SILVIS, Ill. (AP) – Luke List has a happy and healthy home life with his newborn son, and he felt pretty good about his golf game Friday in the John Deere Classic.

List ran off seven birdies in an eight-hole stretch in the middle of his round, his only par on a 12-foot birdie chance on the 15th hole, and posted an 8-under 63. That gave him a one-shot lead over Sebastian Munoz going into the weekend at the TPC Deere Run.

List was at 13-under 129.

Munoz played early and shot a 4-under 67, getting all his birdies on the back nine and then finishing with 10 pars.

Former tournament winner Ryan Moore had a chance to catch List until he ran into trouble off the 18th tee and made bogey, giving him a 66 and leaving him among seven players two shots off the lead. That group included Lucas Glover and Chase Seiffert, each with 63.

List is still searching for his first PGA Tour victory, though that wasn’t front and center over the last month. His son, Harrison, was born June 5 and had to return to the hospital because of a respiratory virus that had him intubated for a few days and in intensive care for two weeks.

List, who is No. 117 in the FedEx Cup with the season winding down, stayed home the last two weeks to help with their 2-year-old daughter.

“It was tough, but it’s been amazing to come back,” List said. “Everyone has been asking and praying and thinking about us, so it’s kind of cool. It’s a big family out here, and it’s nice to know that you’ve got everyone’s support when it’s not going great.”

Harrison is home and gaining weight. “Everything is great now,” List said.

The key to his round Friday was simple. While all eight of his birdies were about 10 feet or closer, there’s a reason for that. List missed only one fairway. On two of the par 5s, he had eagle putts from 25 feet and 10 feet.

The scoring was so good, as it often is at the John Deere, that the cut was at 4-under 138.

Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., was the top Canadian after a 6-under 65 put him 10 under. Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., (64) was 8 under, followed by David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., (65) at 7 under. Michael Gligic of Burlington, Ont., (70) was 1 under and missed the weekend cut.

Among those making it to the weekend was Steve Stricker, the 54-year-old Ryder Cup captain and three-time John Deere Classic winner. Stricker wanted to be part of the 50th anniversary of the tournament, so he skipped his title defense at the U.S. Senior Open.

His play on Friday suggested that was a good move, with six birdies in his round of 66 that left him seven shots behind in the middle of the pack.

“This tournament has meant a lot to me over the years. It’s a special place for me,” Stricker said. “It’s hurt the last few times I haven’t been able to come here. … I wish the two events were at different times. I could have played both of them. But this is the spot for me to be this week.”

One of his birdies was on the par-5 second hole, which he reached in two with an iron. Calling the action was 22-year-old daughter Bobbi Maria Stricker, who plays for Wisconsin.

Also making the cut was Nick Watney, who was hovering close to the line with a bogey on the fifth hole (his 14th of the round) and responded with back-to-back birdies. He shot 66, significant because it ended a nasty patch of 18 consecutive missed cuts.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The combination of wind, heat and humidity made it difficult to go low at the U.S. Senior Open on Friday.

Jim Furyk and Greg Kraft found a way.

Furyk shot a 6-under 64, the best round in days at Omaha Country Club, to take a two-stroke lead over Canada’s Stephen Ames. The 2003 U.S. Open champion and 17-time PGA Tour winner rebounded from an opening 72 to get to 4 under.

“I was able to see some putts go in, and I hit a lot of fairways, a lot of greens today, kept the ball in good places,” Furyk said. “When I missed it, I missed it in the right spots for the most part. Just really kind of got on a roll and got some momentum.”

First-round co-leader Ames, based out of Calgary, bogeyed four of the first six holes on his second nine and shot 73. Two-time U.S. Senior Open runner-up Miguel Angel Jimenez (71) was 1 under.

Kraft, who hadn’t played in a tournament since September 2019, had four straight birdies on his second nine and shot 65 for the best round of the afternoon session.

Kraft was in a logjam of 10 players at even par. Among them were first-round co-leader Billy Andrade (75), Fred Couples (71), David Toms, Thongchai Jaidee (71) and the oldest player in the field, 67-year-old Jay Haas (71).

“You know, there’s such a long way to go, but I’m playing OK,” Haas said. “I don’t think I’m playing just amazingly golf that I can’t even fathom. I can play better, I think, but I have to do it. I feel good. Health, I love the heat. It keeps me loose.”

Alex Cejka (74), the winner of the first two majors of the year, was in a group of 12 at 1 over along with major winners Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., (74), Mark O’Meara (71) and Retief Goosen (69). Weir sits tied for 14 heading into the weekend.

With thunderstorms in the forecast Saturday, the first tee times for the third round were moved up to 7:15 a.m. with threesomes going off Nos. 1 and 10.

Temperatures were in the low 70s when Furyk went out Friday morning, but wind swirled and was gusty. The wind calmed by the afternoon, but heat and humidity set in to create feel-like temperatures near 100, and the conditions coupled with the hills of OCC wore on the 50-and-over players.

Furyk hit 12 of 13 fairways and 15 of 18 greens in regulation and had three birdies on each side.

The turning point, he said, was making a 30-foot putt to save par after his tee shot landed in a greenside bunker on the 240-yard, par-3 third hole. Birdies on three of the next four holes got him under par for the tournament.

Furyk ended his round with a birdie on the par-4 18th. He hit a knocked-down 8-iron about 15 feet under the hole and made the putt to secure his lowest score in an official event since last September.

The 51-year-old Furyk has two victories and nine top-10s in 15 events since he joined PGA Tour Champions last year. He’s never been out of the top 25 as a senior. His highest finish in a senior major is sixth in the Senior Players Championship at Firestone two weeks ago.

Andrade followed a bogey-free 65 with a 75 that included six bogeys.

“I felt like I played better than 75, and I’m still in it,” Andrade said. “So just go prepare for tomorrow and go out and hit some drives in the fairway and see if we can make a few birdies.”

SILVIS, Ill. (AP) – Sebastian Munoz never knows when the switch will come on and the putts start to fall, but he recognized it happening Thursday in the John Deere Classic.

Munoz was motoring along when he closed with five straight birdies at the TPC Deere Run for an 8-under 63, turning a solid day into a share of the lead with Chesson Hadley.

“I just go blank, to be honest,” Munoz said. “It’s funny because when I make a lot of birdies, I usually play a little more safe and pick my spots. I have like 10-, 12-footers and they start to drop. That’s what I did today. And that’s where we’re at.”

Hadley was on the other side of the course, finishing on the front nine. It wasn’t nearly as spectacular, but he played bogey-free and had back-to-back birdies on three occasions. He was helped by making three of his birdies from 25 feet.

Hank Lebioda, who finished one shot out of the playoff last week in the Rocket Mortgage Classic, was poised to join them. He was 7 under through 12 holes and tied the lead with a tee shot on the 213-yard seventh hole that stopped 20 inches from the cup.

But he missed the fairway to the right on the par-4 ninth, chose to pitch back to the fairway and hit a wedge to 6 feet below the cup. He missed the par putt and had to settle for a 64. Chez Reavie and Camilo Villegas, who played in the morning, also were at 64.

Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., was the top Canadian after opening with a 4-under 67. David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., and Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., fired 1-under 70s, while Michael Gligic Burlington, Ont., was even par.

Scoring was so good in immaculate conditions that nearly half the field broke 70.

Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker, who chose to play in the 50th anniversary of the John Deere Classic instead of defending his title in the U.S. Senior Open, got off to a sluggish start until he rallied with a few birdies on the front nine for a 70.

That will leave the three-time John Deere champion some work to do Friday afternoon to make the cut. But at least Stricker gets a little more sleep for that 54-year-old body.

