Sports

/

ArcaMax

Rocket notes: Amateur, 20, looks to make history; DGC grounds crew does it again

Tony Paul, The Detroit News on

Published in Golf

"Under pressure, they deliver."

Added Moynihan: "I have a fantastic staff. They're used to taking it on the chin, but swinging back. I'm fortunate."

Moynihan's crew this week includes a staff of 35 from Detroit Golf Club, and then an additional 40 volunteers from other clubs locally, and even nationally and internationally.

DGC doesn't drain great, because it's so flat, and the infrastructure is so outdated, but the staff has gotten it ready for play in short order after several harsh storms over the six-year run of the Rocket. The infrastructure will be upgraded as part of a $16-million renovation problem, set to begin after the 2025 Rocket.

Might that include making the drainage-cover holes small enough so balls can't fall in, like Akshay Bhatia's did in a hilarious scene Friday?

"Yeah, right!" Moynihan said, adding that the drainage cover holes are about an eighth of an inch bigger than a golf ball. "Just incredible odds."

Chips & divots

 

— Will Zalatoris, ranked No. 42 in the world and one of the biggest names in the field this week, withdrew during his third round Saturday with a reported back injury. He was 3 over on his round Saturday when he WD'd on the ninth tee, after making birdie at No. 8. He got off to a 6-under 66 start Thursday, but struggled to a 71 Friday.

"Will experienced some discomfort after a swing today and, out of utmost precaution, made the tough decision to withdraw," said Allen Hobbs, Zalatoris' manager. "It’s important that he listens to his body and gets some rest. He hates to withdraw from the Rocket Mortgage Classic and looks forward to getting back out on the course soon."

— Many players on Saturday wore green ribbons on their caps, as a tribute to late PGA Tour golfer Grayson Murray, who died by suicide in late May at the age of 30. The ribbons also are meant to draw attention to mental-health issues. Murray, a two-time winner on the PGA Tour, had a history of depression.

— Next week's John Deere Classic in the Quad Cities got some big-name commitments that skipped out on Detroit, including Patrick Cantlay, Jason Day and Jordan Spieth.

____


©2024 The Detroit News. Visit detroitnews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Comments

blog comments powered by Disqus