Planet Golf — 02 July 2021 by GW staff and news services
Cam Davis wins three-way playoff

DETROIT – Kramer Hickok was standing greenside as Cam Davis, Troy Merritt and Joaquin Niemann began a sudden-death playoff at the Rocket Mortgage Classic on Sunday.

The charter flight to the John Deere Classic wouldn’t leave until things were decided, so there was nothing much to do but go out and take in some extra golf.

”These guys have a long way to go before they equal what you did last week,” someone said.

Hickok smiled.

One week after Harris English needed eight playoff holes to beat Hickok at the Travelers Championship, Davis needed five to turn back Merritt, who missed a six-foot par putt at the par-3 15th hole to end it. It was the first PGA TOUR victory for Davis, a 26-year-old Australian who is married to an American and now makes his home in Seattle.

“It was a long playoff,” he said. “We did get close to last week, but just glad I finished the way I did.”

Niemann bogeyed the first playoff hole, the par-4 18th, to leave the stage to Davis and Merritt.

That Davis was even part of the playoff was something of a surprise. Merritt and Niemann, playing in the final twosome, looked to be the main protagonists here, but Davis kicked his round into overdrive on the last two holes of regulation. First he holed out for eagle from the sand on 17 – a miracle from 50 feet – and then with a birdie putt from just under 6 1/2 feet on 18.

He moved from 81st to 34th in the FedExCup.

“It’s still so surreal for me,” he said. “I’ve been in some good positions before, but to play the golf that I played coming down the stretch was just awesome.”

Merritt, 35, was going for his third TOUR victory and was on the ropes for much of the playoff, salvaging pars to keep it going. Both he and Davis hit epic second shots over the water hazard in front of the green at the par-5 14th hole to set up two-putt birdies.

His tee shot at the par-3 15th, the fifth extra hole, was covering the flag but came up inches short and bounced backward into the rough, from which he failed to get up and down.

“Cam did what he had to do,” said Merritt, whose week included a hole-in-one Saturday. “He put it on the green every hole, had a chance to win five times, hit great putts and he just played fantastic. My hat’s off to him. We gave it all we had, it was just not quite good enough.”

Davis’ biggest win prior to Sunday was the 2017 Australian Open, where he shot a final-round 64 to finish ahead of such stars as Jason Day and Jordan Spieth. But that was a case in which he finished well ahead of the leaders only to realize later that he’d won.

“This was much more stressful,” said Davis’ caddie, Andrew Tschudin, who is in his fourth year carrying Davis’ bag. “His best golf is fantastic; always knew he could be a TOUR winner.”

Davis, who lives in Seattle and a member of Aldarra Country Club, joins Matt Jones (The Honda Classic) and Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman (Zurich Classic of New Orleans) as Australian winners on TOUR this season. With the victory, he also qualifies for the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational in Memphis next month.

It will be the first WGC start for Davis, who is now in the mix for the 2022 Presidents Cup.

It was apparent early that the course was ripe for the taking. Well back, Patton Kizzire had the day’s third tee time shot an 8-under 64 to zoom up the leaderboard (T25). Bubba Watson, who had contended at the previous week’s Travelers Championship before fading to a T19 finish, also came in with a 64 to reach 16 under par and briefly take the clubhouse lead.

Then came Alex Noren, who racked up nine birdies en route to his own 64. That got the 38-year-old Swede, who didn’t have a top-10 finish in 20 previous starts this season, to 17 under, knocking out Watson and freeing him up to fly home and watch fireworks with his family.

Davis’ sensational eagle-birdie finish in regulation also made plenty of noise. He’s known in America mostly for his height (6 feet, 4 inches) and, to a certain segment of golf fans, his uncanny ability to swing lefthanded. Neale Smith, his mental coach, said Davis tightened things up in his approach to every shot to take full advantage of his evident physical talents.

“He got a bit fried there a month ago and had a good three-week break,” Smith said. “I think that really made a difference in getting a nice reset. He came here and played nicely. His growth as a player has been very nice the last couple years. He’s got a big-time game that’s really going to show up on some of the bigger courses and in the bigger events.”

