The World Cup of Golf appears to have found a home in southeast Melbourne.

For the third consecutive time, one of golf’s biggest team events is being played at a famous sandbelt course in the southeastern Australian city. The 28-team tournament, based on the Official World Golf Ranking, begins Thursday at Metropolitan Golf Club, with Denmark returning as the defending champion from nearby Kingston Heath in 2016.

In 2013 at Royal Melbourne, the World Cup was primarily an individual event with a team component, with the individual section similar to what would be used at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Jason Day won the individual title at Royal Melbourne and combined with Adam Scott to win the team title for Australia.

At Kingston Heath two years ago, the format returned to its more traditional one of fourball (best ball) on the first and third days and foursomes (alternate shot) for the second and final rounds in the 72-hole stroke-play event. So, it’ll be fourball to open the tournament at Metropolitan.

“The sandbelt courses in Australia are (among) the best in the world and some of my favourite to play,” Tiger Woods says of the layouts which also include Huntingdale, Yarra Yarra and Victoria. “I have great memories playing there and I look forward to returning.”

That will be soon. Royal Melbourne will host its third Presidents Cup in 2019, when Woods will be captain of the U.S. team and Ernie Els in charge of the Internationals. Els is holding a news conference during the World Cup to announce some of his staff, while Woods is planning a December scouting mission at Royal Melbourne.

Soren Kjeldsen and Thorjorn Olesen, who won the title for Denmark by four strokes, return to Metropolitan. With Jason Day staying in the United States because of the pending birth of a child and Scott unavailable, Australia will be represented by Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith.

Matt Kuchar, who won the 2011 World Cup for the U.S. with partner Gary Woodland, is teaming up with Kyle Stanley. Ian Poulter and Tyrrell Hatton will represent England and will start among the favourites. Anirban Lahiri, who missed the cut at last week’s Australian Open, will partner Gaganjeet Bhullar for India.

One player coming in on a high will be Abraham Ancer, who won the Australian Open at The Lakes in Sydney by five strokes. He’ll have Roberto Diaz playing with him and representing Mexico.

“My first time in Australia, everybody told me how great it was,” Ancer said, “and I feel like I love this country already in four or five days that I’ve been here.”

Abbotsford, B.C. residents Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor will pair up to represent Canada in the tourney.

Whether you’re actually outdoorsy – and you enjoy hiking, cycling, or camping – or if you’re “outdoorsy” – and a round of golf or a craft cocktail on a patio is more your style – then Kelowna has it all.

Kelowna gets approximately 2,000 hours of sunshine every summer, and while it’s long been known as a spot for retirees escaping the hustle of Vancouver, it’s recently become a hotbed for young residents getting away from Vancouver’s sky-high real estate prices.

And it’s got some of the best golf in the country.

Thanks to the influx of new people in town, its dining culture, improved after-hours vibe, the sports and recreation scenes have changed to cater to younger tastes while still keeping the longtime locals happy as well.

Kelowna’s golf courses allow its visitors to burn off some of its fine dining and award-winning wines, and they’ve been recognized on the international level as some of the best in the world – and ready to host some of the best players in the world, too.

Gallagher’s Canyon Golf & Country Club, with 27 holes, will make you feel challenged like some of the world’s best. And indeed, the club hosts a Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada event each year. It’s wonderfully conditioned and has a great patio overlooking the first tee.

The signature hole is that par-4 1st, where even if you don’t think your skills should allow for it, you should try your opening tee-shot from the back tee deck, which is located on top of the pro shop. Mountainous views greet you on nearly every hole as the club meanders through mature trees.

It’s difficult but fun, and its stretch of hole No’s 11-13 are up against any other three-hole stretch in Canada as some of the finest. They slowly climb through stately pines with a view of Kelowna down below.

With 19 courses as one of the country’s longest and driest golf seasons, Kelowna and the surrounding area’s golf menu is nearly as robust as some of its downtown dining options (more on that later).

