ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — Tyrrell Hatton retained his title at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on Sunday after a final round at St. Andrews in which Ross Fisher shot a course-record 61 at the home of golf.

On a calm day on the storied Old Course, even a bogey-free round by Fisher containing 11 birdies could not reel in overnight leader Hatton, who shot 66 for a three-stroke victory over his fellow Englishman.

Hatton became the first player in the 17-year history of the Dunhill Links to successfully defend the title in a tournament played over three Scottish courses — the Old Course, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie. His aggregate score of 24-under 264 was a tournament record, after rounds of 68-65-65-66.

Both of Hatton's career titles have come at the Dunhill Links.

Fisher was runner-up for the second straight year. He had a putt for eagle from the Valley of Sin on No. 18, which would have sealed the first round of 59 in the history of the European Tour. It fell two feet short and he missed the birdie putt back, though still broke the course record — held jointly by six players — by a stroke.

Rory McIlroy shot even-par 72 to finish tied for 63rd on 4 under par, meaning he ended a season without a victory for only the second time in his professional career.

This article was from The Associated Press and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@newscred.com.

OTTERSHAW, Surrey, England – For those American players present two years ago, watching their Great Britain & Ireland counterparts taking turns leaping into a pond by the 18th green at CordeValle in San Martin, California, was unsettling.

The first U.S. loss on home soil in PGA Cup history stung, and now sets up a compelling weekend nearly 27 miles southwest of London. The 28th PGA Cup, the premier international event for PGA Club Professionals, opens Friday at Foxhills Club & Resort’s Longcross Course.

The U.S. owns a 17-6-4 series lead since the event began in 1973, and is 6-5-1 on the road in the chase for the Llandudno International Trophy.

To set the stage for Friday morning’s four-balls, the Americans got a heavy dose of encouragement following Thursday’s opening ceremony. They viewed a video in the Team Room featuring Jack Nicklaus, Paul Azinger, Dave Stockton, Lee Trevino, Ben Crenshaw, Maj. Dan Rooney, Golf Channel announcer/North Florida PGA Member Charlie Rymer and reigning PGA Champion Justin Thomas.

MORE: Full coverage of the 28th PGA Cup from Foxhills Club & Resort

If that wasn’t enough, U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Jim Furyk dialed in from Florida, asking the team to “set the winning plate for us as we come over next year.” Furyk closed by saying, “Play your own game. I promise you it’s good enough.”

PGA of America President and U.S. Captain Paul Levy of Indian Wells, California, said he likes what’s he’s seen in his team during practice.

“We have five veterans that have played in these matches before and five who haven’t. But there are also a lot of mature guys,” said Levy. “It’s not like we have a team of 25-year-olds. We have got a lot of experienced players – even those who haven’t played in the match before – who have been top-notch club professionals, tour experienced-type players. So we are excited. We think we’ve got a great team.”

Among the veterans is a twosome who competed at CordeValle in 2015: reigning PGA Professional Champion Omar Uresti, a PGA Life Member from Austin, Texas; and Jamie Broce of Indianapolis, the new head men’s and women’s golf coach at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI).

“I feel like I take a lot of responsibility for my singles match in 2015,” said Broce. “I played great, and the guy I played made two eagles and three birdies in the last eight holes on me. He won the match and he really played well. I think their whole team played well and they earned it. We didn’t give them anything. For us to come over here to reclaim the Cup, we’re going to have to earn it. We’re not going to be able to back into anything.”

This marks Uresti’s third international team event, having competed in the Japan Friendship Matches as a junior at the University of Texas. “We definitely want to win the Cup back. To be on the first team that lost the Cup on U.S. soil was disappointing,” he said. “They have good players on their team and we have good ones on ours. We’ll be playing a course that is narrower than the old U.S. Open courses we’ve played.”

The 6,751-yard, par-72 Longcross is deceptively inviting in length, but has been honed to the specifications of Great Britain & Ireland Captain Albert MacKenzie. The fairways, according to Foxhills Director of Golf Chris Fitt, “have been pinched to provide bottlenecks” as a defense to the longest hitters.

There are no par-4s over 400 yards on the back nine, which leads to a shotmaker’s course and ideal for match play.

Great Britain & Ireland’s original plan was to utilize the longer Bernard Hunt Course. Both courses are well known to PGA Members here, as they host the annual Senior PGA Professional Championship.

“We just felt the Longcross Course was a little bit more British in its nature, where precision may be par around that course,” said MacKenzie, who was vice captain to winning 2015 Captain Jon Bevan. “Aesthetically, it’s easier on the eye and would provide a great theater for match play and the opportunity for more birdies on the back nine.

“Having been here the last four years for the British Seniors Championship, and finishing runner-up here in 2014, I am very fond of Foxhills. It is a wonderful resort, and offers virtually anything you want.”

MacKenzie doesn’t hide the fact that planning two years ago was paramount to bringing momentum to Great Britain & Ireland. “That was a great week,” said MacKenzie, “Jon (Bevan) was an inspirational Captain. We prepared very thoroughly. I would say the year before the PGA Cup, Jon and I had spoken 250 of the 365 days. It was a fantastic journey. We put a lot of effort into it. We had a template that we studied very closely for what happened in CordeValle and I pretty much used my personal twists.”

For Levy and his team, the task was aligning compatible partners who could mount a challenge. He also will call upon veterans in two-time PGA Professional Champion Matt Dobyns of Glen Head, New York; Mark Brown of Oyster Bay, New York; and 2013 PGA Professional Champion Rod Perry of Port Orange, Florida.

“It’s really exciting to represent your country. It’s a great honor, It’s something that most people don’t get to do very often,” said Dobyns, a PGA Head Professional at Fresh Meadow Country Club in Lake Success, New York. “It’s also to be on a team, which in golf we don’t get to do very often. It brings back a lot of good memories from college. Being in England, adds another dimension to it, taking a special trip and kind of living the life of a tour player is really exciting and something we all cherish.”

MORE: Get to know the U.S. PGA Cup team members

Perry arrived Wednesday morning, having secured his family and home following the passing of Hurricane Irma. He was one of the fortunate to get early clearance for a flight from the nearby Orlando International Airport. The PGA Head Professional at Crane Lakes Golf & Country Club in Port Orange, who missed two days of practice here, was not using any excuses.

“I was ready to play and really enjoyed my time around the course. Playing with Jamie (Broce) was a lot of fun,” said Perry, who competed in 2013 at Slaley Hall in Northeast England, when the U.S. forged a tie to keep the Cup for two more years. “We know we are in for a tough match.”

Brown, a 51-year-old PGA Head Professional at Tam O’Shanter Club in Glen Head, New York, last competed in the PGA Cup in 2000. He’s a three-time runner-up in the PGA Professional Championship.

“When we get on the course, we’re pulling for each other,” said Brown. “When you see that flag on the back of your shirt, it is really a special honor. Hopefully, we’ll take care of business.”

Levy said that he is pleased with the pairings that have come together through the practice rounds.

“The most important things about putting people together are all about relationships. After three days, we have a good idea and two players and want to win a match,” said Levy. “The golf course is very narrow and some areas the rough is tough. When it’s all said and done it’s about getting the ball in the hole faster than the other.”

The U.S. PGA Cup “rookies” include 2016 PGA Professional Champion Rich Berberian Jr. of Hooksett, New Hampshire; Paul Claxton of Claxton, Georgia; Dave McNabb of Newark, Delaware; Adam Rainaud of Chester, Connecticut; and Josh Speight of Locust Hill, Virginia.

“When my brother and I found out that I had made the team, it was the most pumped up that I have been,” said Rainaud, a PGA Assistant Professional at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York. “We get the camaraderie of the team and are friends forever.”

It’s been a season of major highs for McNabb, who competed in the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, was runner-up to Uresti in the PGA Professional Championship; and added appearances in the U.S. Senior Open and the PGA Championship.

“I think this would be one of the highlights of my career, to be one of the top 10 PGA Professionals in the country and to represent my country,” said McNabb, the PGA Head Professional at Applebrook Golf Club in Malvern, Pennsylvania. “I think we have to play good solid team golf and bond together as a unit to get the job done.”

