, they’ve evolved like that for a reason. Playing golf under any other set of reasons just doesn’t work. [ Link]
Hole #7: Gary Player, Olympic Captain and Competitor?
Do not think for a second he won’t actually do it. Not for one second. [ Link]
Hole #8: PGA Tour Cancels Greenbrier
The Greenbrier, as well as much of West Virginia, has been overrun with flooding, causing much more damage than a cancelled golf tournament. [ Link]
Hole #9: Stenson Wins in Germany
If I told you Henrick Stenson hadn’t won in three years, would you believe me? [ Link]