You can stay local and head to Harvest Golf Club, which plays through a hillside apple orchard, or drive a littler further (and it’s certainly worth it) out of town to go to Predator Ridge in Vernon – long believed to be one of the country’s finest resorts.

Golf in British Columbia is some of the most celebrated in Canada, and it’s no surprise Golf Canada chose the province for its official training centre. Bear Mountain Resort, in Victoria, is just a quick flight away (or about a six-and-a-half hour drive) if you’re planning a B.C.-based golf adventure.

It was early spring when I visited, and thankfully when you need to refuel from long days of golf, the dining options in town are plentiful. BNA Brewing Co. & Eatery, a craft brewery and restaurant just a few blocks from Kelowna bustling downtown core has been a very successful addition to Kelowna focusing on international plates, but with local ingredients.

It’s a local success story, and whether it’s restaurants, craft breweries or cideries, or golf courses (and of course, Kelowna’s iconic wineries) staying local has been the key to a thriving Kelowna.

A weekend away with the guys or gals for golf would be as fine a reason as any to head to Kelowna, but the town offers so much for couples of all ages as well – especially given its world-renowned wine country.

Going to Kelowna without visiting their iconic, award-winning wineries would be like heading to New York for the first time and not visiting Times Square.

Kelowna has a laundry list of excellent wineries for visitors to check out, and you’d be remiss not to head to Mission Hill – one of the first wineries in the region – but the micro-wineries popping up with abundance are definitely worth checking out.

The Hatch – just down the road from Mission Hill – had a tasting room, even on a chilly April day, which was buzzing. The quaint and rustic setting is a total 180-degree turn from the grandiose setting of Mission Hill, but the people (Grayson, the General Manager, used to work at Mike Weir’s winery in Niagara) are equal parts fun and knowledgeable about their product.

With direct flights from Toronto and other major Canadian cities every day, Kelowna is a breeze to get to. Even in the shoulder seasons when you’re itching for a round but aren’t quite keen to head south, Kelowna’s golf courses are likely open already.

Staying at the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort (a solid hotel right on the lake with a restaurant renovated in 2016 that backs onto a patio overlooking Okanagan Lake) means you’re walking distance to everything in the core, and a mere 20-minute drive to most of the courses mentioned here.

Between the golf and the food and the wine and the beer, you’ll be full of Kelowna after just a short visit. But, you’ll be hungry for a return before you know it.

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – Charles Howell III made a 15-foot birdie putt on the second hole of a playoff with Patrick Rodgers on Sunday in the RSM Classic to end an 11-year victory drought.

Howell dropped to his knees and buried his head in his hands, then tearfully embraced wife Heather and children Ansley and Chase – neither of whom were born when he last won on the PGA Tour at Riviera in 2007.

Howell earned $1,152,000 and a return trip to his hometown of Augusta, Georgia, in April to play in the Masters for the first time since 2012

“That was the first thing that popped into my head (after making the clinching putt),” Howell said. “Obviously, it means a lot to me being from Augusta but it means a lot to every player, right? Every golfer in the world knows what the Masters is so I’m nothing special on that. But that tournament, that atmosphere, just everything … it’s tough at home to sit back and watch that on television.”

After Rodgers sent a birdie attempt of 21 feet past the cup on the second extra hole, Howell’s putt died in the cup and capped a comeback in which he went bogey-double bogey on his first two holes to lose the lead he had held through the first three rounds.

“The way I started today, I just honestly thought I shot myself in the foot again,” Howell said. “I thought that was pretty much over. I had seen this movie before.”

Howell closed with a 3-under 67, birdieing Nos. 15-17, to match Rodgers at 19-under 263 in the final PGA Tour event of the year. After making the 36-hole cut on the 2-under number, Rodgers shot 61-62 on the weekend.

Howell had a 22-foot birdie attempt on the final hole to win in regulation, but the ball turned away from the cup inches from the edge. Both players had birdie looks on the first playoff hole, with Rodgers missing from 27 feet and Howell from 14 feet off the front fringe.

