Justin Thomas: The thrill of just hanging out with Tiger Woods

Even though Tiger Woods hasn’t played a PGA Tour event in almost seven months, he still has a huge impact on the game. As he recovers from his fourth back surgery and from an infamous DUI arrest and subsequent rehab for prescription pills, Woods now finds joy in his connection with the up-and-coming stars of the game he once dominated. That includes recent PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas, who found it “surreal” that Woods wanted to hang out with him in Florida after the victory — which meant quite a bit to the 24-year-old Thomas. “I probably got just as much joy out of that as I did winning, which is just bizarre to say and probably for you all to hear me say,” Thomas said Wednesday, one

McIlroy eyes four playoff starts with caddie Diamond

After contemplating shutting things down for the balance of 2017, Rory McIlroy is in the field this week at The Northern Trust. Speaking to reporters at a media event Tuesday, McIlroy detailed his plans to play in all four playoff events - two of which he won last year - despite a rib injury that has nagged him all season and twice led him to take time off. After a T-22 finish at the PGA Championship, McIlroy lamented his inability to shake the injury and offered up the notion that he might skip the postseason on both the PGA Tour and European Tour in an effort to get healthy for 2018, when he will renew his quest for the final leg of the career Grand Slam. "I have a good bit of time to get healthy and address a few things going forward," McIlroy said at Quail Hollow.

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  The Northern Trust 2017: 10 players to watch, picks to win

  UPI
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  The year of Hideki Matsuyama’s life includes one big regret

  New York Post

Payne retiring as Augusta National chairman

Billy Payne is retiring as chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters, the club announced Wednesday. He will be replaced by Fred Ridley. Payne, who turns 70 in October, had served in the role since 2006 and was instrumental in modernizing Augusta National, admitting the club’s first female members and growing the game worldwide. Ridley, a former president of the USGA, has served as the competition chairman since 2007. A former U.S. Amateur champion, Ridley, 65, is the first chairman to have played in the Masters (1976-78). Payne will retire from his role Oct. 16 and become chairman emeritus. “The privilege I experienced serving as chairman of Augusta National and the Masters was far

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  Billy Payne retires as Masters chairman

  Miami Herald
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  Payne to retire as Augusta National chairman, Ridley named successor

  Golf Digest