Weekly Read Fore! Things: Hovland's Consistency and Another Winner From Holywood
More Weekly Read: To Play or Not Before a Major | Horschel's Emotional Interview | A Memorial Date Change?
Fore! Things
1. Viktor Hovland’s playoff victory over Denny McCarthy at the Memorial Tournament was his fourth victory on the PGA Tour. He joins Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm as the only players to win on the PGA Tour in each of the last four seasons.
2. Scottie Scheffler has missed a playoff in each of the last two tournaments despite finishing last in putting each week among players who made the cut.
3. Andrew Putnam (T5), Adam Schenk (T7) and Lee Hodges (T12) each qualified for the British Open. The Memorial was a qualifying event for the top three players in the field not otherwise exempt.
4. Tom McKibben, 20, won his first DP World Tour event at the European Open on Sunday, becoming the youngest player since Rory McIlroy in 2009 to win on Tour. He grew up playing at the same Holywood Golf Club in Northern Ireland where McIlroy played. Said McIlroy: “I watched every shot this morning. I was really happy for him. For 20 years old he showed so much composure. And, look, he's been, we've all known from back home the potential that he has, but I think to break through and win for the first time at 20 years old is, there's a bright future ahead of him. And just so happy and so proud of him, really. I've known Tom since he was 10 years old. And to see his progression and see where he is today and get that first win in Europe is, was really cool to see."
Fore! More Things
1. Monday is a big day for the U.S. Open, as 678 players are scheduled to compete in 10 final qualifiers—nine in the U.S., one in Canada—with 44 players advancing to next week’s tournament at Los Angeles Country Club.
2. The field of hopeful qualifiers via final qualifying started at 911 players following local qualifying competing for 62 spots. Three qualifiers—England, Japan and Dallas—have yielded 18 spots.
3. More spots will go to players via the top 60 in the Official World Golf Ranking who are not otherwise exempt as of Sunday night. The DP World Tour is also getting two spots from a four-event qualifying series for the top two players not otherwise exempt.
4. The first round of the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club is 10 days away.