The 39-year-old Howell also won in 2002 at Kingsmill.

Rodgers’ 17-under 123 weekend was one shot off Troy Matteson’s PGA Tour record for consecutive rounds of 122 set the 2009 Frys.com Championship. He finished second for the third time in four years.

“I fought as hard as I could,” said Rodgers, who broke Tiger Woods’ scoring record at Stanford and tied his victory record. “I didn’t really back down. I stayed aggressive and I made birdies all the way to the finish. It’s a testament to how well Charles played.”

Webb Simpson (65) had a 12-foot birdie opportunity at the final hole to join the playoff, but missed. He lost the RSM Classic in sudden death to Ben Crane in 2011.

Luke List (65) and Bryan Blaum (66) tied for fourth at 17 under and Tour rookie Cameron Champ, who took the lead after Howell’s early stumbles and was in a four-way tie for first with Howell, Rodgers and Simpson with seven holes to play shot 69 and finished alone in sixth at 16 under.

Canadian David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., finished tied for 15th at 13 under par.

NAPLES, Fla. – Lexi Thompson was the best this week, and Ariya Jutanugarn was the best all season.

Neither left any doubt about that Sunday.

Thompson shot a final-round 70 to finish at 18-under 270 and win the LPGA’s season-ending CME Group Tour Championship by four strokes over Nelly Korda. The win makes this the sixth consecutive year that Thompson has won at least once, extending the longest such active streak on the LPGA Tour.

“It’s very gratifying,” Thompson said. “This is such a special event for me in general, growing up in Florida. … It was just very gratifying.”

Lexi Thompson poses for a photo with the CME Group Tour Championship trophy at Tiburon Golf Club on November 18, 2018 in Naples, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Jutanugarn took the other two big prizes that were up for grabs this week, clinching the yearlong Race to the CME Globe prize – and the $1 million bonus that comes with that – as well as the Vare Trophy for winning the season’s scoring title. The world No. 1 already had wrapped up player of the year honours, and finished 2018 with a 69.415 scoring average to edge Minjee Lee (69.747) for the top spot there.

Jutanugarn shot a 6-under 66 on Sunday, finishing the week tied for fifth at 12-under 276.

“It felt great today,” Jutanugarn said. “I’m very proud of myself.”

Jutanugarn briefly lost the lead in the projected Globe standings on Sunday after Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., made three birdies on her first seven holes to grab the top spot. Jutanugarn reclaimed the advantage with four birdies in a six-hole stretch midway through her round, and the trophy was just about locked up when she birdied the par-5 14th almost simultaneously to Henderson making bogey on the par-3 16th.

The 13th hole on Sunday provided the shift that Thompson used to hold off Korda. They went to the tee of that par-4 with Thompson up by two; she made birdie, Korda made bogey, and Thompson was suddenly up four with five holes to play.

“It was just very special to win in front of all my family and friends,” Thompson said.

Jutanugarn finished in style, rolling in a 15-footer for birdie on the final hole to cap the year where she swept the LPGA’s biggest prizes.

“It means so much to me because like to be honest, after 2016 I never expected anything,” Jutanugarn said. “I feel like I achieve like too much already in my life, so I never think I can do anything more than that. So this year … just like unbelievable.”

It was the 10th career win for Thompson, who grabbed the lead on Friday and kept it the rest of the way. She hadn’t finished better than a tie for ninth in any of her last eight starts – but Tiburon Golf Club has been a haven for the native South Floridian, who is 31-under in her last seven rounds at the tour championship there.

The win also helped ease the pain of last year’s tour championship for Thompson. She had a 2-foot par putt on the 72nd hole – one that could have meant a tournament win, the world No. 1 ranking and player of the year honours – but pushed it right and wound up losing to Jutanugarn by a shot.

There was no final-hole angst this time, and the role reversal was complete. Like Thompson in 2017, Jutanugarn departed with the Globe and the Vare Trophy; like Jutanugarn in 2017, Thompson got the win in the season finale.

