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TOUR REPORT
OB SPORTS GOLF & LEISURE
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FALL 2017
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in the shins. Due to a back injury, later
diagnosed as a stress fracture, he only
would tee it up six times on the PGA
Tour between June of 2013 and January
of 2017.
And in February 2016, while out on
the town in Newport Beach with his
good pal Chris Roth, a high school
teammate and frequent caddie for him
in the good old days, he looked on in
horror as Roth, crossing a street mere
steps in front of him, was struck and
killed by a hit-and-run driver.
Then, from rock bottom, Cantlay
recovered his health and his fighting
spirit.
He qualified for the PGA Tour,
posted a series of top-5s, and became
only one of two rookies to qualify for
the Tour Championship.
Now it's time for the SoCal star to
scale the mountain and win a PGA
Tour event.
Genie, do your stuff.
• • •
FOWLER EDGES YOUNG
RIVALS TO WIN THE PGA
I want to see the sluggers Dustin
Johnson and Brooks Koepka go toe-
to-toe in a fabled ring – maybe Riviera
in February. I'd be thrilled to take in the
smiling eyes of Rory McIlroy when he
completes his career Grand Slam at the
Masters.
I wouldn't be unhappy to watch
Hideki Matsuyama shed the weight of
all Japan from his back by breaking
through in a major.
And I'd like to witness comeback
seasons from compelling figures such
as Bubba Watson, Jason Day and Adam
Scott.
What I'm asking the genie for with
my fifth and final wish, however, is one
thrilling, epic back nine when the
game's brightest young stars – Jordan
Spieth, Justin Thomas and Rickie
Fowler – trade grins, fist pumps and
birdies down the stretch of a big-time
tourney, say the PGA Championship at
Bellerive.
With one final birdie at the 72nd
hole, Rickie Fowler snares his first
major championship.
Genie, get busy. You've got a lot of
work ahead of you.
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