“I’m not used to getting up at 5 in the morning anymore to play,” Stricker said. “And I kind of played like I was still asleep for a while. Righted the ship a little bit. A little disappointed that I didn’t capitalize on a few more of those coming in.”

The leading player from among the top five at the end of the week earns a trip to the British Open if he’s not already exempt. Munoz is in the field next week at Royal St. George’s. Hadley is not, though with so many low scores, it will take two more days to sort that out.

Cam Davis, a playoff winner in Detroit last week, had to turn down his spot in the British Open. Kevin Na decided to withdraw because of travel requirements in place for family members, and next on the reserve list was Davis.

One problem. The Australian can’t travel overseas. He got married last September, lives with his American-born wife in Seattle and decided to start the process of getting a green card for ease of travel overseas and going home to Australia.

He’s at the stage now where he can’t go overseas until he gets a temporary card. He knew that even before winning the Rocket Mortgage Classic. And he will get by.

The emotions of winning for the first time can take a toll. Davis wasn’t sure if he would continue his good form or run out of gas. Thursday was a little of both. He holed an 8-foot eagle putt on the par-5 second and reached 6 under through 11 holes, only to play 2 over the rest of the way for a respectable 67.

“I’m looking forward to seeing my family and celebrating back in Seattle next week and recharging a little bit because this week is already a bit of a grind to get through,” Davis said. “I’m pretty tired. It’ll be nice to relax.”

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Canada’s Stephen Ames and Billy Andrade shot 5-under 65s on Thursday to share the first-round lead in the U.S. Senior Open.

Ames, from Calgary, had seven birdies and two bogeys in the morning session. Andrade had five birdies and no bogeys on an Omaha Country Club course that dried out after the sun broke through and the wind came up in the afternoon.

Ames hit 11 of 13 fairways and 16 greens in regulation on the 6,891-yard course set in the rolling hills on the north side of the city. He birdied five of seven holes in the middle of the round before missing short birdie putts on Nos. 12 and 13.

Ames made a 15-footer for birdie on the par-4 No. 14 and hit a 6-iron to 4 inches on the downhill, 223-yard par-3 No. 15. But the 57-year-old naturalized Canadian citizen from Trinidad three-putted from 8 feet for bogey on the par-4 17th and came in at 32.

“I’m like, ‘Whoa, could have been a lot lower on the back nine, which is unfortunate,” said Ames, whose highest finish in a senior major was a tie for third in the 2018 Senior British Open.

Ames got some local knowledge from his caddie, Troy Martin of Omaha. The two connected in April when Peter Jacobsen told Ames he was taking off the rest of the season and that his caddie, Martin, needed a job.

Wes Short Jr. shot 66. Alex Cejka, looking for his third victory in a senior major this year, and Robert Karlsson followed at 67.

Andrade, who started on the 10th hole, pulled into a tie with Ames with a birdie on the par-5 sixth. He got up-and-down from a greenside bunker to save par on the par-4 eighth. He just missed a 20-foot downhill birdie putt on the par-4 ninth.

Andrade’s best finish this season is a tie for fifth, and he has only one other top-10 in 22 events. Two weeks ago he had his worst tournament since 2014, finishing 18 over and tying for 63rd in the Senior Players Championship at Firestone. He’s winless since 2015.

Short has five top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour Champions this year and is looking for his first win in a senior major. He was steady throughout his round, making four birdies and mostly avoiding the thick rough.

Jay Haas, at 67 the oldest player in the field, shot 69.

The field includes 16 players who won a total of 26 majors before joining the senior tour. Among those playing in the Senior Open for the first time are Mike Weir (70), Jim Furyk (72), Ernie Els (73), Rich Beem (73) and Jose Maria Olazabal (77). Weir sits T16 going into the second round of the major.

Bernard Langer, who has won a record 11 senior majors, shot 71.

Steve Stricker, the 2019 champion, is not playing in Omaha. He’s on the regular PGA Tour this week at the John Deere Classic. There was no U.S. Senior Open last year because of the pandemic.