Among other notables, Brittany Lincicome (67) to finish tied for third at 13-under with So Yeon Ryu (68), Lydia Ko went 68-68 on the weekend to finish 12-under alongside Jutanugarn, Marina Alex (69) and Carlota Ciganda (70). Nasa Hataoka finished alone in ninth at 10-under, and first-round leader Amy Olson shot a 4-under 68 to finish at 9-under and in a group with Henderson and Sei Young Kim.

“For me, I think just consistency. My driver and long game has been really good,” said Henderson. “That’s kind of my strengths for sure. But around the greens I want to improve a little bit, so I’ll work with my dad and my sister to try to get that a little bit better.”

“To finish top 10, top five, whatever it’s going to be, going into the off-season, obviously I made a few extra dollars because I’m not playing until January,” Lincicome said. “I feel pretty good about it.”

The 2019 LPGA schedule is expected to be released in full later this month. The year begins with the inaugural Tournament of Champions in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, from Jan. 17-20. Winners from the last two LPGA seasons are eligible for that field, which means there should be about 36 pros playing along with some celebrity participants and amateurs.

NAPLES, Fla. – Lexi Thompson has control of the CME Group Tour Championship, and Ariya Jutanugarn is in control of just about everything else.

Thompson’s 4-under 68 on Saturday pushed her to 16 under after three rounds of the LPGA’s season-ending event. She moved three shots clear of Nelly Korda and six ahead of Carlota Ciganda at Tiburon Golf Club. Korda shot her second consecutive 67 to get to 13 under, and Ciganda grinded out a 69 to get to 10 under for the week.

Thompson has been nearly flawless this week. Her only dropped shot of the tournament came Saturday when she made bogey at the par-4 fourth hole, then put together five birdies over the rest of her round.

“Golf is all about momentum,” Thompson said.

Right now, she has an abundance of that going for her. For the week, she has 14 birdies, one eagle and the one bogey. She’s been calm and collected with her newly purchased Havanese Poodle around this week, finding a rhythm with an old putter and having her brother Curtis as her caddie.

“I just tried to keep the same attitude as I did the last two days,” Thompson said. “Curtis kept me nice and relaxed. He’s always cracking jokes out there. It’s been a nice relaxing week just having him on the bag and having all my family and friends out here supporting me.”

Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., fired a 69 to finish the day tied for 16th at 5 under.

If Thompson hangs on Sunday, she’ll have her first win of the season.

If Jutanugarn keeps things together, she’ll leave with plenty of prizes as well.

Jutanugarn will start her final round 10 shots back but leading the projected Race to the CME Globe standings and in position to claim the $1 million bonus for winning the LPGA’s season-long points race – which would be her second in three years. Jutanugarn already has clinched player of the year and is nearly mathematically assured of winning the Vare Trophy for the lowest scoring average on tour.

“I did a pretty good job. I didn’t think about that at all,” Jutanugarn said of the Globe race and what’s at stake this weekend. “Yesterday I (thought) about that too much, worrying about that.”

The Vare Trophy isn’t hers yet, but it would take the most improbable of outcomes for that to slip away from Jutanugarn in the final round of the season. The two closest players to Jutanugarn in the season scoring standings are Minjee Lee and Jin Young Ko; either of them would have to beat the world’s No. 1 player by about 30 strokes on Sunday to pass her in the Vare race.

Korda had an eventful day with more birdies than pars – 8-7 – but with three bogeys as well. So Yeon Ru (69 for the third straight day) and Marina Alex (71) are tied for fourth at 9 under, and Lydia Ko shot a bogey-free 68 on Saturday to move into a tie for sixth at 8 under with Brittany Lincicome (73).

First-round leader Amy Olson made three double-bogeys on her way to a 76, leaving her in a tie for 16th and 11 shots off Thompson’s lead.

INDEX: SPORTS

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – Charles Howell III had a 2-under 68 for a one-shot lead Saturday in the RSM Classic, along with a reminder that winning for the first time in more than 11 years won’t be easy.

