FacebookPinterestMarianna MasseyBraden Thornberry, who defeated Joaquin Niemann, No. 1 in the World Amateur Ranking, in the first round of U.S. Amateur match play, is shown here after holing to finish tied for fourth in the FedEX St. Jude Classic earlier this summer. (Photo by Marianna Massey/Getty Images)

Match play promises nothing, least of all that the two best players meet in the final, so it will have to suffice that Joaquin Niemann of Chile and Braden Thornberry served up a dramatic opening act in the U.S. Amateur on Wednesday.
It came down to the 18th hole, as anyone would have scripted a match between the Nos. 1 and 3 in the World Amateur Ranking. The third-ranked Thornberry, on a roll that suggests he’s underrated at No. 3, prevailed, 2 up, at the Riviera Country Club to advance to the round of 32 on Thursday.
“Kind of unfortunate for two of the higher ranked players to play each other in the first round, but you got to do it at some point,” Thornberry said. “Today was defin..

Gregory ShamusThe USGA's had its share of controversies for one lifetime; the last thing it wants is another incident to overshadow an event. So while “U.S. Amateur rules issues” likely makes the governing body — as well as golf fans — wince, it's an episode marked with integrity and class.
Christopher Crawford, who we profiled at this year's U.S. Open, was competing at this week's Amateur, and on pace to qualify out of stroke play into the 64-man match-play tournament. However, during his second round on Tuesday at Bel-Air Country Club, the 23-year-old Crawford heard his caddie use slope when discussing an upcoming shot. This caught Crawford's attention; while measuring instruments are allowed in amateur tournaments, the slope-reading component is prohibited. Because Crawford's caddie — a last-second fill-in, according to ESPN's Bob Harig, after Crawford's intended looper got sick — had it on for the entire round, he disqualified himself for..

Chris CondonTwitter was filled with complaints of CBS airing too many commercials during the final round of the 99th PGA Championship. But a closer look proves the network showed plenty of action from Quail Hollow. And that golf fans should actually be encouraged by TV coverage of this year's majors.
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According to Classic TV Sports, CBS showed 1.32 shots per minute during its final-round coverage of the year's final major. That puts it right in line with the 2017 U.S. Open on Fox (1.30) and a shade below this year's Masters (1.41), which also aired on CBS.
The site didn't track the stat for the final round of this year's British Open on NBC, however, it has done this for every other major since the start of 2014. And a quick comparison shows that networks have picked it up when it comes to showing more shots per minute in their coverage. Looking back, the average was 1.12 shots per minute in 2014, 1.1..

Ross KinnairdGetty ImagesBrandt Snedeker reacts after making a birdie on the 15th green during the third round of the 2017 U.S. Open.Brandt Snedeker has been on the sidelines for most of the summer dealing with a rib issue. It appears the problem has not subsided, as the former FedEx Cup champion announced on Wednesday he's shutting down all golf activities indefinitely.
“My sternum joint has become unstable and does not allow me to hit a golf ball without pain,” Snedeker via statement. “My medical team and I are looking into every option to get me back to playing as soon as possible. It pains me not to be out there on Tour competing, but at this time, my health needs to be my priority.”
Snedeker, who had a T-9 at the U.S. Open and T-15 at the Travelers Championship, is dealing with pain emanating from inflamed cartilage. He missed last week's PGA Championship, as well as the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
The move also means the 36-year-old will miss the Presidents Cup..

Thomas NiedermuellerSANKT LEON-ROT, GERMANY – SEPTEMBER 20: Alison Lee of the United States is comforted by Juli Inkster the United States Team Captain (l), Nancy Lopez (2nd from left) and Wendy Ward (r) United States assistant captains on the 18th green after Lee's error in picking up her ball on the 17th hole before it had been conceded by her European Team opponents Suzann Pettersen and Charley Hull (seen in the right of the image). This error led to the European pair claiming the 17th hole and led to the United States losing another crucial point during the completion of the Saturday afternoon fourball matches in the 2015 Solheim Cup at St Leon-Rot Golf Club on September 20, 2015 in Sankt Leon-Rot, Germany. (Photo by Thomas Niedermueller/Getty Images)Remember the putting controversy at the last Solheim Cup? You know what we’re talking about. Alison Lee picked up that short putt on the 17th hole of the four-ball competition, thinking she’d been given the putt. Suzann Pettersen ..

Stuart FranklinWEST DES MOINES, IA – AUGUST 16: Annika Sorenstam, Team Europe Captain talks with Suzann Pettersen during practice for The Solheim Cup at the Des Moines Country Club on August 16, 2017 in West Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)On Wednesday Suzann Pettersen, whose controversial non-concession during the 2015 Solheim Cup overshadowed the event, withdrew from this year's competition, citing a slipped disc.
Pettersen, who has played in eight Solheim Cups, qualified for the European Solheim Cup squad through her Rolex World Ranking (No. 23).
“I have made this extremely difficult decision to help the European team and give my team mates the best possible chance of success,” said Pettersen. “There was no guarantee that I would be fit to compete on Friday morning and I did not want to play unless I was able to give 100 per cent. I truly love The Solheim Cup and I will stay and support my team this week in whatever way I can.”
When the Solheim Cup team..