Latest news with #NickWatney
Fox News
a day ago
- Sport
- Fox News
LIV Golf star Patrick Reed makes history with rare albatross at US Open
On a day when the course at Oakmont Country Club ate up some of the best golfers in the world, LIV Golf star Patrick Reed achieved a feat only three players in U.S. Open history accomplished before him. Reed made just the fourth double eagle, more commonly known as an albatross, since the U.S. Open began keeping records over four decades ago. The albatross can only be accomplished on a par-5 hole, and Reed had a good look on the long fourth hole at Oakmont when he found himself 286 yards out and 3-wood in hand. From the look on Reed's face, he knew he had made the right strike on his golf ball as he looked it all the way to the green. But the ball continued to make its way closer to the hole, and it sank for Reed for a two on his scorecard. When spectators applauded, Reed seemed stunned at first. He was signaling to those who could see the green to tell him if it went in. When he realized what he had done, Reed couldn't help but smile. The last player to card an albatross at the U.S. Open was Nick Watney in 2012 at The Olympic Club. Shaun Michael (2010 at Pebble Beach) and T.C. Chen (1985 at Oakland Hills) were the other two to do it. Reed was 1-over early in his round, but that quickly vaulted him up the leaderboard at 2-under. Many golfers who finished their opening rounds at this year's third major wish they hit a shot like Reed considering Oakmont's treacherous conditions, including glass-like greens and thick rough, have tested some of the game's best. Rory McIlroy was among them Thursday, carding a 4-over round after falling apart on the back nine. Shane Lowry threw a microphone near the green out of frustration over his chunked chip shot due to the thick rough. He finished 9-over on the day. Top players like Justin Rose (7-over), Patrick Cantlay (6-over), Matthew Fitzpatrick (4-over) and Wyndham Clark (4-over) were among others struggling Thursday. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
France 24
2 days ago
- Sport
- France 24
Reed makes only fourth albatross in US Open history
The 34-year-old American, who plays in the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf League, fired his tee shot at the par-five fourth hole some 332 yards to the left side of the fairway, avoiding the Church Pew bunkers just beyond. Reed then blasted his second shot onto the green and into the hole for the first albatross in a major since Nick Watney made one in the first round of the 2012 US Open on the 17th hole at Olympic Club. The fantastic shot took Reed from one-over par to two-under par and a share of fifth. The other two times an albatross was made in US Open history were by Taiwan's T.C. Chen on the second hole of the first round of the 1985 event at Oakland Hills and by American Shaun Micheel in the final round of the 2010 US Open at Pebble Beach on the sixth hole. Reed, whose best US Open finish was fourth in 2018, was a nine-time winner on the PGA Tour. His most recent victory was last November at the Hong Kong Open.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The 300 Cut Accomplishment
Making 300 cuts would seem to be a milestone in professional golf. It's not as significant as making the 3,000-hit club in baseball, which 33 batters have made, but still, if a player had a career of 20 years on the PGA Tour, that would be 15 made cuts a year, so it's nothing to sneeze at. Advertisement On the PGA Tour, 206 players have reached that landmark moment, making it less of a milestone and more of an accomplishment. Nick Watney watches his tee shot on 13 during the second round of the Myrtle Beach Classic golf tournament. Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images The newest member of the club is 44-year-old Nick Watney. Earlier this year, Watney made the cut in the Puerto Rico Open to move to 300 made cuts and then added his 301st at the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic. For Watney, he made the cut in over 60 percent of his appearances. 'I actually played a practice round with Bill Haas and his dad, Jay, who is caddying for him, and I think he's made 500 cuts, which blows my mind,' Watney said. 'It's cool. My dream since I was little was to play on the PGA Tour, so I take pride in the fact that I've been out for a little while.' Advertisement Hass is the gold standard in made cuts at 592, with his last coming at the 2006 PGA Championship at Medinah Country Club. Haas started his career in 1976, playing in his first professional event and making his first cut at the Western Open earning him $535. Bill Haas talks with his caddie and father Jay Haas on the 13th tee during the second round of the Myrtle Beach Classic golf tournament. Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images 'I played a lot, played a long time, but back in the day, if you made the cut, you didn't have to Monday qualify,' Haas said. 'So, making the cut was the number one priority. I got a paycheck, and I didn't have to go Monday to wherever to try to qualify.' Making the cut mentality never left Haas and ultimately, he felt it impacted how he played, making him focus on making the cut, which made his play more conservative, paying attention to where the cut lie was all the time and not trying to put himself in a situation where he may fall below the line. Advertisement Cuts Made Leaders on the PGA Tour Player Cuts Made Starts Jay Haas 592 799 Tom Kite 591 715 Raymond Floyd 581 726 Davis Love III 571 791 Gene Littler 566 647 Doug Ford 560 744 Arnold Palmer 543 703 John Cook 538 796 Phil Mickelson 537 667 Miller Barber 533 711 'I would maybe get one or two under the cut, and I could afford a bogey here, but don't make a double, stuff like that,' Haas said of his approach. 'Whereas now people play more aggressively, I think I watch on TV, and they're stronger, hit it longer, and all that different stuff. So, it's a different game. But I think that my mindset was to keep it in front of me and try not to screw up.' Haas played in 799 PGA Tour events and made the cut over 74 percent of the time. No one is close to catching Haas, with Zach Johnson the nearest active player at 398 made cuts. Advertisement Related: Early 66 Puts Nick Watney in the Hunt in Myrtle Beach Classic Related: Rory McIlroy's Philosophy at Truist Championship: 'Hit Driver Everywhere'
Associated Press
10-05-2025
- Climate
- Associated Press
Mackenzie Hughes, Cristobal Del Solar share Myrtle Beach lead
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) — Mackenzie Hughes of Canada shot a 2-under 69 in windy conditions Friday for a share of the second-round lead with Cristobal Del Solar of Chile in the Myrtle Beach Classic. A stroke ahead after an opening 63, Hughes had four birdies and two bogeys in his afternoon round at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club. 'I'm in a good spot going into the weekend.' Hughes said. 'There's a bunch of guys there with a chance. Nothing changes tomorrow. Just keep doing my thing and see where it puts me.' Del Solar rebounded from a bogey on the par-4 eighth with a closing birdie on the par-3 ninth. He shot a 67 in the afternoon to join Hughes at 10-under 132. 'I've been putting in the work, playing good golf, feeling more comfortable,' Del Solar said. 'Happy to be where I am.' The winner of the PGA Tour event — held opposite a signature event at the Truist Championship this week — gets a spot in the PGA Championship if not already eligible. That's not the case for Hughes, the two-time tour winner who already is in the field next week at Quail Hollow. Nick Watney, the 44-year-old player who hasn't won in 13 years, was a stroke back after a 67. Danny Walker (67) also was a shot back along with Harry Higgs (66), Will Chandler (69) and Davis Shore (66). ___ AP golf:
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Early 66 Puts Watney in the Hunt in Myrtle Beach
Two 69's and Nick Watney would miss the cut on Friday in Dallas by a shot last week at The CJ Cup. Two days later, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler would win his 14th time on the PGA Tour, shooting 31-under and winning by eight shots over South African Erik van Rooyen. Advertisement Like Scheffler, Watney was a household name when he played his best golf and ranked as high as ninth in the world in 2011. Nick Watney celebrates as his putt on the 18th hole falls to clinch his win on the 18th hole during the final round of the WGC - Cadillac Championship at TPC Blue Monster in May Henry-Imagn Images Granted, that was over 13 years ago, when Watney won his fifth and last time on the PGA Tour at The Barclays in 2012. 'It makes you think that you have a lot of room to improve for sure,' Watney said of Scheffler's performance. 'Obviously he's the standard of golf, and he was also on for the week, so it was impressive. At the same time it's motivating because you kind of see what is possible. I don't know if I'll ever -- obviously my time is not -- I'm not on the front end of my career, but at the same time, I think I still have some good stuff left.' Advertisement Since winning, Watney has scrambled around the fringes of the PGA Tour, putting together good tournaments here and there but continuing to slide in the FedEx Cup rankings. Eventually, losing his card and hoping a withdrawal by someone in the field or a sponsor's exemption would be in his future to play his next time on the PGA Tour. The low point came in 2023 at the RBC Canadian Open, an 80-75 was enough for Watney to take a hard look in the mirror. 'I think part of the reason that I like struggled for a while was I wasn't honest with myself about it,' Watney said after a 5-under 66. 'I kind of thought, oh, man, either I'm close or got some bad breaks or something like that.' Advertisement But reality sunk in and he realized, sitting in his hotel room on Friday after another missed cut, that what he was doing was not sustainable. If he wanted to continue playing professional golf, he couldn't compete from the rough, trees, or from out of bounds. At the same time, with four kids at home, he had to decide if it was worth leaving them if the result continued to be struggling with his game. But Watney's passion has always been to play professional golf, and he decided to give it and himself another chance. Working with swing instructor Scott Hamilton, Watney started to climb back out of the hole he had dug with his game. Advertisement The driver was the primary concern, and once he got that under control, each phase of his game was analyzed and addressed if necessary. Now, Watney is starting to get excited with his game. Needing a WD from Webb Simpson to get a spot into this weeks opposite field event in Myrtle Beach, Watney took advantage and finds himself on the leaderboard after Thursday's first round. In his last three individual events on the PGA Tour, the 44-year-old has been at par or better for all nine rounds, and if you add in the last Korn Ferry event, the number of rounds at or under par grows to 13. 'I think there will be a relearning thing, relearning phase, feeling things I haven't felt in a while, but at the same time I've done it before,' Watney said of how he will feel if his game continues to trend in the right direction over the next three days. 'You know, I don't think it will be completely foreign. Not to say that I'll handle it perfectly, but I would be looking forward to that whenever that comes because I play golf.' Related: Rory McIlroy's Philosophy at Truist Championship: 'Hit Driver Everywhere' Related: Final Round of Byron Nelson Brings an Injection of Adrenaline for Golf