Kenny Perry, who won the Senior Open here in 2013, opened with a 71. The 60-year-old Perry, who also won the Senior Open in 2017, has only two top-10 finishes in 22 events this season.

Golf Canada and Recipe Unlimited announced today a multi-year integrated partnership that will see Recipe Unlimited become the Official Restaurant Partner for the National Sport Federation. 

The two-tiered partnership will welcome Recipe Unlimited as the official Restaurant Partner of Canada’s National Open Golf Championships – the CP Women’s Open and the RBC Canadian Open – as well as become the presenting sponsor of the onsite “Fare Way” food experience at both Championships. 

Recipe Unlimited’s catering division – Marigolds and Onions – will also become the exclusive Catering Partner for both National Open Championships providing concessions and catering services including non-clubhouse corporate hospitality areas.

“Partnering with Recipe Unlimited and their collection of premium restaurant brands will deliver a special enhancement to the fan-centric Fare Way food experience at our National Open Championships,” said Golf Canada Chief Commercial Officer John Sibley. “We are excited to welcome our new partners to the golf space and look forward to working with their experienced restaurant and catering divisions to deliver an exceptional and familiar food experience to our event spectators and hospitality clients as well as golfers from coast to coast.” 

Recipe Unlimited (formerly Cara Foods) is the largest restaurant operator in Canada and includes brands such as The Keg, Swiss Chalet, Harvey’s, Montana’s, Pickle Barrel, New York Fries and Burger’s Priest to name a few.

“We are thrilled to become the Official Restaurant Partner for the National Sport Federation, fueling both the RBC Canadian Open and the CP Women’s Open in 2022 and beyond,” said Frank Hennessey, CEO, Recipe Unlimited.

Through the partnership, Recipe Unlimited will look to engage with golfers across Canada and will also look to develop additional opportunities to add value for Golf Canada members at select Recipe Unlimited restaurant locations. 

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics are quickly approaching, with the men’s competition from July 29 to Aug. 1, and the women’s competition following shortly after from Aug. 4 to 7. Both events will be held at Kasumigaseki Country Club in Saitama, Japan.

The men’s team is made up of Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., and Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., who were previously teammates at Kent State University. The women’s team will be the returning pair of Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., with Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Ont. who both participated in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Both teams will be wearing uniforms by Adidas Golf on the field of play. They feature various shades of grey, red, white and black in a variety of different patterns, colour combinations, and styles. All shirts carry “CAN” in either red or white capital letters on the left side.  

The official Golf Canada fan gear collection is available here.

TORONTO – RBC, the PGA of America and Ryder Cup Europe have announced a one-year agreement establishing Canada’s biggest bank as a Worldwide Partner of the 2020 Ryder Cup, which takes place September 21-26, 2021, at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin. Established in 1927, the biennial competition pits 12 of the top professional golfers from the U.S. against the top professional golfers from Europe in a head-to-head match play competition, and has become one of the world’s greatest sporting events, captivating an audience of millions around the globe.

RBC’s partnership with the 43rd Ryder Cup will include prominent on-course branding, a strategic media integration and exclusive onsite hospitality for RBC clients. This hospitality will provide special viewing areas for RBC clients as well as unique golf and event experiences. RBC will also receive prominent broadcast and digital assets, deepening RBC’s presence in golf during one of the premier events of the season.

“We’re very pleased to welcome RBC to the Ryder Cup family in 2021, for what is shaping up to be one of sport’s most anticipated international events in recent memory,” said PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh. “RBC has long established itself as a financial leader with a sterling reputation that knows no borders, which aligns perfectly with the Ryder Cup’s global reach.”

“RBC has been a long-term supporter of golf and we are delighted they will now join our commercial family for the Ryder Cup, becoming the latest global brand to be part of our Worldwide Partner programme,” said Guy Kinnings, European Ryder Cup Director. “We look forward to working together at Whistling Straits and we hope everyone associated with RBC enjoys the experience of one of sport’s most iconic events.”

