‘Dawgs On Tour: Ring The Bell

While most of the ‘Dawgs on Tour content centers around the PGA Tour, there are former Bulldogs playing professional golf in many places.

Greyson Sigg is playing on the MacKenzie Tour (formerly Canadian Tour), and fired a 59 last week. Erik Compton and Lee McCoy are competing on the Web.com Tour (the Triple-A level of the PGA Tour). And three former UGA Women’s golfers are playing pro ball as well: Harang Lee, Bailey Tardy, and Jillian Hollis all are members of the Symetra Tour (Web.com equivalent for the LPGA Tour).

This past weekend, another ‘Dawg showed up in the winners circle. Jillian Hollis captured the Forsyth Classic at Hickory Point Golf Club, her second victory of the season. With the win she also moves into first place on the Symetra Tour money list; an important position because the top 10 finishers will gain automatic entry to the LPGA Tour. Congrats to the former All-American.

Now on to the men’s side:

Tournament: Travelers Championship, June 20-23, 2019

Course: TPC River Highlands, 6,841 yards, par 70 (outside Hartford, CT)

Purse: $7,200,000

Defending Champ: Gerry Lester Watson, Jr. Bubba captured his first title here in 2010, and again in 2015. Coming into the final round six strokes behind Paul Casey, the odds didn’t look good. But Bubba fired a Sunday 63, posted the clubhouse lead, and watched as no one could match him.

Fun Fact: This tournament used to be called the “Insurance City Open”. I’m guessing because it’s near Hartford, CT. All I know about Connecticut is that New Haven has some nice areas, and some really not very nice at all areas.

TV Times: Thursday-Friday, 3-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel). Saturday-Sunday, 1-2:45 p.m. (GC), 3-6 p.m. (CBS).

‘Dawgs in the Field: Eight. Bubba Watson, Hudson Swafford, Brian Harman, Russell Henley, Kevin Kisner, Harris English, Sepp Straka and Joey Garber.

The US Open is now in the books, and Kansas Jayhawk Gary Woodland is your national champion. The low Bulldog was Sepp Straka, finishing tied for 28th, shooting rounds of 68-72-76-67. Kevin Kisner tied for 49th, and Harris English tied for 58th. Keith Mitchell, Brendon Todd, and Bubba Watson all missed the cut.

Woodland is taking the week off, but world #1 and US Open runner-up Brooks Koepka will be in New England this week and competing. Joining Koepka is last year’s runner-up and resurgent Paul Casey, the always competitive Englishman Tommy Fleetwood, and the suddenly Twitter-happy Phil Mickelson. Phil is a 2-time winner here, but hasn’t been back to the tournament since 2003. Likely because there’s a fairly recent ruling that Tour members must play each tourney at least once in a 5 year span or something similar, in an effort to keep up fan interest.

And if you like Phil, or at least like hearing even how the staid and stoic PGA Tour has it’s dark side, check this out.

Making their first appearance will be Viktor Hovland and Matthew Wolff. Both former top amateurs, both Oklahoma Sate Cowboys, both national award winners, and both making their professional debuts. Hovland had himself a US Open, and both have the makings of top pros.

Lots of golf available out there if you’re interested, and hopefully one of our ‘Dawgs will do something special to make me break away from the bathroom renovations I’m in the middle of. Believe me, I’m looking for excuses at this point. And as always...

GO ‘DAWGS!!!