With two quick birdies, Howell stretched his lead to five shots.

By the end of the third round, his lead was down to one shot over PGA Tour rookie Cameron Champ and Jason Gore, who each shot 66 and made up ground on the back nine of the Seaside course at Sea Island.

Howell was at 16-under 194 as he tries to end 332 starts on the PGA Tour without winning.

“I have a chance to win the tournament, and I’d have taken that Thursday morning,” Howell said.

His last victory was at Riviera in 2007, and the last time Howell had at least a share of the 54-hole lead was 10 years ago at Turning Stone, a tournament that no longer exists. Howell has not won in any of his previous five times atop the leaderboard going into the final round.

Webb Simpson had a 63 and was two shots behind, along with Ryan Blaum (65).

David Hearn (67) of Brantford, Ont., was tied for seventh at 11 under. Ben Silverman (65) of Thornhill, Ont., was tied for 32nd at 7 under, Corey Conners (70) of Listowel, Ont., was in a group tied for 43rd at 6 under and Roger Sloan (71) of Merritt, B.C., was tied for 75th at 1 under.

Ten players are within five shots of the lead, a list that includes Sea Island resident Zach Johnson, who had a 65.

That was the size of Howell’s lead over the field when he had two birdies through three holes, and even after his first bogey of the tournament when he went just over the back of the green at No. 4. But he recovered with a pair of birdies, made the turn in 32 and had a four-shot lead over Champ.

And then it was steady golf the rest of the way as Champ and Gore, along with Simpson and others, closed the gap.

Champ ran off four straight birdies starting with the par-5 seventh, the last two from about 20 feet. Gore missed a tap-in par on the ninth and was burning, but he bounced back with a birdie to start the back nine, and really got in the game with a 3-wood to 18 feet for eagle on the par-5 15th.

Howell had one birdie, one bogey and not nearly enough good birdie chances on the back nine.

“I didn’t finish off with much of anything,” Howell said. “I knew the guys would make birdies and close the gap if I didn’t get going, and that’s what happened.”

Howell will be playing Sunday with two players who couldn’t be any different.

Champ is a 23-year-old who in his second start as a PGA Tour member last month in the Sanderson Farms Championship. He also hits it harder than anyone Howell has ever seen. Gore is a part-time insurance salesman and part-time comedian who still loves the chance to compete. He is certified only as an insurance salesman, proudly showing his certificate that he earned a few weeks ago.

“Passed on my first try,” he said.

As powerful as Champ is off the tee – driver or strong 3-iron, it really doesn’t matter – he is contending this week on the strength of his putting. He hit a 343-yard drive on the ninth hole leaving a flip wedge to the green, but he came up some 20 feet short and made the putt.

He only had a chip 6-iron to the par-5 15th, hit that into the bunker and had to make a 15-footer for his birdie.

“I’ve been playing well,” Champ said. “This is the best I’ve ever putted.”

Gore only received a sponsor exemption Sunday night, and he had second thoughts about flying across the country from California because he hadn’t played on any tour in three months and he was enjoying life at home.

It lowered his expectations, and even going into the final round one shot, that’s where he’s keeping them.

“What am I going to do tomorrow? I’m going to show up,” he said. “I wish I could give you a profound answer. It’s not going to change my life. Well, it could change my life, but I’m not going to look at it that way.”

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — The end-of-season team competition between Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada players and PGA TOUR Latinoamérica players has a new home. Cozumel Country Club will host this year’s Go Vacaciones Cup in Cozumel from December 13-15.

Originally named the Aruba Cup and scheduled for Tierra del Sol Resort and Club in Noord, Aruba, officials had to find a new venue when irrigation issues prevented Tierra del Sol from hosting the event for a third consecutive year.