RBC has a long-standing commitment to the game of golf in both the U.S. and Canada, and is currently title sponsor of two PGA TOUR events, the RBC Heritage and the RBC Canadian Open. RBC is also proud to support a world-class roster of Team RBC golfers who represent the RBC brand and compete on the PGA and LPGA TOUR. With 14 Canadian, U.S. and international ambassadors –including World No. 2 Dustin Johnson, Ryder Cup U.S. Team Vice Captain Jim Furyk, European Team Vice Captain Graeme McDowell, and World No. 7 Brooke Henderson—Team RBC embodies the pinnacle of golf performance. RBC was also a Proud Supporter of both the 2010 and 2012 Ryder Cup matches.

“It’s such an honor to be a Vice  Captain for the U.S. Team at the 43rd Ryder Cup, and having RBC as a Worldwide Partner for this year’s event is incredibly special,” said Furyk. “RBC is a great supporter of golf, and I’m really looking forward to getting back into the Team Room at Whistling Straits.”

“I’m very proud to be a Vice Captain for the European Team at the 43rd Ryder Cup,” said Team RBC ambassador Graeme McDowell. “Having been a player at this event four times and part of the support team in 2018, my experience and memories from the Ryder Cup are incredibly special. It’s fantastic to have RBC as a Worldwide Partner for this year’s event.”  

As a purpose-driven global financial institution, RBC is strongly committed to giving back to communities. Through the RBC Heritage and RBC Canadian Open tournaments, RBC has helped to raise over $25 million in support of local charities in Canada and the United States.

DETROIT (AP) – Davis Thompson, in his third PGA Tour event as a professional, is leading the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

He’s not excited about that fact. Yet.

“Sounds good on Sunday,” Thompson said after matching a Detroit Golf Club record with a 9-under 63 to take the early first-round lead. “It’s only Thursday. I know I’ve got a long way to go.”

Brandon Hagy, Tom Lewis and Joaquin Niemann were two shots back. Seamus Power and J.J. Spaun shot 66, putting them another stroke behind the surprising leader.

Michael Gligic of Burlington, Ont., shot a 67, putting him four shots back at 5-under. Roger Sloan of Calgary is also at 5-under with three holes left to play in his first round. 

Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., is tied for 87th, Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin, of Abbotsford, B.C., are both tied for 110th, and David Hearn of Brampton, Ont., is tied for 124th. Hadwin and Hearn still have two holes left to play.

Thompson is in the field as a sponsor exemption after sending an email to tournament officials, asking for a spot. The 22-year-old former University of Georgia star missed the cut last week at the Travelers Championship after tying for 35th in his pro debut at the Palmetto Championship earlier in June.

It is unlikely anyone saw his breakthrough round coming after he was a combined 6-over par in six previous starts – four as an amateur – on the PGA Tour. Thompson did show a flash of promise when he competed in the 2020 U.S. Open as an amateur, opening with a 69 before missing the cut at 7-over 147.

Thompson took advantage of favorable conditions with rain-softened greens and light wind Thursday morning at Detroit Golf Club, missing only one green and needing just 26 putts in his bogey-free round with nine birdies.

Thompson resumed his round after play was suspended due to inclement weather for three-plus hours. He tied the course record shared by Nate Lashley, who won the inaugural event in 2019, and J.T. Poston.

“I’ve played in a few pro events now, so you’ve just got to keep your emotions in check,” Thompson said. “Anything can happen. I know I’m playing well, so I’m just going to have some confidence going into (Friday) and hopefully I can play another good round.”

Players with afternoon tee times had to endure a long wait to begin playing and wind that was 5 to 10 mph stronger than it was in the morning. Twenty-seven players will finish their first round early Saturday morning before playing the second round.

Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau got off to a shaky start, a day after parting ways with caddie Tim Tucker. He replaced him for this week with Cobra-Puma Golf tour operations manager Ben Schomin, who said he was a caddie in competition for the first time.

DeChambeau, No. 6 in the world ranking, is trying to successfully defend a PGA Tour title for the first time. He had a chance two weeks ago to repeat at the U.S. Open, but went from leading the major with nine holes left to faltering and finishing in a tie for 26th.

And now, the big hitter might not make the cut and that would be a blow for him and the Detroit-based company that pays him as part of an endorsement deal.

DeChambeau missed the fairway to the right at Nos. 2 and 3, leading to bogeys. At the par-3, 184-yard ninth hole, he was short off the tee, on his chip and 10-foot putt to put another bogey on his card that dropped him to even-par 36 at the turn.

DeChambeau had nine pars on the back nine, closing with a 72 to leave him nine shots behind Thompson. He declined to be interviewed Thursday night.

Phil Mickelson entered the Rocket Mortgage Classic for the first time in the event’s three-year history and said it will be his last appearance.

Mickelson said he will not come back due to a report by The Detroit News that was published this week. The newspaper obtained federal court records from 2007, detailing how a Michigan-based bookie was accused of cheating Mickelson out of $500,000.

The 51-year-old Mickelson shot a 69, marking the sixth time he has been under par out of 11 rounds since he became the oldest major winner at the PGA Championship in May.

The ticket ballot for The 150th Open has opened today, giving golf fans around the world the opportunity to secure a ticket for the historic Championship.

The 150th Open, taking place from 10-17 July 2022 in St Andrews, is set to be a true celebration of golf and the long history of golf’s original championship, as well as the many great champions who have lifted the iconic Claret Jug.

With record-breaking levels of demand anticipated for the milestone Championship at the Home of Golf, the ballot was introduced to provide the fairest way for golf fans of all generations to obtain tickets.

The ticket ballot will run until Monday, 4 October and give fans plenty of time to register their interest in tickets. A balance of allocations will ensure fans from near and far will be able to attend the celebrations in St Andrews next summer. Fans will find out the results of the ticket ballot by the end of November 2021.

The ticket ballot is available exclusively to members of The One Club, the free-to-join membership programme. Members who have already registered their interest for the ballot can now apply for tickets. Fans can still sign up at any time via www.TheOpen.com and apply for tickets.

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “We are looking forward to a very special occasion in golf next year with The 150th Open being played at the birthplace of the game in St Andrews. We will be celebrating one of the most prestigious and renowned events in the sporting calendar and will be welcoming some of its greatest champions past and present.

Ticket prices for The 150th Open will be £95 for an adult on Championship Days and will range from £20 to £50 on practice days. The R&A is fully committed to encouraging more children and young people to attend The Open and free tickets will be available to children through the successful and long-running Kids go Free programme, while half-price youth tickets are available for 16-24 year-olds. In order to give as many people as possible the chance to attend the Championship, weekly tickets are being discontinued.

Hospitality for the Championship has been on sale since last year, with 90% of packages already sold. The remaining Origins Hospitality, incorporating a range of fully inclusive experiences, is available to purchase now and is the only way fans can guarantee their place at the Championship. Visit www.TheOpen.com/hospitality2022 for further information.

Last month, The R&A launched the new 150th commemorative brand which will be displayed across a campaign of content and activations that will run throughout the next year until the conclusion of next year’s Championship at St Andrews.

The focus of the campaign is the remarkable journey of The Open and its enduring impact on players, fans and the sport of golf itself since it was first staged back in 1860, emphasising the campaign’s central message that ‘everything has led to this’ as we count down to what promises to be a truly unforgettable occasion.

For more information on The 150th Open or to sign up to The One Club and enter the ticket ballot, visit www.TheOpen.com.

Golf Canada hosted a media availability on Tuesday, June 29th, 2021 to officially announce the golfers who will represent Canada at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics.

The announcement is available to watch in full below.