As for what exactly they’ve been working on, Smith said, “Macro would be a sense of calmness. Micro would be how to get in and out of shots better.”

No doubt the newest TOUR winner kept his calm in the tensest of circumstances.

“I hit some good putts, I hit some not-so-great putts,” Davis said before finding his way to the charter bound for the John Deere. “But I had a lot of opportunities and I guess that was eventually what got it over the line for me, good solid quality shots in important situations. I’m really proud of that and that’s a testament to some of the hard work we’ve put in.”

THIRD ROUND

DETROIT — Troy Merritt took off his cap and briefly bowed his head to acknowledge a roaring crowd after the first ace of his PGA Tour career.

He didn’t get to enjoy the moment for long.

Merritt’s hole-in-one gave him a three-shot lead, but he gave a stroke back on the next hole with a bogey and shot a 5-under 67 on Saturday. Joaquin Niemann took advantage of the opening to share the third-round lead at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

Niemann, who shared the 36-hole lead with Tom Lewis, pulled into a tie by two-putting from 46 feet at 17. He parred the final hole, the toughest one on Detroit Golf Club, for a 68.

Hank Lebioda (66) and Cam Davis (67) were a stroke back, and Brandon Hagy (68) was another shot behind. Lewis (71) was among six players three shots back with a legitimate shot on the relatively short course with receptive greens.

“The mindset will be make a few birdies, but don’t give any away,” Merritt said. “Make them work to come and get us and hopefully it’s good enough in the end.”

Rickie Fowler (68) was in a pack of 10 five shots back, while first-rounder leader Davis Thompson (72) was six shots back. After opening with a course-record tying 63, Thompson has played the last 36 holes in 1 over with rounds of 73 and 72

The 35-year-old Merritt made his first hole-in-one on the PGA Tour — from 219 yards with a 5-iron off one bounce — to give him a three-stroke advantage.

Merritt was fired up, and the fans were, too, a year after no spectators were allowed to attend the 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s awesome to have the fans back out here, whooping and hollering the good shots,” he said. “Commiserating with the bad shots and even hearing some of the comments you probably don’t want to hear.”″

After his bogey, he closed with with six straight pars.

Merritt, who is from Iowa, won his second PGA Tour title at the 2018 Barbasol Championship. The next year, he missed two months of competition due to a surgery that removed a rib after he had blood clot that run from his chest to his left elbow.

He entered this week with three top-10 finishes this year — including a pair of them in May — to put him within one of matching the most he has had in a year since making his PGA Tour debut in 2010.

Merritt moved atop the leaderboard quickly after starting his round Saturday at 9 under, one shot off the lead. He had four birdies through seven holes and lamented not having another, missing a 14-foot putt on the ninth hole.

His ace on the par-3 11th put him at 6 under for the day and he may have had a hard time composing himself.

“We had time to settle down before the next tee shot,” Merritt insisted.

Merritt, though, missed the fairway to the right on the 493-yard, par-4 12th. Then, he was long on a chip and 14-foot putt, giving him a bogey and cutting his lead to a stroke.

The 22-year-old Niemann had two birdies over his last five holes to put him in a position to win for the second time on tour. He became the first player from Chile to win on the PGA Tour at The Greenbrier in 2019.

“Everybody’s going to have their own moment and I had my moment pretty early,” said Niemann, who has four top-10 finishes this season.

Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau missed the cut and left Detroit without speaking with reporters, leaving lingering questions about making a caddie change on the eve of the tournament that he didn’t address in an Instagram post.

“Did not have my best this week, but that is golf  sometimes,” DeChambeau wrote.

Second Round

DETROIT — Phil Mickelson created a buzz at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, flip-flopping on his plans to return, and Bryson DeChambeau left lingering questions about parting ways with his caddie.

On the jam-packed leaderboard Joaquin Niemann, and Tom Lewis quietly went about their business to share the top spot heading into the weekend at Detroit Golf Club.

