logo
Hughes makes hot start in hunt for third PGA title

Hughes makes hot start in hunt for third PGA title

Yahoo09-05-2025

Canada's Mackenzie Hughes holds a slight lead at the PGA Tour's Myrtle Beach Classic after starting out with an eight-under-par 63 in South Carolina.
Hughes finished with five birdies over his final six holes, including each of the last four on Thursday at Dunes Golf and Beach Club.
The 34-year-old credited his team for getting him on a new putting method where he isn't overthinking his shots.
"Honestly I kind of just made the decision coming here driving down from Charlotte on Monday," he said.
"My caddie and my mental game guy, we just kind of said, 'Hey, look, we're going to free it up.' It's kind of mentally freed me up too. Yeah, it was nice to see it pay off right away."
Hughes played with Irishman Seamus Power, who along with American Will Chandler and Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen are tied one stroke behind at seven-under 64.
Leaderboard after Round 1 @MyrtleBeachCl 🌴 1. Mackenzie Hughes (-8)T2. Seamus Power (-7)T2. Will ChandlerT2. Thorbjørn OlesenT5. Andrew Putnam (-6)T5. Ryan FoxT5. Alejandro TostiT5. Cristobal Del Solar pic.twitter.com/ydMQO8XWgd
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 8, 2025
Power turned in a bogey-free round, highlighted by an eagle 2 at No.8. From 162 yards out, he landed his approach on the green and watched it make a beeline for the hole.
"It was a funny one. It was right between clubs," Power said.
"With the greens being firm and that pin once you got past it, it's just not going to stop. I just tried to lean on a 9-iron and came out perfectly. It landed right where I wanted it, and obviously it was very lucky to go in."
Hughes has won a pair of fall events on the PGA Tour in 2016 and 2022, while Power is also hunting for his third title after wins at the 2021 Barbasol Championship and the 2022 Bermuda Championship.
Tied for fifth at six-under 65 were Andrew Putnam, New Zealand's Ryan Fox, Argentina's Alejandro Tosti and Cristobal Del Solar of Chile.
Defending champion Chris Gotterup opened with a four-under 67, while the only Australian in the field Aaron Baddeley had a one-over 72.
The winner of the event — held opposite a signature event at the Truist Championship this week — gets a spot in the PGA Championship if not already eligible.
With AAP.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

U.S. Open qualifying: 50-year-old Justin Hicks ties for medalist in West Palm Beach sectional
U.S. Open qualifying: 50-year-old Justin Hicks ties for medalist in West Palm Beach sectional

Yahoo

time15 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

U.S. Open qualifying: 50-year-old Justin Hicks ties for medalist in West Palm Beach sectional

