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May 4, 2020 - 5:00 am EDT 5 years ago

The Pin Sheet – May 4, 2020

Chris Chaney Chris Chaney
The Pin Sheet – May 4, 2020

Welcome to The Pin Sheet, a quick guide for your day in golf that pairs beautifully with our Clubhouse Newsletter.

Between this daily aggregation and the Newsletter, you’ll find everything you need to know that’s going on in the world of golf to be the most well-informed player in your foursome.

Without further ado, now on the tee…


Today’s Clubhouse Newsletter

ER Nurse Makes First Ace

Good things happen to good people. In this case, the worlds of healthcare and golf collided as an emergency-room nurse made her first hole-in-one in just her third round of golf.

Kelly Spitz recently joined Cedar Creek Golf Club in Battle Creek, Michigan, and during her third round of “real” golf, she aced the 125-yard par-3 16th hole. 

“I always kind of believed in karma, so maybe this is part of that, some good among all the tough times we see at the hospital every day,” Spitz told The Battle Creek Enquirer. “I don’t know if I deserved to get this because of what I do, it’s mostly pure luck, but it was nice. Certainly, something to enjoy with all that is going on.”

“I was just excited to hit a good shot. So, when I saw it hit the green I was super excited. Then it kept rolling, and rolling and then it disappeared. Some friends we were playing with ran up and saw the ball was in the hole and started yelling that I had a hole-in-one. I didn’t believe it at first, then I looked into the hole and there it was … I was shocked.”

Brooks Koepka Calls John Daly “Uncle”

Brooks Koepka and John Daly may not seem like the share a lot of similarities on the surface, but a recent friendship development between Koepka’s father, Bob, and Long John has led to the four-time major winner getting closer with Daly.

Speaking on Instagram Live last week, Daly explained how he has earned familial status with the Koepka’s at last year’s PGA Championship at Bethpage Black.

“Brooks Koepka, I’ve got him calling me Uncle John now because me and his dad got along so good at the PGA in New York last year,” Daly said. “I love Brooks, but I love his dad more though, man. He is one cool cat. And he doesn’t push Brooks. I’m kind of like a father to my son like Brooks’ dad is to him. I stay away. Do your thing. And I respect him for that.

“We had a few beers together. I had played early on Friday when I missed the cut at the PGA, and he sat down with me and my family for a little bit and talked. And he goes, ‘Oh my God, Brooks is probably on six right now, I need to go out and watch my son play. I’ve had too much fun sitting here.’ Brooks was leading the tournament and he ends up winning.”

PGA Championship Host Course Opens 

One of the tentpoles of a professional golf event is that the course is operational, and for the first time since March 16, TPC Harding Park, the host of this year’s PGA Championship, will be open.

“We’re pleased to announce that we will be open to the public for golf beginning on Monday,” read an announcement on TPC Harding Park’s official Twitter page.

The PGA Championship was originally scheduled to take place May 14-17, but the championship, which will now be the 2019-2020 season’s only major, will now be played Aug. 6-9.

LPGA Tour Pro Laps Field In Cactus Tour Event

The field strength at some of these mini-tour events during the coronavirus outbreak has resembled those at the highest levels thanks to fewer opportunities to compete. 

While PGA Tour pro Alex Cejka has been cleaning up on the men’s side, LPGA Tour pro Mina Harigae took home a Cactus Tour title last week by nine shots, shooting rounds of 63-64-65 to post 24-under. 

Sophia Popov, winner of the circuit’s last two events, finished second and first-year pro Haley Moore finished in third, 12 shots back.