Cozumel Country Club, located on Cozumel’s north shore, features a golf course created by the Nicklaus Design Group and is home to Mexico’s first Audubon International Cooperative Sanctuary Golf Course, earning that distinction in 2006—five years after the course’s opening. For this project, the Nicklaus Design Group, led by Steve Nicklaus, built the par-72, 6,800-yard Cozumel Country Club around mangroves, marshlands and a tropical rainforest, balancing the requirements of constructing a first-class golf course within the delicate ecosystem of the surrounding area.

“We are so excited to be hosting the Copa Go Vacaciones in Cozumel 2018,” said Erika Garcia, CEO of Go Vacaciones! “We have been working with the PGA TOUR on some unique opportunities here in Mexico, and we are thrilled to start this partnership and host the best players of both the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada and PGA TOUR Latinoamérica. Cozumel is an incredible destination, and we are sure the players will have a memorable stay. In addition, we look forward to seeing how the partnership with Go Vacaciones can strengthen the cultural, experiential and sporting connection of Golf in Mexico. We welcome everyone to join us in the Mexican Caribbean!”

“We have established a great tradition with this tournament, and we’re pleased we can continue a competition that brings the best players from both the Mackenzie Tour and PGA TOUR Latinoamérica together for a friendly and spirited competition,” said Mackenzie Tour President Jeff Monday. “With PGA TOUR Latinoamérica winning the inaugural tournament in 2016 and the Mackenzie Tour exacting revenge last year, it will be fun to see which Tour can take win this tournament for a second time.”

The two teams will consist of the top-10 available players on the 2018 Mackenzie Tour Order of Merit and the top-10 available money-winners from PGA TOUR Latinoamérica. The Mackenzie Tour completed its season in mid-September, while PGA TOUR Latinoamérica is playing its final full-field tournament this week in Argentina, the 113 Visa Argentine Open presented by Macro. PGA TOUR Latinoamérica closes its 2018 season in two weeks, at the Latinoamérica Tour Championship – Shell Championship.

At the Go Vacaciones Cup in Cozumel, the two teams will compete in a three-day Presidents Cup-style event preceded by a practice round and a pro-am. The three competition days will feature first-day four-ball (best-ball) matches followed by foursomes (alternate shot) matches on the second day and singles matches to close the tournament.

“We are thrilled to take this important event to such a terrific course as Cozumel Country Club. This will be one of the more scenic places we’ll see this year, and the quality of the course ensures that the tournament itself will be competitive and exciting as these two teams engage in their yearly battle,” added PGA TOUR Latinoamérica President Jack Warfield. “Mexico is a great home for PGA TOUR-sanctioned golf, whether it’s the three official events we hold there on PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, our two official PGA TOUR tournaments or the Web.com Tour’s annual visit. Mexico is a great golf country, and we’re pleased to add the Go Vacaciones Cup in Cozumel to the list of tournaments we hold in Mexico.”

The Mackenzie Tour will announce its team next week, while PGA TOUR Latinoamérica will wait to present its 10 participants following the season-ending Latinoamérica Tour Championship – Shell Championship in Miami, Florida.

In 2016, Team Latinoamérica prevailed 13-7 in Aruba, with Martin Trainer and Andrés Echavarría compiling perfect 3-0-0 records in their matches against Team Canada players. A year ago, Team Canada narrowly won, 10 ½ to 9 ½, with Robby Shelton leading the way for Canada with a 2-0-1 record in his matches.

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – Charles Howell III is playing some of his best golf when he least expected it.

Coming from a missed cut in Mexico to a tournament where he missed the cut last year, Howell kept bogeys off his card for the second straight day and was just as good Friday on the tougher scoring course at Sea Island.

He had a 6-under 64 on the Seaside course and matched the best 36-hole score of his career to build a three-shot lead in the RSM Classic.

“You just never know what’s around the corner in this game,” Howell said. “I thought I played pretty good in Mexico and just missed the cut there. Came here, I like it here, I didn’t really know what to expect and then this happens. So it’s a crazy game and we’re reminded of it daily. This is another reminder.”

Canadian David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., sits tied for 5th at 8 under par after 6-under 66 in Friday’s second round. Fellow countryman Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., is T10 at 6 under par.