Golf's Longest Day needed extra time in West Palm Beach. Nine 36-hole U.S. Open sectional qualifiers were held on June 2 from Florida to New Jersey, and from Maryland to Washington, to fill the final 47 spots in the U.S. Open June 12-15 at the Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pa. Of the 744 players began the day with hopes of making the field, only six percent would make it. Advertisement The Florida qualifier at Emerald Lakes in West Palm wasn't over until June 3 and it produced a variety of players who punched their ticket to Oakmont. Justin Hicks of Wellington leads a U.S. Open sectional qualifier at Emerald Lakes in West Palm Beach with play suspended. The round will resume on June 3 at 7:30 a.m. Justin Hicks, 50 years old, tied for medalist honors at 11-under-par 133 with former LSU player and Shreveport, La., resident Philip Barbaree and amateur Frankie Harris of Boca Raton, a junior at South Carolina. Auston Truslow of Fort Lauderdale, who has conditional Korn Ferry Tour status, defeated University of Florida sophomore Luke Poulter in a playoff for the final qualifying spot after both finished at 10-under. Luke Poulter (left), caddying for his father Ian Poulter in the 2022 JP McManus Pro-Am, is tied for third in a U.S. Open sectional qualifier at Emerald Lakes in West Palm Beach, with play suspended because of weather. Hicks, who shot 65-68, has played in three PGA tour events this season and missed the cut in all three. Barbaree, 26, who plays on PGA Tour Americas, birdied eight of his first 13 holes in the second round and shot 64. Harris eagled the par-5 first hole in the second round and didn't make a bogey until No. 18 to finish with a 67. Advertisement Poulter, who eagled the first hole and birdied the next two before play was suspended the night before at 6:10, finished with a bogey-free 65 after play resumed on June 3. Truslow completed a 66 with five of six birdies during one stretch. Blades Brown, a 17-year-old from Nashville who turned pro earlier this year, would have joined the Poulter-Truslow playoff had he not bogeyed his final hole. He beat Thomas Ponder III, an Korn Ferry Tour member who played at Alabama, in a playoff for second alternate. U.S. Open Sectional qualifiers Emerald Lakes Golf Club, West Palm Beach Qualifiers Justin Hicks 65-68–133 Advertisement Philip Barbaree 69-64–133 Frankie Harris (a) 66-67–133 Auston Truslow 68-66–134 Alternates Luke Poulter (a) 69-65–134 Blades Brown 65-70–135 Piedmont Driving Club, Atlanta Mason Howell, 17 and the eighth-ranked player on the American Junior Golf Association, and Big Ten Player of the Year Jackson Buchanan shot lights-out at 18-under 126 to tie for first. Auburn senior Jackson Koivun, who made his PGA Tour debut at The Memorial last week, Florida State sophomore Tyler Weaver, and former University of Georgia player Will Chandler tied for third at 11-under. Qualifiers Mason Howell (a) 63-63—126 Jackson Buchanan 63-63—126 Advertisement Tyler Weaver (a) 66-66—133 Jackson Koivun (a) 69-64—133 Will Chandler 70-63—133 Alternates Hayden Buckley 68-66—134 Steven Fisk 66-68—134 Canoe Brook Country Club, Summit, N.J. Korn Ferry Tour member James Nicholas, a Yale graduate, won by one shot over PGA Tour player Chris Gotterup and Korn Ferry Tour member Roberto Diaz. Qualifiers James Nicholas 67-68—135 Chris Gotterup 71-65—136 Roberto Diaz 65-71—136 Benjamin James (a) 67-70—137 Alternates Max Theodorakis 71-67—138 Garrett Engle (a) 69-69—138 Duke University Golf Club, Durham, N.C. Miles Russell of Jacksonville Beach had three birdies on the front nine of his first round, but made only one more birdie over the final 27 holes and is the first alternate at 138. Chandler Blanchet of Jacksonville, a Korn Ferry Tour member, notched one of the final spots by closing with five