28th PGA Cup

United States 
Captain: Paul Levy, Indian Wells, Calif.
Rich Berberian Jr., Hooksett, N.H.
Jamie Broce, Indianapolis, Ind.
Mark Brown, Oyster Bay, N.Y.
Paul Claxton, Claxton, Ga.
Matt Dobyns, Glen Head, N.Y.
Dave McNabb, Newark, Del.
Rod Perry, Port Orange, Fla.
Adam Rainaud, Chester, Conn.
Josh Speight, Locust Hill, Va.
Omar Uresti, Austin, Texas

Great Britain & Ireland
Captain: Albert MacKenzie, Devon, England
Phillip Archer, Warrington, Cheshire, England
Robert Coles, Romford, Essex, England
Matthew Cort, Leicester, England
Christopher Currie, Clydebank, Dunbartonshire, Scotland
David Higgins, Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland
Gary Houston, Wrexham, Clwyd, Wales
Greig Hutcheon, Banchory, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Chris McDonnell, Chichester, West Sussex, England
Damien McGrane, Kells, County Meath, Ireland
Andrew Raitt, London, England

Friday Morning Four-Ball Pairings

7:30 a.m. (2:30 a.m. EDT): Rod Perry, Port Orange, Fla. & Jamie Broce, Indianapolis, Ind. (USA) vs. Greig Hutcheon, Banchory, Aberdeenshire, Scotland & Damien McGrane, County Meath, Ireland (GB&I)

7:45 a.m. (2:45 a.m. EDT): Rich Berberian Jr., Hooksett, N.H. & Adam Rainaud, Chester, Conn. (USA) vs. Robert Coles, Romford, Essex, England & Chris McDonnell, Chichester, England (GB&I)

8:00 a.m. (3:00 a.m. EDT): Matt Dobyns, Glen Head, N.Y. & Mark Brown, Oyster Bay, N.Y. (USA) vs. Phillip Archer, Warrington, England & Andrew Raitt, London, England (GB&I)

8:15 a.m. (3:15 a.m. EDT): Omar Uresti, Austin, Texas & Paul Claxton, Claxton, Ga. (USA) vs. Chris Currie, Clydebank, Dunbartonshire, Scotland & David Higgins, Killarney, Count Kerry, Ireland (GB&I)  

PORT ST. LUCIE (Dec. 15, 2017) — It’s not often when you start the final round tied for the lead, shoot even par and lift the trophy.

But that’s what happened to Brett Melton on Friday at PGA Golf Club.

He shot a 72 to win Event No. 5 of the PGA Tournament Series by two shots over Rod Perry, Frank Bensel and Adam Rainaud. Melton finished at 4-under 140 to earn $5,000 for his third career PGA Tournament Series title.

“I got it to 7-under after three straight birdies (at 5, 6 and 7) and just tried to make pars from there,” said Melton, a PGA Assistant Professional at Radley Run Country Club in West Chester, Pa. “But the tough course took over.

RELATED: Final results from Event No. 5 of PGA Tournament Series

“I feel fortunate to shoot even par and not get passed today with the quality of the field.”

Perry (74) had an uncharacteristic up-and-down day, making five birdies, five bogeys and a double bogey on a difficult Wanamaker Course. He was a shot back heading to 18, but made a bogey after his approach barely cleared the water.

“I made too many mistakes and you can’t do that on this type of course,” said Perry, the PGA Head Professional at Crane Lakes Golf & Country Club in Port Orange.

Perry’s third runner-up finish of the PGA Tournament Series leaves him $653 behind Danny Balin ($9,555) for leading money winner of the PGA Tournament Series. Perry has been leading money winner twice, but that’s not his goal for next week’s Event No. 6.

“Winning a tournament,” Perry said. “That’s what we’re all out here for.”

Melton agreed. “Winning never gets old,” he said.

Bensel, who spends his winters working at the two Breakers golf courses, notched his second runner-up finish in the last week. He shot a 73.

“I just couldn’t get it in the hole,” Bensel said. “The greens were really difficult.”

Rainaud started the round tied for 11th, but moved up after a 72. Nick Latimer-Zabor (71-143) was alone in fifth.