Howell was at 14-under 128, his best two-day total on the PGA Tour since the Las Vegas Invitational in 2003, when it was a 90-hole event.

He was three shots ahead of PGA Tour rookie Cameron Champ and Jason Gore, who only recently was certified as an insurance salesman and found out just five days ago there was room for him at Sea Island.

Gore was headed to Pebble Beach for an mixed invitational event until getting word that he was in the RSM Classic. This is his first tournament in three months, though he has kept busy playing golf with clients in his new insurance venture with his wife.

He looked plenty sharp in sunshine that warmed the Georgia coastline ever so slightly. Gore birdied his last four holes for a 63.

“I haven’t played a weekend in so long, I don’t know what to do,” Gore said. “I’ve got nothing to lose. This is fun for me. I’m an insurance salesman now. I’ve got a real job now and all that good stuff. Just glad my boss would let me off to play.”

His boss is his wife, Meghan, who presumably does most of the work. Gore plays a lot of golf with clients, and it restored some of the fun in the game that beat him up over the years.

Champ also birdied his last four holes and goes into another week in the mix on the PGA Tour. He already has one victory, the Sanderson Farms Championship in Mississippi in his second start as a tour member, and was in range in Las Vegas and Mexico.

Playing with tournament host Davis Love III, his birdie run began with a tricky lie in thin sand to the left of the green about 90 feet from the hole on the par-5 15th. He blasted that out to 10 feet and made the putt, hit a wedge to 8 feet on the next hole, a 6-iron to 5 feet into the stiff breeze on the par-3 17th and closed out his big run with a 10-foot birdie putt for a 63.

“I decided to just get in the fairway, just give myself looks on the greens, and that’s been paying off so far,” Champ said. “On top of that, I’ve been making the putts.”

Nick Watney shot an 8-under 64 on the Plantation and was five shots behind.

The final two rounds will be at Seaside.

Howell can’t think of a better two days striking the ball, evidenced by missing only two fairways and two greens over 36 holes, both of those on Friday at Seaside. He thought he played better than his opening 64, mainly because Seaside features so many holes with a cross wind.

He also picked up most of his shots on the inward nine at Seaside, which was the early part of his round because he started on No. 10. The 14th hole along with water causes the most consternation because the wind is strongest along the water, blowing into him and to the right. With the tees slightly forward because of the wind, he hit driver and 9-iron to 15 feet, and then birdied three of the next four holes.

Howell has two PGA Tour victories in nearly 20 years, and yet the weekend feels like a new experience to him. This is only the fifth time he’s had the 36-hole lead, and the first time since the 2003 Tour Championship.

“I’ve almost done everything in my career, but playing with a lead isn’t one thing I’ve really done a whole lot,” Howell said. “I could talk to you about finishing second or third a lot. As many golf tournaments as I’ve played, this is still relatively new for me, which is kind of surprising at almost 40 years old.”

Howell says one problem he has battled is thinking too far ahead and trying too hard. The golf courses, especially Seaside because of the cold and wind, have kept him from thinking too much about anything except the shot in front of him. For two rounds, it has worked beautifully.

NAPLES, Fla. – Amy Olson had a simple explanation for her brilliant start at the CME Group Tour Championship.

“I don’t have any bad memories,” she said.

Playing the LPGA’s season-ending event for the first time, Olson was flawless with nine birdies and no dropped shots on her way to a 9-under 63 and a one-shot lead over Brittany Lincicome and Nasa Hataoka after Thursday’s opening round.

Olson had two separate streaks of four consecutive birdies on what became an ideal day for scoring at Tiburon Golf Club. Of the 72 players in the field, 45 were under par following the opening round – and the top four women on the leaderboard combined for only one bogey. Lincicome was short with her approach on the par-4 18th, and dropped a shot to end her day.

“It’s just fun to be playing well,” Olson said. “It’s always a good feeling. I had a lot of like perfect numbers in today. Rolled the ball really well. Always fun to play well.”

