Morning 9: Saudi Exec backtracks | Woodland, Mullinax lead | 2 aces in four holes

Good Friday morning, golf fans, as Trey Mullinax and Gary Woodland share the lead after day one of the CJ Cup.

1. 1,000+ golf courses damaged by Hurricane Ian, per NGF report

Mark H. Bickel, Fort Myers News-Press…”According to the National Golf Foundation report, 1,119 golf facilities were impacted by Ian’s wind and storm surge. That number represent 8% of the country’s overall golf courses.”

• “Almost one in six of those were hit by hurricane strength winds and a number of those, particularly in and around the Fort Myers area, remain closed or partially so.”

2. CJ Cup round 1: Woodland, Mullinax, Kim and Rory start strong

Doug Ferguson of AP…”Tom Kim felt as much a spectator as a player Thursday in the CJ Cup, amazed at how Rory McIlroy produces so much power with so little effort.

• “Kim wasn’t too bad himself.”

• “They were the star attractions on a beautiful morning at Congaree Golf Club, one of them pursuing the No. 1 world ranking, the other a 20-year-old who is quickly becoming one of the more popular players among his peers.”

• “Trey Mullinax and former U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland each had a 6-under 65. McIlroy and Kim, who played together in the same group with Rickie Fowler, were among six another shot back at 66.”

3. Proud ROY trophy holder

Jeff Babineau for PGATour.com…”Cameron Young now has a trophy to hold as a reward for his impressive debut campaign on the PGA TOUR. Young, a five-time runner-up last season, received the Arnold Palmer Award on Wednesday as the 2022 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year.”

• “Both Young and Palmer were Wake Forest alums, and another former Demon Deacon, Webb Simpson, delivered the trophy to Young, as did Sungjae Im, the 2019 Palmer Award winner. Simpson and Im playfully stepped through a side entrance in the media center and interrupted the start to Young’s pre-tournament press conference at THE CJ CUP in South Carolina to deliver the news.”

• “With his parents watching from the back of the room, Young sat in his chair and grinned, never before so thrilled to be interrupted. Young follows his former Wake Forest roommate, Will Zalatoris, in winning the award. It is the first time players from the same school have won the top rookie award back-to-back.”

• “Well, it’s very special,” said Young, who had a pair of third-place performances (including the PGA Championship) to go with his five runner-up showings, which included a solo second at the Open Championship. Young finished 18th in the final FedExCup standings.

• “I know the namesake Arnold Palmer obviously was a giant in the game of golf and we have him to thank for a lot of what we do today, what the PGA TOUR is,” he said. “To be related to that in some small way is very cool. I know we had a very strong rookie class and I know it’s voted by my peers, so it’s a huge honor to be thought of in that way, just to kind of finish the year that way.”

4. LACC lands another U.S. Open

AP report…”Los Angeles Country Club is getting another U.S. Open before it even holds its first one, and the women will get their crack at the course on the edge of Beverly Hills.”

• “The club’s North course is hosting its first U.S. Open in June. The USGA on Wednesday announced the U.S. Open will return in 2039. The U.S. Women’s Open will be held at LACC in 2032.”

5. LPGA’s LA Championship purse doubled to $3 million for 2023

Golfweek’s Beth Ann Nichols…“The purse at the LPGA stop at Wilshire Country Club will double in 2023 to $3 million thanks to new title and presenting sponsors. The LPGA and Outlyr have announced that the newly renamed JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro will take place April 27-30 with a field of 144 players.”

• “The event’s purse is now among the largest on tour outside the majors…JM Eagle, co-founded by CEO Walter Wang, is the world’s largest plastic pipe manufacturer. Plastpro, founded by Shirley Wang, is the leading manufacturer of fiberglass entry doors. The Wangs are heavily involved in philanthropic initiatives throughout the world through their companies and the Walter and Shirley Wang Foundation.”

• “We are thrilled to welcome JM Eagle and Plastpro to the LPGA Tour and our family of title and presenting sponsors,” said LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan.

6. “Are you watching this?”

Ross Kilvington for Golf Monthly…“Justin Thomas has revealed he received a phone call from Tiger Woods regarding Fred Couples and his wonderful round of 60 to win the SAS Championship on the PGA Tour Champions’.”

• “Yeah, yeah, I was following a little bit and then was watching the – that Chiefs-Bills game was on and like I schedule my whole day of practice around it because I couldn’t wait to watch it,” said Thomas.”

• “I think he was on 17 or 18 and Tiger called me and he’s like, Are you watching this? I’m like, Yeah, pretty good game. He’s like, No, Freddie’s 11 under and he’s playing 18.

• “Last I looked he was like 9 or 10 under, he was winning by a million. No offense to Fred, love him to death, but he was going to win. I was more interested in watching the football game. So I turned it on and watched him stripe it off 18 tee, stiff an iron shot and make the putt.”

7. Saudi Golf Executive backtracks

8. Robert Garrigus won’t be getting a Christmas present from Billy Horschel

GolfWRX staff report…”As the bitter feud between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf shows no signs of subsiding, more names are beginning to voice their opinions on the affair that is sure to run for some time yet.”

• “On the FirePit Collective’s The Grind podcast this week, PGA Tour member Robert Garrigus expressed his views, which included a wild prediction that the DP World Tour would soon be canceled while reserving special criticism for outspoken LIV critic Billy Horschel.”

• …”But it was Billy Horschel who Garrigus really laid into on the podcast, calling him a “d*******g” who won’t “shut the fu*k up.”

• “The d*******g Billy Horschel – he won’t shut the fu*k up and I can’t stand it. Even Rory’s taken a step back and Rahm’s taken a step back because they’ve realised it’s not a fight you can win.”

• “I can’t stand guys getting on TV and interviews saying all this s**t about the LIV guys, but when they get on the driving range they ain’t going to say s**t to them. Nobody’s getting in a fight on the driving range except Grayson Murray.”

9. Two aces in four holes

• “His nerves were still high. 20 minutes earlier, the 68-year-old Marks recorded the first hole-in-one of his 61-year golf career at his home course, Idlewild Country Club in Flossmoor, Illinois. He just wanted to make solid contact, still shaking from his crazy achievement only three holes prior.”

• “Little did he know, his round was about to get a whole lot better.”

• “Not only did he make solid contact, but Marks’ shot also went in the hole. Another ace. Two in four holes.”