pars in a row. Miles Russell of Jacksonville Beach is the first alternate for the U.S. Open out of a sectional qualifier at Duke University. Qualifiers Zach Bauchou 71-64—135 Advertisement Alistair Docherty 72-64—136 Alvaro Ortiz 73-63—136 Emilio Gonzalez 69-67—136 Trent Phillips 70-67—137 George Kneiser 69-68—137 Chandler Blanchet 68-69—137 Alternates Miles Russell (a) 68-70—138 Webb Simpson 72-66—138 Kinsale Golf and Fitness Club, Columbus, Ohio Cameron Young made a birdie on the first playoff hole to win a 5-for-1 playoff to knock out Chase Johnson, Eric Cole, Max Homa and Rickie Fowler. Jacksonville product and Palm Beach Gardens resident Bud Cauley finished second to reach his first U.S. Open and Ponte Vedra Beach resident Lanto Griffin finished third to qualify for his fifth. Qualifiers Erik Van Rooyen 64-67—131 Advertisement Bud Cauley 69-68—137 Lanto Griffin 69-68—136 Justin Lower 68-69—137 Harrison Ott 67-71—138 Cameron Young 71-68—139 Alternates Chase Johnson 68-71—139 Eric Cole 70-69—139 Lambton Golf & Country Club, York, Ontario, Canada Vince Covello of Ponte Vedra Beach (144) and Tyler Mawhinney of Orange Park (145) failed to qualify. PGA Tour member Kevin Velo, who has made only three of 13 cuts this season, is the medalist. Qualifiers Kevin Velo 65-67—132 Niklas Norgaard 64-69—133 Matt Wallace 67-66—133 Thorbjorn Olesen 67-67—134 Mark Hubbard 64-70—134 Victor Perez 66-67—134 Emiliano Grillo 69-65—134 Alternates Takumi Kanaya 69-66--135 Advertisement Max McGreevy 66-69—135 Springfield Country Club, Springfield, Ohio Zac Blair beat Kurt Kitayama, Dawson Armstrong of Jacksonville and amateur John Peterson in a 4-for-1 playoff for the final qualifying spot. Qualifiers Grant Haefner 68-65—133 George Duangmanee 68-67—135 Maxwell Moldovan 69-66—135 Zac Blair 68-68—136 Alternates John Peterson (a) 69-67—136 Kurt Kitayama 68-68—136 Valencia Country Club, Valencia, Calif. Preston Summerhays, an Arizona State senior, birdied six of nine holes and five in a row in his second round. Qualifiers Preston Summerhays (a) 69-63—132 Riley Lewis 71-64—135 Zachery Pollo (a) 65-71—136 Advertisement Alternates Lucas Carper 70-68—138 Matthew Sutherland 69-70–139 Wine Valley Golf Club, Walla Walla, Wash. Medalist Matt Vogt is a former caddie at Oakmont and now is a dentist in Indiana. He is from Cranberry Township, Pa., 26 miles from Oakmont. Qualifiers Matt Vogt (a) 68-68—136 Brady Calkins 68-69—137 Alternates Spencer Tibbits 69-69—138 Clark Sonnenberg (a) 70-68—138 Woodmont Country Club, Rockville, Md. Ryan McCormick, a Korn Ferry Tour member, had 11 birdies and only one bogey in 36 holes to easily win the qualifier. Qualifiers Ryan McCormick 66-66—132 Trevor Cone 69-68—137 Bryan Lee (a) 70-69—139 Marc Leishman 70-69—139 Advertisement Alternates Sebastian Munoz 71-68—139 Peter Uihlein 73-67—140 Bent Tree Country Club, Dallas (May 19) Qualifiers Rasmus Neergaard Petersen 66-65—131 James Hahn 66-66—132 Adam Schenk 64-68—132 Lance Simpson (a) 79-65—134 Cameron Tankersley (a) 68-66—134 Carlos Ortiz 66-68—134 Johnny Keefer 66-69—135 Alternates Doug Ghim 69-66—135 Cameron Tringale 69-66—135 Tarao Country Club, Shiga, Japan (May 19) Qualifiers Yuta Sugiura 68-66—134 Scott Vincent 67-67—134 Jinichiro Kozuma 68-67—135 Alternates Riki Kawamoto 67-68—135 Taichi Kho 64-71—135 Walton Heath Golf Club, Surrey, England (May 19) Jordan Smith 64-70—134 Frederic Lacroix 67-68—135 Advertisement Joakim Lagergren 69-66—135 Guido Migliozzi 68-67—135 Sam Bairstow 70-66—136 Jacques Kruyswijk 66-71—137 Edoardo Molinari 66-71—137 Andrea Pavan 70-67—137 Matthew Jordan 63-74—137 Robin Williams 68-69—137 Alternates Ryan Lumsden 66-71—137 Björn Åkesson 72-66—138 This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: U.S. Open qualifying: Justin Hicks, 50, ties for first in West Palm Beach

