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IN MORNING READ, VETERAN GOLF SCRIBE Gary Van Sickle wrote about the beginning of an unprecedented stretch of major events in the men's game.

Beginning with the PGA Championship that started today in San Francisco, seven majors will be played in the next 11 months. It has been more than a year since the last major. That was the Open Championship won by Irishman Shane Lowry.

Now, as Van Sickle wrote, "[T]he majors are stacked up like so many Pringles chips in the familiar tall red container."

He turned to Jim "Hello Friends" Nantz for context:

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THE PGA CHAMPIONSHIP STARTS TOMORROW at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco. Below is the broadcast schedule, plucked from my email inbox. All times Eastern.

For more informaion, visit PGAChampionship.com.

Major Championship golf is back, as San Francisco's TPC Harding Park hosts the first major of the year, the 102nd PGA Championship, August 6-9.

This year's PGA Championship will deliver unprecedented live, wire-to-wire 72-hole coverage to viewers via CBS, ESPN, ESPN+ and PGAChampionship.com.

HOW TO WATCH​

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Joel Sjoholm, from Sweden, finished the Hero Open at Forest of Arden in a tie for 22nd. He shot rounds of 70, 68, 68 and 73 for a 9-under total.

HEADING INTO THE YEAR'S FIRST MAJOR, Justin Thomas is the new No. 1.

Thomas captured his third victory this season and 13th of his PGA Tour career at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational in Memphis. He shot rounds of 66-67-66-65 to finish 13-under-par at TPC Southwind.

Every victory is special, but this one was probably a little sweeter.

"It means a lot," Thomas said, "especially with how I felt like I did it.

"In the past, I struggled with coming from behind. I got wrapped up in how far I was behind and how many people."

Defending champion Brooks Koepka made a run but came up short. He finished in a tie for second with three others: Daniel Berger, Tom Lewis and Phil Mickelson.

The PGA Championship begins on Thursday at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco.


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MIGUEL ANGEL JIMENEZ IS THE NEW KING of longevity on the European Tour.

The 56-year-old Spaniard is playing in his 707th event on tour this week, the Hero Open at the Forest of Arden in England. Jimenez, who joined the circuit in 1983, moved ahead of previous record-holder Sam Torrance.

The player nicknamed "The Mechanic" celebrated by putting together an 8-under 64 on Thursday.

"It's been a wonderful day," Jimenez said at BBC Sport. "Eight under par with a beautiful summer day and especially on the 18th with all my colleagues...

THE PGA CHAMPIONSHIP, THIS YEAR'S FIRST MAJOR, will begin next Thursday at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco.

According to the PGA of America, the field is expected to include 95 of the top 100 players in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Here's the list:

An, Byeong Hun – REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Ancer, Abraham - MEXICO
Auterson, Mike - Milford, Ohio (cp)
Balin, Danny - White Plains, N.Y. (cp)
Beach, Alex - Stillwater, Minn. (cp)
Beem, Rich - Austin, Texas
Berberian, Jr., Rich - Hooksett, N.H. (cp)
Berger, Daniel - Jupiter, Fla.
Bertsch, Justin - Naples, Fla. (cp)
Bezuidenhout, Christiaan - SOUTH AFRICA
Bradley, Keegan – Woodstock, Vt.
Cabrera Bello, Rafa - SPAIN
Campillo, Jorge - SPAIN
Cantlay, Patrick – Jupiter, Fla.
Caron, Jason - Greenlawn, N.Y. (cp)
Casey, Paul - ENGLAND
Champ, Cameron – Sacramento, Calif.
Conners, Corey - CANADA
Cook, Benny - Caledonia,...

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LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. – In partnership with the state of New York, the USGA announced [Wednesday] that due to ongoing health and safety concerns from the COVID-19 pandemic, the 120th U.S. Open Championship, scheduled Sept. 14-20 at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y., will be conducted without spectators on-site.

"Following months of consultation and scenario planning with local and state health officials, we have jointly decided that hosting the U.S. Open without spectators will provide the best opportunity to conduct the championship safely for all involved," said Mike Davis, CEO of the USGA. "We will miss the excitement of the fans and what their presence brings to the championship. We look forward to welcoming them again to future U.S. Opens."

The USGA announced on April 6 that the 120th U.S. Open, which was scheduled to be held June 18-21 on Winged...

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THE 50-PLUS BOYS ARE BACK this week.

News from the tour: