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43rd Ryder Cup stays put while golf schedule sees several other changes

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Whistling Straights

While there’s a number of changes ahead with regards to golf events, the 43rd Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits will remain on the same dates, Sept. 25-27.  Other events weren’t quite as fortunate, facing changes due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The British Open has been canceled for 2020 and the other three men’s major championships have moved to late summer and fall.  The announcements came via news release issued jointly Monday by the world’s major golf organizations.

The PGA Championship, scheduled for May 14-17 at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco will now be held August 6-9.  The U.S. Open, previously set for June 18-21 has been moved to Sept. 17-20 and will remain at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York.

The Masters Tournament has been moved to Nov. 12-15 at Augusta National Golf Club.

The Royal & Ancient decided to cancel the Open Championship in 2020 and will be played at Royal St. George’s in 2021.

The Ryder Cup will immediately follow the U.S. Open.  Madison’s Steve Stricker will captain the U.S. squad.

Stricker won’t get the chance to defend his U.S. Senior Open title.  The U.S. Golf Association canceled that championship for 2020.  Stricker won the 2019 U.S. Senior Open by six strokes at Warren Golf Course in South Bend, Indiana.

The U.S. Senior Women’s Open has also been cancelled.

Golf course designer Pete Dye passes

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One of the great golf design minds, World Golf Hall of Famer Pete Dye passed away at the age of 94.

Dye designed Blackwolf Run and Whistling Straits near Kohler.  He also designed Florida’s TPC Sawgrass,  home of The Players Championship and Kiawah Island in South Carolina, which has hosted both a PGA Championship and a Ryder Cup.

One of his most famous creations was the 17th-hole island green at TPC Sawgrass.

Whistling Straits will host the 2020 Ryder Cup later this year.

 

Stricker to be named Ryder Cup Captain

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Steve Stricker

The PGA of America has scheduled a news conference for Wednesday morning at Fiserv Forum to announce what has been assumed for some time now.

According to Gary D’Amato of Wisconsin.Golf, Madison’s Steve Stricker will be announced as the captain of the 2020 United States Ryder Cup team.

Stricker has served as a Ryder Cup assistant captain and will now lead the U.S. squad at Whistling Straits near Kohler from Sept. 25-27, 2020.

The Ryder Cup, held every other year, has never taken place on Wisconsin soil.

The 51-year-old Stricker has won 12 PGA Tour events, as well as three PGA Tour Champions events.  Stricker never won a major, but he did finish second at the PGA Championship in 1998 and has 13 top-10 finishes in majors.

Stricker is widely respected by his peers in the world of golf but will be the first U.S. captain without a major championship.

Europe has won four of the last five Ryder Cups, including last year’s event in France.

 

Stricker comes out of PGA Championship encouraged (AUDIO)

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Steve Stricker

Steve Stricker

Madison’s Steve Stricker was met with a standing ovation on Sunday as he walked up the 18th fairway at Whistling Straits for the final time.  Wisconsin golf fans showed their appreciation for Stricker, who shot a final-round two-under-par 70 to finish four shots under par at the 97th PGA Championship.

Stricker got off to a good start during his final round on Sunday, climbing to five-under-par  through 12 holes.  He birdied ten, eleven and twelve but he ran into trouble from there and was unable to regain his momentum.

Stricker heads into the offseason feeling much better about his future and after playing a limited schedule (9 starts this year), he hopes to play in more events next season.  Stricker said his next event probably won’t come until December when he’ll likely play in the Shark Shootout in Florida. [Read more…]

PGA Championship news

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Ryan Helminen

Ryan Helminen

Practice rounds continue today at Whistling Straits in preparation for the start of the 97th P-G-A Championship on Thursday.

Defending champion Rory McIlroy has declared himself 100-percent, as he gets ready to defend his title.

The World-Number-One has not played competitive golf since the U-S Open in mid-June.  In early July, McElroy injured left ankle ligaments while playing soccer with friends.

McIlroy arrived in Haven early, playing a couple of practice rounds over the weekend.

Former Badger Ryan Helminen, who is a teaching pro out of Ridgeway Country Club in Neenah, is in the PGA Field for the second straight year.  He missed the cut last year at Valhalla by 1-stroke and vows to play on the weekend this year.

AUDIO: Ryan Helminen on correcting mistakes from last year :21

Helminen gets the honor of taking the first swing of the tournament at 6:45 a.m. Thursday on No. 1 with playing partners Rory Sabbatini and Chesson Hadley.

 

First official PGA practice round is underway

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WHISTLING STRAITS ENTRANCEMost of the 156 golfers at the P-G-A Championship will be on hand today for practice rounds.  It’s the third time in 12 years that the season’s final major is at Whistling Straits at Haven, near Sheboygan.

The first two events at Whistling Straits ended in playoffs.  Vijay Singh won a three-way showdown in 2004.  Germany’s Martin Kaymer won the 2010 crown after Dustin Johnson blew the title with a bunker shot violation on the final hole.  Spectators will sit over that bunker this year.

The P-G-A says no more tickets will be sold for Saturday’s and Sunday’s rounds. [Read more…]

Stricker to serve as assistant captain for upcoming Presidents Cup

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Steve Stricker

Steve Stricker

Madison’s Steve Stricker will serve as an assistant captain on the U.S. squad for the upcoming Presidents Cup Oct. 6-11 in South Korea.

Jay Haas is the captain for the U.S. team.  He had already picked Fred Couples and Davis Love III as assistant captains and has now added Stricker.

Stricker played on the U.S. team five times, compiling a 14-10-0 record.  He also played on the U.S. Ryder Cup team three times.  He was an assistant on  the 2014 Ryder Cup squad under Tom Watson and many believe Stricker could lead the U.S. team in 2020 when the Ryder Cup comes to Whistling Straits.

The U.S. Presidents Cup team will be finalized on September 7.

McIlroy’s appearance at the PGA could be in jeopardy

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Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy

It was roughly a month ago that Rory McIlroy showed up at Whistling Straits to promote the upcoming PGA Championship as the defending champion.

McIlroy’s chances of playing in the 97th PGA Championship could be in jeopardy.

McIlroy is recovering from an ankle injury that he suffered while playing soccer with his friends in early July.  As Gary D’Amato reported today in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, McIlroy has informed tournament officials that he will not play in the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational next week, an event that he won a year ago.

The PGA Championship is scheduled for August 13-16 at Whistling Straits.

Two State club pro’s earn PGA invites

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WHISTLING STRAITS ENTRANCEA pair of Wisconsin PGA club professionals have earned a spot in the 97th PGA Championship Field at Whistling Straits in August.

Menasha’s Ryan Helminen and Brent Snyder of Hudson both were among the top 20 scorers at the PGA Professional National Championship on Wednesday.

Helminen finished in a tie for 10th place and Snyder finished tied for 16th during competition this week.

Helminen is making his second straight PGA Championship appearance.  He also qualified for the 2014 event at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky.

Kohler Co. courses honored in Golf Digest

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Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run Championship courses have been featured in Golf

Whistling Straits

Whistling Straits

Digest 100 Greatest Rankings, with the Straits course at Whistling Straits leading the way, ranking #2 in 100 Greatest Public Golf courses.

All four courses are included in the 100 Greatest Public Golf courses.  Whistling Straits (Straits) #2, Blackwolf run (River) #14, Whistling Straits (Irish) #39 and Blackwolf Run (Meadow Valleys) #62.

The Straits course at Whistling Straits has been ranked on America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses for 14 years.  The River course at Blackwolf Run has been ranked for 22 years.