Latest news with #TourChampionship
USA Today
3 hours ago
- Business
- USA Today
Tom Cousins, visionary behind East Lake's urban renewal project in Atlanta, dies at 93
Tom Cousins, the influential Atlanta real estate developer and philanthropist, died Tuesday at age 93 while hospitalized in Florida. Cousins was the visionary behind using golf to revitalize the East Lake community of Atlanta. In 1995, he founded the East Lake Foundation and bought East Lake Golf Club, the home course of Bobby Jones, which had fallen on hard times and was surrounded by a dangerous neighborhood. Cousins, who also was a member at Augusta National, persuaded local corporations to buy into his plan to turn East Lake around. Millions of dollars were raised and invested into the development of caddie programs and after-school golf clinics designed to introduce local boys and girls to the game – and keep them out of trouble at the same time. The project, which included mixed-income housing and a YMCA, resulted in one of the most successful urban renewal projects in decades and a model that has been replicated elsewhere. East Lake GC began hosting the Tour Championship in 1998 and became the tournament's home in 2004. The Tour Championship has contributed more than $63 million to Atlanta-based nonprofits, including the East Lake Foundation, Purpose Built Schools Atlanta, Focused Community Strategies, the Grove Park Foundation and the First Tee — Metro Atlanta, among others. 'It's difficult for me find words that adequately pay tribute to a man who, throughout his 93 years, sought to make a difference and improve the lives of those around him," said PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan. 'Mr. Cousins was a visionary and a man who had the unique ability to imagine what something could become and then make it happen. Our partnership with Tom and the East Lake Foundation will have a lasting impact and we look forward to honoring and celebrating him at this year's tournament. We will miss Tom greatly and will cherish the memories we have of him. We grieve with his family and share our condolences.' East Lake Golf Club also annually hosts the East Lake Cup, a prestigious men's and women's college golf tournament. At the event's conclusion, organizers present the Tom Cousins Award to one male and one female student-athlete from a participating team who best exemplify civic, community and philanthropic qualities. Tom Cousins was the original owner of the Atlanta Hawks Cousins's transformative impact on the city's sporting community stretched beyond golf. Cousins was the original owner of the Atlanta Hawks, playing a pivotal role in bringing the franchise there. Cousins, along with former Georgia Governor Carl Sanders, purchased the team in 1968, relocating the franchise to Atlanta from St. Louis. Born Dec. 7, 1931, in Atlanta, Cousins graduated from the University of Georgia in 1952. Six years later, he started his own residential real estate business, Cousins Properties. In 2002, the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame inducted Cousins, with the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame bestowing the same honor on Cousins in 2018. 'Tom Cousins was a giant in life and in golf. His inspirational vision for East Lake Golf Club and the East Lake Foundation - guided by his golf with a purpose mantra - has transformed the lives of a generation of children and families in the city of Atlanta,' said East Lake Foundation board member and Versant CEO Mark Lazarus. 'Tom's impact will be felt for decades to come and his incredible contributions to the community through his passion for golf will never be forgotten.'
Perth Now
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Scott faces crunch time for FedEx Cup play-off hopes
Australia's former Masters champion Adam Scott has admitted it is "do or die" for his FedEx Cup playoff chances and hopes his last shot at qualifying will bring out his best golf. The 45-year-old currently sits 85th in the standings and needs to get into the top 70 to make the post-season run-in. To do that he has to finish no worse than in a two-way tie for third at the Wyndham Championship at the Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina. "I'm really here focused on trying to win this tournament," said Scott, whose 16-year streak of making the playoffs ended in 2023. He returned last year to tie for fourth at the season-ending Tour Championship. "I actually think sometimes when it's like a last-chance thing, this will be my last chance to play on the PGA Tour potentially for some weeks, it's do or die and that's a fun way to play. "Sometimes we - or I - have fallen in the trap of like, 'there's always next week if it doesn't work out', and that's not the case here, so I think that's not a pressure but more motivation. "I feel like my game's been pretty good since May so I need to be on the front foot a little bit, I can't be sitting back waiting for it to happen." The Adelaide-born Scott has not won since 2020 and four years ago lost in a six-man play-off at the Wyndham. "I've really not had any momentum at all and it seems like I can put three rounds together but not four every week," he added. "I have full belief, especially after I've won, that I can play at the highest level on a given week. I think realistically it's harder for me to do it over a season. "I'm not saying it's impossible, but I need to get things more on my own terms to do that."
