Tour Notebook: Pair of aces for Harman and Rory back as No 1

Harman holding all the aces

Brian Harman became the third player in PGA Tour history after making two holes-in-one in the final round of The Barclays.

The left-hander popped in a 7-iron from 183 yards at the 7th and then followed it up with a 4-hybrid from 218 yards at the 14th.

He then came up a foot short of chipping in for an eagle at the 16th and almost holed out from 173 yards at the penultimate hole.

Thanks to Harman two fans will have their mortgages paid off for a year courtesy of the Quicken Loans Hole-in-One Sweepstakes.

The last player to make two holes-in-one in a single round was Yusaku Miyazato at the 2006 Reno Tahoe Open. The only other player to double up was amateur, Bill Whedon at the 1955 Insurance City Open.

They were Harman’s first in competition, he had had sox or seven ‘messing around’ but, as for the historic balls, they could be anywhere. “They’re in the bag somewhere,” he said. “I might have given them away. I don’t know.”

Spieth back to second best

The authorities have found a way to negate the skills of Jordan Spieth – use poa annua greens and set the course up soft.

The two-time Major winner shot 74-73 in The Barlclays at Plainfield CC to miss the cut. That meant Rory McIlroy, who didn’t lift a club this week, regained his top spot in the rankings. Spieth is the first player to miss the cut in his first start as World No 1.

The opening 73 was just the third time in 33 rounds that he has failed to break par, soon followed by a fourth. The boy wonder came home in 40 in his first start as World No 1.

“I don’t seem to putt as well on poa annua,” he said. “Doesn’t mean you can’t. And then for me, personally, I struggle with wedges when you have to fly it at least to the hole. I like harder, firmer golf courses, and out here with the pins on four-degree slopes on shelves, I’m just not very good at being able to fly it just past and trust that it’s going to spin back, just because we don’t see it very often.”

Solheim: Europe name rookie-free team

Collpased lung for Daly

John Daly was back playing again less than 24 hours after being taken to hospital with a collapsed lung.

The two-time Major champion collapsed on the 18th tee at Deerfield Country Club having been struggling with a rib injury as well as the heat. His right hand, which was taped when he returned to play the day after his hospital visit, also contributed to his problems. He had originally hurt it when putting on a new tyre on his son’s golf cart this week.

“I was having a great time and then suddenly — boom — I’m falling down while on the 18th tee and the next thing I know I’m in an ambulance. It was scary,” the 49-year-old said.

“I had to change my swing some to get a good grip and the doctor said the changed motion is likely what led to the collapsed lung.”

His playing partner said that a nurse in the gallery had had to resuscitate Daly. The following dad he was back at Deerfield and smoking cigarettes before his round.

"I was having a great time and then suddenly — boom — I’m falling down while on the 18th tee" – John Daly
Presidents Cup changes for 2015

Total number of matches reduced from 34 to 30 (Ryder Cup has 28)
– Five matches of fourballs and foursomes on the first two days, previously there were six
– 4xfourballs and 4xfoursomes on the Saturday, there were five before
– Matches tied after 18 holes will be a half point, previously singles ties went to extra holes
– Each player from both sides will be required to participate in two of the first four sessions, previously it was three

Current standings: United States 9 International 1 Tie

The Presidents Cup will be held October 8-11 at Jack Nicklaus Golf Course Korea in Incheon, South Korea.

Day gives away historic club

The 52˚ wedge that Jason Day used to win the PGA Championship is now in the hands of seven-year-old fan Andrew Smallwood.

The youngster was watching our most recent Major champion at The Barclays when the Aussie passed on the club.

“Here, this is for you,” Day said. “It’s a wedge I used all week at Whistling Straits and you can have it.”

Solheim: Creamer and Lang handed picks

Scott ready for anchoring ban

Don’t expect to see Adam Scott beginning 2016 with a new putter, the likelihood is that it will just be a slightly shorter version.

The anchoring ban comes into play but the former Masters champion plans to take a bit off it rather than switch to a ‘normal’ length one.

Scott switched to a traditional putter at three events earlier this year but the experiment appears to have put him off.

“I’ve got as far as I see it two good options; I can un-anchor the long putter — I do that well — or putt with a short one — and I know what I’m up for there because I used it a few rounds this year,” Scott said.

“I like the long one with the same action I’ve been using. I just have to shorten the putter a few inches and everything else stays the same. The putter is so good, if there was any concern of it not being stable when it’s un-anchored it’s gone.”

Watson heading to Kennemer

We might have said goodbye to Tom Watson at the Open Championship but Dutch fans will get a chance to see him in next month’s KLM Open.

The lure of the course at Kennemer appears to have been too much and the eight-time Major winner will make his first appearance in the Netherlands on September 10.

“The reputation of Kennemer made my decision really easy. It’s a world top 100 golf course and I just hope my old game is up to the task of playing such a wonderful course,” said Watson.

“I’m looking forward to it. It will be my first time to the Netherlands. I certainly know a little bit about the history of it, and it’s actually part of the history of golf, as it started there.”