Why World Cup 2026 host cities are taking a light approach to the year-out hype
Why World Cup 2026 host cities are taking a light approach to the year-out hype

New York Times

time19 minutes ago

  • New York Times

Why World Cup 2026 host cities are taking a light approach to the year-out hype

A year from now, the most expansive World Cup in history will kick off on North American soil, but you might not know it from walking around through any of the 11 U.S. host cities. Any soccer-themed billboards or Instagram advertising splashes are conspicuously absent. That the World Cup is coming is no secret, but the visible signs that we're at a 12-month countdown are few and far between. Advertisement By the time the 48 qualified teams begin their campaigns in the U.S., Mexico and Canada in 2026, the chances are that this will be the most hyped sporting event North America has ever seen. Yet despite the anticipation from soccer fans, the U.S. side has remained relatively hushed so far. So why hasn't there been more of a push? And why did the year-out marker pass by this week with so little domestic fanfare? 'It is kind of like the Club World Cup. We did not see a lot of action around it either,' Dave Wakeman of Wakeman Consulting, a strategy firm focused on sports, told The Athletic. There are several reasons U.S. host cities have not moved faster. For starters, many key details are still up in the air. Host cities do not know which matches they'll stage, the official draw isn't until December and unless you are eyeing premium hospitality packages that cost thousands of dollars, tickets for the general public aren't even on sale yet. With no significant financial help from FIFA, host cities are also juggling the responsibility of finding funds they need to use for promoting the event, multiple industry insiders told The Athletic. Add in the fact that FIFA traditionally launches its own major marketing push just six to nine months before the tournament, the current silence starts to make more sense. Still, for an event of this scale, the absence of orchestrated buzz could be seen as risky. 'Think of it like the launching of a blockbuster movie,' Wakeman said. 'You want to have an action plan that builds 90-180 days out. But you need to get going now because people have to plan. You are counting on people coming from around the world, but in the current environment you have to rely on American tourists more than usual.' But in most cases, the slow rollout appears to be a calculated move. Unlike most countries, the U.S. is saturated with major sporting events year-round, making it harder for any single tournament—even the World Cup—to dominate the spotlight. At least that's the reason one host city, San Francisco, is making sure it is using its resources efficiently. 'A year is actually a very short time before such a big event,' Zaileen Janmohamed, the president and CEO of the Bay Area Host Committee (BAHC), told The Athletic during the World Cup Host City event in New York on Monday. 'But we have a Super Bowl right before the World Cup, so we're making sure that we're prioritizing the right decisions at the right time. First we've got America's biggest game and then we have the world's biggest tournament.' Advertisement Starting Wednesday, many host cities will kick off their 'One Year Out' activations, following San Francisco's lead. In Seattle, the countdown clock will be unveiled at the base of the Space Needle during a fan celebration featuring local soccer legends and ambassadors to drum up excitement. Then on Sunday, which is exactly one year before Seattle hosts its first World Cup match, the host committee will team up with Seattle Reign and the Seattle Sounders to attempt a Guinness World Record for world's largest soccer clinic. In Houston, the host committee will host an exclusive event with city officials and potential donors, featuring former USMNT captain Carlos Bocanegra. In Kansas City, the chair of the host committee board will throw out the first pitch at Wednesday night's game between the Royals and New York Yankees to mark the one-year countdown. Despite being thoughtful about a big marketing push later in 2026, San Francisco is also planning on kicking off the marketing campaign with a plaque unveiling at the stadium with the city of Santa Clara on Wednesday, a speaking event with some of the biggest names in soccer from the Bay Area. It includes Bruce Arena, the coach of the San Jose Earthquakes, Brady Stewart of Bay FC and former USWNT legend and one of the owners of Bay FC, Aly Wagner, bringing together the soccer community in the Bay Area and will host a free and open clinic and a community festival in San Jose on Saturday for the public. Meanwhile, in Canada and Mexico, some of their host cities are already pitching things with posters revealed in public spaces to hype soccer fans. A post shared by FWC26Vancouver (@fwc26vancouver) But perhaps one of the most bizarre ways to kick off the World Cup promotions happened a few weeks ago in New York. For the first time ever, a professional soccer freestyler, Frankie Flo, juggled and dribbled a soccer ball through the Lincoln Tunnel, which connects New Jersey and New York, to spotlight 'the unifying power of sport and elevate community spirit,' according to the PR agency that promoted the event. Advertisement 'The Lincoln Tunnel Challenge 5K is a perfect reflection of what FIFA World Cup 26 NYNJ is all about, connecting the two great states of NY and NJ, and the entire region through athleticism, passion, and community spirit,' it read. Of all the ways to hype the biggest sporting event in history, a freestyling influencer dribbling a ball through a fume-choked tunnel every New Yorker despises, was an interesting one. It may have been an odd way to build buzz around the World Cup, but for organizers even a weird stunt like this signals a shift from vague hype to decisions and the beginning of the final push. 'How does it feel to be one year out? Does it make it more real? Of course!' Janmohamed explained. 'The good news is that the decisions start to get made instead of being in this phase where you're planning and thinking. We now have to make a decision, and that decision allows us to make other decisions. Understanding that the World Cup is coming next year, and I think it's actually going to be a really, really great tournament.'