The PGA Tournament Series is presented by Golf Advisor.
 

AUSTIN, Texas – The PGA of America’s 101st Annual Meeting, Nov. 1-3, will focus on the PGA Member and growing the game of golf. Delegates will gather at the Hilton Austin to plan the path for the Association’s future.

The meeting will be accentuated by presentations of the PGA National Awards, PGA of America Hall of Fame and PGA Distinguished Service Award.

Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017
The PGA of America will proudly recognize the 2017 National Awards winners in the Austin Grand Ballroom at 6 p.m., for their unwavering commitment to represent the PGA Professional and the game of golf at the highest of levels. The PGA of America National Awards program annually acknowledges PGA Members for their outstanding performances both on and off the course. Hosted by David Marr III, the celebration will honor 11 deserving PGA Members led by PGA Professional of the Year Darrell Kestner and PGA Teacher of the Year David Leadbetter.

• PGA Golf Professional of the Year: Darrell Kestner, PGA, Deepdale Golf Club—Manhasset, New York
• PGA Teacher of the Year: David Leadbetter, PGA, David Leadbetter Golf Academy—ChampionsGate, Florida
• PGA Youth Player Development Award: Brendon Elliott, PGA, Little Linksters LLC— Deltona, Florida
• Bill Strausbaugh Award: John Kennedy, PGA Life Member, formerly Westchester C.C.—Rye, New York
• Horton Smith Award: Jeff Adkerson, PGA Master Professional, Mississippi State University—Starkville, Mississippi
• PGA Player Development Award: Tom Morton, PGA Master Professional, Haggin Oaks Golf Complex—Sacramento, California
• Patriot Award: Kevin McKinley, PGA, Treetops Resort—Gaylord, Michigan
• Deacon Palmer Award: Sam Depe III, PGA, Hickory Heights Golf Club—Bridgeville, Pennsylvania
• PGA Merchandiser of the Year–Private Facilities: Mike Strlekar, PGA, Montclair Golf Club—West Orange, New Jersey
• PGA Merchandiser of the Year–Public Facilities: Mark Pfingston, PGA, Bear Dance Golf Club—Denver
• PGA Merchandiser of the Year–Resort Facilities: Zack Chapin, PGA, Arcadia Bluffs Golf Club– Arcadia, Michigan
• Herb Graffis Award: Gateway PGA Section (parts of Missouri and Illinois)*

*The Herb Graffis Award will be presented separately on Thursday, Nov. 2.

Thursday, Nov. 2
The meeting’s Opening Session will feature YUM! Brands Executive Chair David Novak as the keynote speaker, along with a Leadership Session led by Asuka Nakahara, Partner for Triton Atlantic Partners and a Director for Comcast Corporation. A special Folds of Honor presentation will be given by its Founder Maj. Dan Rooney, PGA. It will be followed by a moving discussion about PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) presented by PGA HOPE Coordinator Chris Nowak, a disabled veteran. In addition, the Gateway PGA Section will be presented the Herb Graffis Award, which recognizes a PGA Section for extraordinary and exemplary contributions and achievements in Player Development.

Seven new inductees into the PGA of America Hall of Fame are led by PGA Honorary Member Gary Player, LPGA Tour star Mickey Wright and pioneering PGA and LPGA Professional Renee Powell. They will be honored in a ceremony hosted by NBC/Golf Channel’s Jimmy Roberts, in the Austin Grand Ballroom at 6:30 p.m. Originated in 1940 at the suggestion of famed sportswriter Grantland Rice, the PGA of America Hall of Fame honors and recognizes individuals who through their lives, careers, service and support have made significant and enduring contributions to the PGA of America in its mission to grow the game of golf.
• Gary Player, PGA Honorary Member
• Renee Powell, PGA/LPGA
• George Henry Schneiter, PGA (deceased)
• Mike Schultz, PGA
• Joe Tesori, PGA
• Lew Worsham, PGA (deceased)
• Mickey Wright, LPGA

In addition, Mark and Debi Rolfing will receive the PGA Distinguished Service Award for their leadership and humanitarian qualities.