USA Today
15 hours ago
- Business
- USA Today
These golfers are in line for gigantic paydays for FedEx Cup regular season success
Every player in the Wyndham Championship field wants to go home with the trophy this Sunday, but there are also several tournaments within the tournament to track. Adding to the intrigue is the final week of the Comcast Business Tour Top 10. The top finishers at the end of the regular season in the season-long FedEx Cup will share a $40 million bonus, with the No. 1-ranked player earning $8 million. But when the Tour scrapped the starting-strokes scoring system for the Tour Championship this season, it also restructured the bonus payouts. An additional $20 million will be split among the top 10 players in the FedEx Cup at the conclusion of the regular season. Scottie Scheffler has clinched the top spot, but two players in the field, Ben Griffin (No. 7) and Keegan Bradley (No. 10), will look to solidify their position in the top 10, while three players in the field can play their way into the Comcast Business Tour Top 10. Hideki Matsuyama, who won the season-opening Sentry in Maui and enters the week at No. 23, needs a win to leap into the top 10. Robert MacIntyre, who ranks No. 15, needs a solo 2nd or better, while Andrew Novak, who is No. 12, would need a five-way T-3 or better to crash the party and earn a handsome payout. Here's a look at the current top 10 in the standings:
Forbes
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
truTV And HBO Max To Air 19 Savannah Bananas Games This Summer And Fall
TNT Sports will air 19 Savannah Bananas games this summer and fall on truTV and simulcast on HBO ... More Max. Banana Ball is coming to your sports television schedule courtesy of TNT Sports with a total of 19 games airing this summer and fall on truTV and HBO Max. Starting Saturday, Aug 16, the always entertaining Savannah Bananas continue their tour of MLB ballparks as they play The Firefighters at Rate Field, home of the Chicago White Sox, airing at 8 pm E.T. on truTV and simulcast on HBO Max. For eight consecutive weekends, Banana Ball coverage will see stops at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Petco Park in San Diego, Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, T-Mobile Park in Seattle, and Daikin Park in Houston, along with a weekend series from Grayson Stadium, the Savannah Bananas' home stadium. As part of the coverage, TNT Sports will air the first-ever Tour Championship in early October which highlights a multi-day tournament featuring four teams. The winner will be decided in the title game on Saturday, October 11. The Savannah Bananas play a unique version of baseball called 'Banana Ball'. Similar to the Harlem Globetrotters, Banana Ball features over-the-top showmanship and fan participation, where players engage in dance routines, comedic sketches, and other performances between and often during the game. Below is the TNT Sports broadcast schedule of the Savannah Bananas on truTV and HBO Max
Mint
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Happy Gilmore 2 Review: Adam Sandler's film delivers laughs, cameos and redemption in a cosy sports sequel
Nearly three decades after his explosive arrival on the golf course, Happy Gilmore returns — older, rougher around the edges, but still very much himself. 'Happy Gilmore 2', directed by Kyle Newacheck and co-written by Tim Herlihy and Adam Sandler, is not trying to reinvent the wheel. And that's precisely why it works. The film picks up years after Happy's first Tour Championship win in 1996. He's gone on to achieve golfing success and build a life with his wife, Virginia Venit (Julie Bowen), with whom he has five children. But things take a dark turn in 2014 when a stray drive during practice tragically kills Virginia. Wracked with guilt, Happy spirals into alcoholism and walks away from the game he once loved. The emotional weight of that incident sets the stage for a redemption story, as Happy tries to help his daughter, Vienna, gain admission to the prestigious Paris Ballet School. In doing so, he reluctantly returns to the golfing world — not to chase trophies this time, but to support his daughter and reconnect with his lost sense of self. While the plot doesn't break new ground, its predictability is part of the charm. There's something oddly comforting about seeing Happy Gilmore fumble his way back into form, yelling at golf balls and swinging wildly with heart. The familiarity of the characters and the tone makes the film feel like an old friend — warm, a bit silly, and always good for a laugh. Adam Sandler is in fine form, delivering his signature blend of shouty hilarity and tender vulnerability. Julie Bowen brings grace to her brief appearances, while Christopher McDonald's Shooter McGavin is the film's standout. Once the scheming villain of the first film, Shooter now undergoes a delightful redemption arc, turning into Happy's unlikely ally. It's a transition that feels earned and adds emotional heft to the story. The supporting cast also shines. Benny Safdie and Bad Bunny join the chaos, with the latter playing Oscar, Happy's enthusiastic and adorably clueless caddy. His constant refrain — 'Do you want some breadsticks?' — becomes one of the film's most endearing and hilarious running jokes. But where 'Happy Gilmore 2' truly swings for the fences is in its jaw-dropping cameos. From Travis Kelce and Margaret Qualley to Steve Buscemi, Kid Cudi, Eric Andre, and Ben Stiller, the film is packed with familiar faces. The highlight? Eminem's bizarre and unforgettable cameo, which sees the rapper get eaten by alligators — a scene so absurd, you will be left wondering if he is THE slim shady or not. Technically, everything else — the cinematography, music, screenplay — is serviceable. It's not flashy, but it doesn't need to be. This isn't a film aiming for prestige. It's a nostalgic, comedic ride designed to entertain, and it does so with surprising heart. 'Happy Gilmore 2' is not a perfect film, but it knows exactly what it is. It's a warm, familiar laugh in a time when we could all use one. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to the franchise, this sequel is well worth a swing. The film is now streaming on Netflix.