Paulina Gretzky stuns in sultry new photoshoot with shirtless Dustin Johnson ahead of US Open
Paulina Gretzky stuns in sultry new photoshoot with shirtless Dustin Johnson ahead of US Open

New York Post

time40 minutes ago

  • New York Post

Paulina Gretzky stuns in sultry new photoshoot with shirtless Dustin Johnson ahead of US Open

Paulina Gretzky has eyes for 'nobody else' in a sultry photoshoot with her husband, Dustin Johnson, before his anticipated return to the 2025 U.S. Open. The model shared a carousel of Instagram snapshots Monday that showed her and the LIV Golf star displaying PDA while posing on a white couch together. 'Nobody else,' Gretzky, 36, wrote. 3 Paulina Gretzky partying on a yacht. Instagram/Paulina Gretzky The daughter of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky looked stunning in a sheer neutral dress with white lace detailing. Johnson, who will compete in the 125th U.S. Open that begins Thursday at Oakmont Country Club near Pittsburgh, went shirtless and showed off his chest hair under a white suit jacket. Last month, Gretzky had the internet buzzing after she posed topless for another photoshoot with Miami-based photographer Isabella Lanaro. 'Undone,' Gretzky wrote on Instagram at the time, including an image of her posing in a pair of jeans while covering her breasts with her hands. It's unclear what the photoshoots were for beyond social media use. 3 Dustin Johnson of the United States walks with his wife, Paulina Gretzky on the fifth hole during the Par Three Contest prior to the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, 2025 in Augusta, Georgia. Getty Images The brunette beauty joined Johnson, 40, during the Par-3 Contest prior to the 2025 Masters at Augusta National in April. Johnson — who was reportedly paid $125 million to defect to LIV Golf in 2022 and earned over $35 million in winnings in its inaugural season — missed the cut at this year's Masters and the PGA Championship, which saw Scottie Scheffler win his third major title last month. He returns to Oakmont nine years after he won the 2016 U.S. Open at the Pittsburgh-area course. Gretzky and Johnson were engaged for nine years before tying the knot in April 2022. The couple has two sons, Tatum, 10, and River Jones, 7. 3 Paulina Gretzky celebrated her 36th birthday with her husband, Dustin Johnson, and their family and friends in Palm Beach, Fla. on December 19, 2024. Instagram/Paulina Gretzky Johnson is in the middle of the 2025 LIV Golf season and is ranked 27th in the standings after eight events with three top-10 finishes this season. Last December, Johnson — a Masters and U.S. Open champion — was named Golf Saudi's newest ambassador. He will lead year-round coaching for Saudi National Team golfers and represent the Golf Saudi brand globally while continuing to compete.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store