Friday, Nov. 3
Three new District Directors are scheduled to be sworn-in to the PGA of America Board of Directors on Friday, Nov. 3. The Board is comprised of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Honorary President and 17 directors who establish Association policy. The Directors include representatives from each of the PGA’s 14 Districts, two Independent Directors and a member of the PGA Tour.
• District 4: Steven Aloi, PGA, Bellevue Country Club, in Cortland, New York
(Central New York, Tri-State, Western New York PGA Sections)
• District 8: David Schneider, PGA/CCM, Wakonda Club in Des Moines, Iowa
(Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska PGA Sections)
• District 9: Ron Rawls, PGA, Crane Creek Country Club, in Boise, Idaho
(Colorado, Rocky Mountain, Utah PGA Sections)
 

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — The final tournament of the calendar year on the PGA Tour feels like a fresh start for Brandt Snedeker.

The biggest question is how long that feeling will last.

Snedeker returns this week at the RSM Classic from a peculiar injury to his sternum that doctors typically see only from contact sports. The injury was to a joint between the upper and lower sternum, and the pain at times was so great that Snedeker had trouble breathing after hitting shots.

That was the case at Royal Birkdale in July, when he was warming up for the opening round of the British Open when he abruptly withdrew because of the pain.

The RSM Classic will be his first competition in about five months.

"Semi-retirement is not all it's cracked up to be," said Snedeker, 36. "It's been a long time. It's fun to be back. Kind of realize what you miss, and I'm probably the most excited guy in the field this week to be playing again."

He also might be the most nervous.

Snedeker said he played 25 holes for three straight days at home in a cart and felt no issues. Even so, there is still the unknown of how it will feel walking over five hours in threesomes over the opening two rounds on two courses at Sea Island, and some of the lies he might face that could cause that jarring impact to his chest.

He opted to treat the injury with rest, although Snedeker conceded that "surgery is not off the table if it doesn't go well this week."

It was a good week to return. He has a second home in Sea Island and knows the Seaside and Plantation courses well. He faces a full field in which Matt Kuchar at No. 14 is the only player from the top 25 in the world ranking.

Davis Love III is the tournament host. Mackenzie Hughes is the defending champion, winning a four-man playoff a year ago that ended on Monday morning with the Canadian rookie holing an 18-foot par putt from just off the green.

The RSM Classic is the eighth tournament of the fall before the PGA Tour takes its winter break until resuming on Maui at the start of next year. Snedeker's plans are to compete this week at Sea Island, and then join Bubba Watson at the QBE Shootout in Florida, the team event that Greg Norman hosts.

But at least he's playing. And for the longest time, he wasn't sure that would be the case.

"This was an injury that I probably talked to 15 doctors over the course of these last 12 weeks or 14 weeks, and not one of them had ever really seen it in a golfer before," he said. "They'd never really run into this kind of injury without a blunt force trauma to cause it. So the uncertainty of how to fix it, the uncertainty of can it be fixed without surgery, will it go away, will it not? It's just tough when you don't have any real idea of how you're going to fix it."

Snedeker said a single swing or a shot didn't cause the injury; rather, it was progressive through repetition.

"It gets to a point where it gets so inflamed and so sore, my sternum was moving independently of each other," he said. "So it literally felt like my sternum was cracked or broken. Couldn't breathe. Couldn't do anything if I went and practiced for an hour. But if I go hit a ball and wait 10 minutes, I was OK. But if I practiced or did anything like that, it would just really get to a point where it hurt to breathe, hurt to move, hurt to do anything."

Snedeker was at No. 32 in the world after he tied for 14th in the Travelers Championship, which turned out to be his last event. He now is at No. 47, and risks falling out of the top 50 by the end of the year, which would cost him an automatic spot in the Masters.

For now, he wants to play and feel good doing it.

He has worked with swing coach John Tillery on a game that will alleviate some of the pressure from his chest area. He also has changed his diet to avoid foods that could lead to inflammation, specifically carbohydrates. That means more vegetables and no french fries.

What hasn't changed is his optimism.

"I'm excited about stepping in and playing some good golf," he said. "And I firmly believe that my best golf is still ahead of me."

This article was from The Associated Press and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@newscred.com.