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RSM Classic triple play: Adam Scott, Jason Day, Webb Simpson make it 14 major champions at Sea Island

garry smits, florida times-union
·6 min read
Adam Scott, a past Masters and Players champion, will make his first appearance in the RSM Classic next week.
Adam Scott, a past Masters and Players champion, will make his first appearance in the RSM Classic next week.

The RSM Classic got a triple infusion of major and Players Championship winners to its field Nov. 18-21 at the Sea Island Club.

Adam Scott (2004 Players champion), Jason Day (2016) and Webb Simpson (2018) committed to the tournament hosted by World Golf Hall of Fame member and two-time Players champion Davis Love III.

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Scott, who won the Masters in 2013, is playing for the first time. Day is making his third appearance and tied for 12th last year.

Simpson will continue his quest to finally win at Sea Island. He has four top-10 finishes and three among the top-three, including playoff losses to Ben Crane in 2011 and to Tyler Duncan in 2019.

The addition of Scott, Day and Simpson bring the total number of major champions in the field to a record of 14 for the tournament, which will begin its 12th season on Nov. 18 at the Seaside and Plantation courses.

Also in the field are the tournament host, Zach Johnson, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Justin Rose, Shane Lowry, Henrik Stenson, Keegan Bradley, Graeme McDowell, Lucas Glover and Danny Willett.

Adding more international luster to the field will be the presence of 2021 European Ryder Cup players Ian Poulter, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood and Matthew Fitzpatrick.

Tickets remain available by visiting rmsclassic.com.

Players tickets go on sale

Players Championship tickets will go on sale Nov. 16 at 10 a.m., for subscribers to The Players newsletter, and on Dec. 1 for the general public.

Fans have until Nov. 15 by 3 p.m. to subscribe to the online newsletter by visiting theplayers.com/newsletter.html. Subscribers will be able to purchase up to four Stadium Pass tickets per day at the lowest available prices.

Justin Thomas will defend his Players championship on March 10-13, 2022.
Justin Thomas will defend his Players championship on March 10-13, 2022.

Those with subscriptions will get an email with more information and instructions on how to purchase the tickets, which are $25 for practice round days March 8-9, $75 for the opening round on March 10 and the final round on March 13, and $85 for the March 11-12 competitive rounds.

Additional ticket information can be found by visiting https://www.theplayers.com/tickets.

Up to two youth 15 and under will be admitted free all week when accompanied by a ticketed adult.

Military tickets will be available in February, complimentary for active duty, retired, reserve and National Guard members and one dependent for the practice round days and one competitive-round day.

Veterans with valid IDs can purchase two discounted Stadium Pass tickets per day for practice rounds and one competitive round.

Parking passes are not included with ticket purchases and must be bought separately at theplayers.com/parking.

Fans interested in upgraded hospitality experiences should visit theplayers.com/hospitality for more information. New in 2022 are the Greenside Seats, which overlook 17 green and 18 tee, and The Deck, which offers views of the 16th and 18th holes.

Ortiz withdraws

Defending Hewlett-Packard Houston Open champion Carlos Ortiz of Mexico withdrew from the tournament on Tuesday because of a left shoulder injury.

"Unfortunately, I’ve been battling a left shoulder injury since [the Zozo Championship] Japan and after meeting with my doctors this morning, it was recommended that I take the rest of the season off to recover," Ortiz said in a statement through PGA Tour communications. "This is incredibly disappointing to me as I was looking forward to defending my first PGA Tour title in Texas, my second home. I’m honored to be a champion of this event and I look forward to returning next year.”

Ortiz closed with a 65 last year to beat the last two Masters champions by two shots, Dustin Johnson and Hideki Matsuyama.

Pairings announced for QBE

Defending champions Harris English and Matt Kuchar of St. Simons Island, Ga., lead the field of 12 two-player teams Dec. 8-12 for the QBE Shootout at the Tiburon Golf Club in, Naples. The 33rd edition of the Shootout will feature nine new teams competing for the $3.6 million purse.

English and Kuchar have won the tournament a record three times. The QBE Shootout will once again feature a scramble format during the first round, a modified alternate shot format on Saturday and a final-round better ball on Sunday.

Other teams involving area players are Billy Horschel of Ponte Vedra Beach, playing with Sam Burns; and Brian Harman and Hudson Swafford of St. Simons Island. Other teams are Bubba Watson and Lexi Thompson; Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood; and Jason Day and Marc Leishman.

Mexico Open site picked

The PGA Tour’s Mexico Open will be played at Vidanta Vallarta April 28-May 1.

The Tour’s former World Golf Championship event has morphed with the Mexico Open, which dates back to 1944. It will be an official FedEx Cup event for the first time, with a purse of $7.3 million.

PGA Tour

Event: Hewlett-Packard Houston Open, Thursday-Sunday, Memorial Park Golf Course.

At stake: $7.5 million purse ($1,350,000 and 500 FedEx Cup points to the winner).

Defending champion: Carlos Ortiz.

TV: Golf Channel (Thursday-Sunday, 1-4 p.m.).

Area players entered: Lanto Griffin, Brian Harman, Zach Johnson, Russell Knox, Tyler McCumber, Keith Mitchell, Trey Mullinax, J.T. Poston, Doc Redman, Greyson Sigg, Cameron Smith, Hudson Swafford.

Notable: Brooks Koepka, Patrick Reed, Adam Scott and Tony Finau lead the field. … The RSM Classic at the Sea Island Club on St. Simons Island, Ga., is next week, ending the PGA Tour’s fall schedule.

LPGA Tour

Event: Pelican Women’s Championship, Thursday-Sunday, Pelican Golf Club, Belleair.

At stake: $1,750,000 purse ($262,500 to the winner).

Defending champion: Sei Young Kim.

TV: Golf Channel (Thursday-Friday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 7:30-10:30 p.m.).

Area players entered: Marina Alex, Chella Choi, Mel Reid.

Notable: Kim defeated Ally McDonald by three shots.

PGA Tour Champions

Event: Charles Schwab Cup Championship, Thursday-Sunday, Phoenix Country Club.

At stake: $2.5 million purse ($440,000 to the winner).

Defending champion: Kevin Sutherland.

TV: Thursday-Sunday, 4-6:30 p.m.

Area players entered: Jim Furyk, Vijay Singh.

Notable: Sutherland defeated Paul Broadhurst in a playoff after Broadhurst fired a 63 in the final round to tie in regulation. … Bernhard Langer leads in Schwab Cup points and can win the season-long series with a finish of at least a tie for sixth, as long as Furyk, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Ernie Els don’t win. … Furyk can win the Schwab Cup outright with a victory, or as low as third if Langer ties for eighth or worse and Jimenez and Els don’t win. Langer, Furyk, Jimenez and Els are the only players in the field of 30 who can win the Schwab Cup.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Adam Scott, Jason Day, Webb Simpson make it 14 major champions at RSM Classic