Niemann and Lewis each shot 3-under 69 on Friday to reach 10-under 134, each completing 36 holes without a bogey. Troy Merritt (68), Chris Kirk (68) and Max Homa (65) were a shot back.

First-round leader Davis Thompson was one of eight players two strokes back. The 22-year-old Thompson had a 1-over 73, a day after matching a Detroit Golf Club record with a 63.

Two years ago, Niemann became the first player from Chile to win on the PGA Tour with a six-stroke victory at The Greenbrier. Lewis, who is from England, is shooting for his first PGA Tour victory.

“I’ve obviously won on most tours all around the world and this is obviously the hardest tour to play on and to win on, but I’m a long way away from that,” Lewis said. “If I can, then awesome. My time will come when I’m ready.”

Lewis pulled into tie with Neumann on his 13th hole Friday, making a 22-foot putt that went up and down a slope on an undulating green.

The wind picked up considerably during the second round with gusts to 25 mph that knocked hats off heads and made the relatively short and easy course more challenging.

DeChambeau voiced his frustrations with the unpredictable wind and his shaky game throughout his round. The sixth-ranked player in the world ended up missing the cut at 1-under 143, following an opening-round 72 with a 71.

“I hate golf,” DeChambeau said after yanking his drive into a greenside bunker at the 147-yard fifth hole.

First-round leader Davis Thompson was one of eight players two strokes back. The 22-year-old Thompson had a 1-over 73, a day after matching a Detroit Golf Club record with a 63.

Two years ago, Niemann became the first player from Chile to win on the PGA Tour with a six-stroke victory at The Greenbrier. Lewis, who is from England, is shooting for his first PGA Tour victory.

“I’ve obviously won on most tours all around the world and this is obviously the hardest tour to play on and to win on, but I’m a long way away from that,” Lewis said. “If I can, then awesome. My time will come when I’m ready.”

DeChambeau, who has an endorsement deal with Rocket Mortgage, declined interview requests for the second straight day. His silence left unanswered questions about why he parted ways with caddie Tim Tucker on the eve of the tournament.

The surprising split with Tucker also gave Brooks Koepka more fodder for jabs via social media, declaring Thursday as “caddie appreciation day,” on Twitter.

Nearly two weeks ago, the 2020 U.S. Open champion went from leading that same major with nine holes to tying for 26th with a collapse. Despite being a part of lackluster fields, DeChambeau tied for 19th at the Travelers Championship last week and failed to make the cut in Detroit.

Mickelson shot a 72 after opening with a 69, making the cut at 3-under 141 and changed his tune about returning to play in Motown.

On Thursday, the PGA Championship winner said he will not come back due to a report by the Detroit News that was published earlier in the week. The newspaper obtained federal court records from 2007, detailing how a Michigan-based bookie was accused of cheating.

FIRST ROUND

DETROIT — Joaquin Niemann and Tom Lewis topped the jam-packed leaderboard heading into the weekend in the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

Niemann and Lewis each shot 3-under 69 on Friday to reach 10-under 134 and remain bogey free heading into the weekend at Detroit Golf Club. Troy Merritt (68), Chris Kirk (68) and Max Homa (65) were a shot back.

First-round leader Davis Thompson was one of eight players two strokes back. The 22-year-old Thompson, a recent Georgia grad who finished second in the first year of PGA TOUR University, had a 1-over 73, a day after matching a Detroit Golf Club record with a 63.

Willie Mack III, a Michigan native who grew up in nearby Flint, made his first cut on the PGA TOUR. Mack was the 2019 Player of the Year on the APGA and the Florida Pro Golf Tour, and in 2011 became the first Black player to win the Michigan Amateur.

After a strong start in Round 1, it came down to a clutch up-and-down par on the 18th hole to close out a 1-over 73 and make the weekend.

The wind picked up considerably during the second round with gusts to 25 mph that knocked hats off heads and made the relatively short and easy course more challenging.

Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau voiced his frustrations with the unpredictable wind and his shaky game throughout his round.

He missed the cut at 1-under 143, following an opening 72 with a 71.

DeChambeau declined interview requests for the second straight day. His silence left lingering questions about why he parted ways with caddie Tim Tucker on the eve of the tournament.

Nearly two weeks ago, the 2020 U.S. Open champion went from leading that same major with nine holes to tying for 26th with a collapse. DeChambeau tied for 19th at the Travelers Championship last week and failed to make the cut in Detroit.

PGA Championship winner Phil Mickelson shot a 72 after opening with a 69, making the cut at 3-under 141.

Patrick Reed also was on the cut line at 3 under after rounds of 69 and 72.

Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama withdrew Friday after testing positive for COVID-19. 

FIRST ROUND

DETROIT — Davis Thompson, in his third PGA Tour event as a professional, is leading the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

He’s not excited about that fact. Yet.

“Sounds good on Sunday,” Thompson said after matching a Detroit Golf Club record with a 9-under 63 to take the early first-round lead. “It’s only Thursday. I know I’ve got a long way to go.”

Brandon Hagy and Tom Lewis were two shots back. Seamus Power and J.J. Spaun shot 66, putting them another stroke behind the surprising leader.

Thompson is in the field as a sponsor exemption after sending an email to tournament officials, asking for a spot. The 22-year-old former University of Georgia star missed the cut last week at the Travelers Championship after tying for 35th in his pro debut at the Palmetto Championship earlier in June.

It is unlikely anyone saw his breakthrough round coming after he was a combined 6-over par in six previous starts — four as an amateur — on the PGA Tour. Thompson did show a flash

of promise when he competed in the 2020 U.S. Open as an amateur, opening with a 69 before missing the cut at 7-over 147.

Thompson took advantage of favorable conditions with rain-softened greens and light wind Thursday morning at Detroit Golf Club, missing only one green and needing just 26 putts in his bogey-free round with nine birdies.

“If the putter gets hot, you can just kind of ride that wave throughout the day,” he said.

Thompson resumed his round after play was suspended due to inclement weather for three-plus hours. He tied the course record shared by Nate Lashley, who won the inaugural event in 2019, and J.T. Poston.

“I’ve played in a few pro events now, so you’ve just got to keep your emotions in check,” Thompson said. “Anything can happen. I know I’m playing well, so I’m just going to have some confidence going into (Friday) and hopefully I can play another good round.”

Players with afternoon tee times had to endure a long wait to begin playing and wind that was 5 to 10 mph stronger than it was in the morning.

Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau got off to a shaky start, a day after parting ways with caddie Tim Tucker. He replaced him for this week with Cobra-Puma Golf tour operations manager Ben Schomin, who said he was a caddie in competition for the first time.

DeChambeau, No. 6 in the world ranking, is trying to win a PGA Tour event in consecutive years for the first time. He had a chance two weeks ago to repeat at the U.S. Open, but went from leading the major with nine holes left to faltering and finishing in a tie for 26th.

And now, the big hitter might not make the cut and that would be a blow for him and the Detroit-based company that pays him as part of an endorsement deal.

DeChambeau missed the fairway to the right at Nos. 2 and 3, leading to bogeys. At the par-3, 184-yard ninth hole, he was short off the tee, on his chip and 10-foot putt to put another bogey on his card that dropped him to even-par 36 at the turn.

Phil Mickelson entered the Rocket Mortgage Classic for the first time in the event’s three-year history and said it will be his last appearance.

Mickelson said he will not come back due to a report by The Detroit News that was published this week. The newspaper obtained federal court records from 2007, detailing how a Michigan-based bookie was accused of cheating Mickelson out of $500,000.

“It was so much effort for me to be here and to have that type of unnecessary attack,” he said. “Not like I care, it happened 20-something years ago, it’s just the lack of appreciation.”

The 51-year-old Mickelson shot a 69, marking the sixth time he has been under par out of 11 rounds since he became the oldest major winner at the PGA Championship in May.

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