Lincicome started with five straight birdies to get her day rolling, and Hataoka enhanced her chances of winning the Race to the CME Globe and $1 million bonus with an eight-birdie outing. Lexi Thompson had five birdies and an eagle to card a 7-under 65, enhancing her bid for what would be her first and only win of 2018.

Lincicome said she played earlier this week with two young girls, and they reminded her how simple the game can be sometimes.

“There’s no thinking,” Lincicome said. “It’s just, ‘hit it, find it, hit it again.”’

This event will decide the year’s LPGA scoring champion, as well as the winner of the Race to the CME Globe and the bonus that brings.

There are five women with the simplest path to that trophy – world No. 1 Ariya Jutanugarn, Minjee Lee, Sung Hyun Park, Brooke Henderson of Smith Falls, Ont., and Hataoka would all win the Globe by winning the tournament. But on a day where many went low, four of those five players didn’t really get into the birdie barrage.

Jutanugarn was 1 over after four holes, then rallied a bit to shoot a 2-under 70. Lee also finished at 2 under, Park was at 1 under, while Henderson was tied for last in the 72-player field at one point and wound up carding a 73 – aided by three birdies in her final five holes of the day.

Jutanugarn knew what she needed to do after finishing the opening round.

“Work on my tee shot,” she said, “and hope tomorrow is going to get better.”

The mover in that group of five was Hataoka. If the order of finish Sunday were the same as it was when Thursday’s play ended, Hataoka would walk off with the Globe.

She already has an idea how she wound spend the bonus.

“Seeing all the houses on the golf course really inspires me to want one of those,” Hataoka said.

Thompson won the Globe last season – she’s not in the group of 12 women with a mathematical chance of doing so this year – but has a pair of top-four finishes at the season finale in the last three years. She hasn’t won yet in 2018, but felt a decent round was coming.

“It’s only the first day,” Thompson said. “I’m just trying to take it one shot at a time, but it was nice to have a day like this. I knew my game was there.”

AURORA, Ont.  (Golf Canada) – Golf Canada, in partnership with title sponsor Canadian Pacific (CP), are pleased to announce that tickets are now available for the 2019 CP Women’s Open, taking place August 19-25 at the prestigious Magna Golf Club.

One of Canada’s premier annual sporting events, the CP Women’s Open features miles of front row seating for golf fans to experience Canada’s lone stop on the LPGA Tour and cheer on Canadian sensation and CP Ambassador Brooke Henderson as she defends her national title on home soil.

CLICK HERE to get your tickets for the
2019 CP Women’s Open

General admission tickets, starting at just $20 for early week access, provide access to the grounds to get an up-close look at the stars of the LPGA Tour.

Tournament rounds for Thursday, Friday and Saturday are just $50; a Sunday final-round ticket is $60; and a weeklong, fully-transferable badge is $120.

A specially-priced youth ticket (13-17 years old) is also available while juniors aged 12-and-under gain FREE grounds admission all week long.

In addition to general admission tickets and corporate hospitality products, the CP Women’s Open also offers a premium ticket product in The Heritage Club.

The Heritage Club is a covered venue with a partially covered outdoor patio located nearby the clubhouse of Magna Golf Club. It offers upgraded food and beverage for purchase, ample televisions with a live feed of the broadcast, private washrooms and views of practice putting green, 10^th tee, 11^th tee and others. The Heritage Club tickets cost $100 for one day or $250 for a fully transferable weekly pass.

Volunteer opportunities to be a part of the 2019 CP Women’s Open are also available with a full listing of committee positions here.

The CP Women’s Open is so much more than a sporting event. Enjoy world-class golf and a premium hospitality platform at a signature Canadian event that will leave a substantial charitable legacy in support of children’s heart health.

Get your tickets today and join us at the picturesque Magna Golf Club – www.cpwomensopen.com/tickets.

Sponsorship and corporate hospitality opportunities are also available. For more information on the 2019 CP Women’s Open, visit www.cpwomensopen.com.