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đŸŒđŸ»Why JT Dropped Scheffler From Ryder Cup

Plus: Drills that you can use to improve mobility

Good morning! Round 3 of the the women’s event at the Olympics is in progress - you can watch all the action live on Golf Channel and Peacock.

For all tournament updates and the latest news, check out our Youtube channel.

Today’s Trivia: Who's the defending champion of the Wyndham Championship? Answer at the end of the email.

⛳ This day in history: The 100th playing of the PGA Championship began on this date in 2018 in St. Louis at Bellerive Country Club.

ALBATROSS
Korda's Quadruple Bogey Sinks Strong Round

Photo: Getty Images | Source: ESPN

World No 1 Nelly Korda was absolutely crushing it early on Thursday, looking primed to play in the final group on Friday, and possibly even lead the tournament when the wheels fell off on the par-3 16th. This par-3 disaster wasn’t nearly as bad as the US Women’s Open debacle, but the quadruple-bogey seven, with a “chippy 9-iron” from the tee, tarnished what had been a bogey-free round with six birdies.

Korda followed that with a three-putt bogey on the 17th and a birdie on the 18th to finish in a share of 12th, six shots back.

🚀 Metraux Leads: Morgane Metraux poured in two eagles on the front nine en route to a record 28. The back nine wasn’t as smooth, but the second-round 66 was enough to put the Swiss player atop the board at 8 under through 36 holes.

Metraux is an Olympic debutant after choosing not to go to Tokyo while she was chasing a spot on the prestigious LPGA Tour. Her sister Kim represented Switzerland three years ago alongside Albane Valenzuela, who is in Paris for her third Games.

📍Ko In Contention: Lydia Ko, the only golfer with two Olympic medals, is in prime position to collect at third after a 5-under 67. The Kiwi, who won silver in 2016 and bronze in 2021, sits alone in third, three shots behind.

A victory this week would complete her medal set and put Ko in the LPGA Hall of Fame. Two years ago, the LPGA Hall of Fame criteria changed to award one point for a gold medal.

🏌‍♀The Longshots: It will take something special, but there are a number of big names lurking in the middle of the pack, including former No 1 Jin Young Ko (+2), Hyo Joo Kim (+2), Hannah Green (+3), Brooke Henderson (+3) and Patty Tavatanakit (+3).

Meanwhile, stars like Leona Maguire and Charley Hull are lucky that there's no cut.

Click here to check out the leaderboard.

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TWEET
Worth Mentioning

EAGLE
Wyndham Championship Round 1 Postponed To Friday

Photo: Imago | Source: NBC Sports

Heavy rain and wind from Tropical Storm Debby wiped out the first round of the Wyndham Championship on Thursday, forcing the final regular-season event of the PGA Tour to start on Friday at rain-soaked Sedgefield Country Club.

The course received 2 inches of rain from the early morning. Tour meteorologists said as much as 6 inches could fall by the end of the day. A flash flood warning was in effect for the region.

The PGA Tour has weather guidelines that aim to complete 72 holes when possible. Another option could be a cut to the nearest number to 60 players with a 36-hole final on Sunday.

The tournament decides the top 70 players in the FedEx Cup who advance to the postseason, which features a pair of $20 million tournaments and the Tour Championship. The winner of the FedEx Cup receives $18 million. The top 50 are assured of getting in all the $20 million signature events next year.

Play will not begin before 9:50 am ET today.

LOCKER ROOM
What else is making news

In Memoriam: Juan "Chi Chi" Rodriguez, known as much for his on-course showmanship as for the talent that led to his induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame, died on Thursday at age 88.

Presidents Cup: Captains Mike Weir and Jim Furyk set up the final drive to the Presidents Cup - click here to check out their plans.

NBC Booth: Kevin Kisner is set to return to NBC Sports and work with Dan Hicks for the three FedEx Cup Playoff events, starting next week in Memphis.

BIRDIE
Why Didn’t JT Pick Scottie For His Team?

Photo: Reuters | Source: Yardbarker Golf

In 2021, the selection process for the US Ryder Cup team was intense, with several players vying for the coveted captain’s picks. Among them were two of the then brightest young talents in the game: Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns.

Justin Thomas, one of the key voices in the room, had his own views on the matter. At the time, Scottie Scheffler had not yet secured a PGA Tour victory, while Sam Burns had already made a name for himself with his exceptional putting skills and consistency on the greens.

This led Thomas to lean towards Burns, believing that his proven track record gave him the edge.

But as fate would have it, the captain’s pick eventually went to Scottie Scheffler. Reflecting on the moment, Thomas now jokes about how his judgment may have been a bit off, given Scheffler’s subsequent rise to the top of the golfing world.

📌 The Turning Point In Scheffler's Career: Justin Thomas’ initial hesitation regarding Scottie Scheffler is a testament to how unpredictable the world of professional golf can be. While Burns was undoubtedly a strong candidate, Scheffler’s selection ultimately paid off, setting the stage for his future success on the PGA Tour.

Since the 2021 Ryder Cup, Scottie Scheffler has emerged as one of the most dominant players in golf.

In 2022, Scheffler captured his first PGA Tour win at the WM Phoenix Open, a victory that would be the first of many that season. His success continued with victories at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, and most notably, the Masters Tournament, where he donned the coveted Green Jacket.

Scheffler’s ability to seize his moment and continue improving has made him a formidable force on the tour and a key player for the US team in future Ryder Cups. Today, he stands as a testament to the importance of perseverance and self-belief in sports.

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DRIVING RANGE
Pre-Round Mobility Routine

In today's video, we share a series of drills that can be used daily as a warm-up routine before playing on the golf course.

Trivia Answer: Lucas Glover.