Tony Finau together with his Grant Thornton accomplice Nelly Korda.
Getty Photographs
Each week there’s loads for golf followers to study from watching PGA Tour and LPGA Tour gamers. This week? They get to study from one another.
The Grant Thornton Invitational has introduced a contemporary look to the autumn schedule, changing the longtime Shark Shootout with an occasion co-sanctioned by the 2 excursions. Sixteen PGA Tour gamers are paired with 16 LPGA Tour gamers for the three-day competitors. Which means loads of probabilities for PGA Tour professionals to amaze their taking part in companions — and the opposite manner round.
With sooner or later remaining, the occasion appears from the skin like a large success. Lydia Ko and Jason Day lead at 20 beneath par, with the big-hitting tandem of Tony Finau and Nelly Korda behind them at 18 beneath par, tied with the sweet-swinging Leona Maguire and Lucas Glover. Crowds crammed the grandstands at Tiburon Golf Membership. The printed confirmed Day and Ko and Rose Zhang signing autographs aspect by aspect, serving as a reminder: that is the good things.
It’s unimaginable to disregard the context of this week’s occasion, which is being performed in parallel to Jon Rahm finalizing his LIV deal and works to assist signal future teammates. However let’s ignore that for now, only for a second, to understand the shared information from first-time golf teammates.
Earlier than the competitors even started, Tony Finau stated he was blown away by taking part in accomplice Nelly Korda and her stature within the sport.
“I look as much as Nelly,” he stated. “Though she’s youthful than me, she’s an unbelievable golfer. She’s been the No. 1 participant on the planet within the ladies’s sport, and she or he’s somebody that I believe fairly frankly plenty of us can nonetheless even study from on the lads’s aspect.”
He additionally stated he was searching for some particular recommendation.
“I’ll be trying to decide up just a few suggestions,” he stated. “Yesterday I requested her about chipping. She’s an unbelievable chipper on this Bermuda, rising up in Florida. I didn’t develop up on Bermuda, so I’m at all times making an attempt to get little tips about the right way to chip round these greens, and she or he’s nearly as good a chipper as you’ll see on Bermuda. I’m certain on any kind of grass however particularly Bermuda. I already picked up just a few issues simply watching her yesterday.”
The reward was a two-way avenue.
“I like the best way how athletic his total sport is,” Korda stated of Finau. “He sees a shot, visualizes it, after which hits it, and I like that type of play. There’s not a lot overanalyzing, which I really feel like that’s how I play, as effectively,” she stated.
One other pre-tournament press convention launched Joel Dahmen alongside accomplice and World No. 1 Lilia Vu; he was understandably excited with that draw.
“I hit it in play so much, I hit plenty of greens after which to observe her make all of the putts goes to be actually enjoyable,” he stated. Vu added that she was nervous — Dahmen was having none of that.
“What’s there to be nervous about? It’s the offseason, you’re the most effective participant on the planet, we’re simply goofing off and we’re going to beat most gamers right here,” he stated.
Sahith Theegala stated he admired what his accomplice Rose Zhang does earlier than she even hits a shot.
“It’s been nice for me, even earlier than this event, simply figuring out how good simply her course of is and sticking to the identical course of again and again. I’ve undoubtedly tried to take a few of that and simply try to get a few of that rhythm by osmosis into my golf swing.”
As for Zhang? If she’s a mannequin for course of, repeatability and consistency, she admires the hearth and unpredictability of her taking part in accomplice.
“It was so unbelievable simply watching from on TV, his athleticism and his means to only get out of hassle. Even simply — he makes birdie from virtually anyplace, from the bushes, from the bushes,” she stated. “Simply his general demeanor on the golf course, he’s very aggressive,” she stated. “Though he’s actually chill right here, I actually love the drive that he has when he’s on the market. So I’ve undoubtedly taken that and used it as inspiration as effectively.”
It is a week of recent buddies and new learnings. For World No. 2 Ruoning Yin, it marks the primary time she’s performed with PGA Tour professionals.
“To have the ability to see them even simply apply on the vary, it’s a special feeling,” she stated. “Sounds totally different. Like, they hit the ball thus far, and it simply sounds totally different, like high-quality photographs.”
Corey Conners, who’s taking part in with fellow Canadian Brooke Henderson, has performed the QBE Shootout in recent times — and he was impressed with this yr’s relative turnout. The concept appears to be working.
“Undoubtedly much more folks out right here than I’ve skilled previously,” he stated.
Conners was additionally requested what male amateurs would possibly have the ability to study from watching LPGA professionals. He rejected the premise of the query.
“I don’t assume many beginner golfers on the planet can do what they do. It’s been superior to
watch and enjoyable to be part of,” he stated.
“It’s astonishing. I don’t get to observe them up shut fairly often myself. I knew they had been actually good, however I’ve actually been blown away. The consistency, the best way they deal with themselves and handle their sport is actually, actually spectacular.”
He was amongst those that expressed an curiosity in additional frequent crossover occasions.
“My hope is that it results in extra occasions the place the PGA Tour gamers and LPGA gamers can compete with or towards one another,” he stated. “The ladies are so spectacular. It was actually superior watching Brooke and Ruoning on the market in the present day. It’s fairly candy to have the ability to workforce up with them.”
Theegala described the LPGA professionals as taking part in “a special sport, nearly.”
“Like, I believe a few of these fairways are very slim and so they’re nonetheless getting it 270, 275 proper down the center and we’re not that for much longer than that. Even the method photographs are simply a lot tighter, the dispersion’s tighter. It’s cool to see. Yeah, it’s plenty of enjoyable, too. It’s simply enjoyable.”
“Simply having the ability to see them in individual and alongside them, to be in the identical group and play
type of the identical golf course on the similar time is only a nice honor for me,” Zhang added. “A lot inspiration. There’s been a lot for me to study and slowly develop, develop.”
Simply don’t count on the gamers from one Tour to repeat every part their companions do. Take Lexi Thompson and Rickie Fowler, who wore matching outfits on Friday and Saturday and performed their manner right into a share of fourth.
They received’t be on the identical type web page come Sunday, when Fowler will don his trademark shade of Pantone 021.
“I simply don’t have plenty of orange,” Thompson admitted.
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