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By TERRY LYONS
RIDGEWOOD (SC) - In first-round action at The CJ Cup, Trey Mullinax earned his third career 18-hole lead/co-lead on Tour with an opening 6-under (65) while Gary Woodland birdied his final two holes to share the lead in search of his first Top-10 since the 2022 U.S. Open.
Rory McIlroy opened his 2022-23 season with a bogey-free (66) and is seeking the second successful title defense of his career. Playing together for the first time on Tour, McIlroy and Tom Kim combined to shoot 10-under and sit T-3.
Of the 13 Korean players in the field, Tom Kim sits highest on the leaderboard after 18 holes.
Congaree Golf club has hosted one other PGA TOUR event, the 2021 Palmetto Championship at Congaree, won by Garrick Higgo (not in the field this weekend). Of the 19 players in this week’s field who competed at Congaree in 2021, Tyrrell Hatton, Sungjae Im and Seamus Power all shot (67) and sit T-9. Hatton, Im and Power finished T-2, T-35 and T-19, respectively, at the 2021 Palmetto Championship.
Leaderboard After 18 Holes
Trey Mullinax 65 (-6)
Gary Woodland - 65 (-6)
Aaron Wise - 66 (-5)
Wyndham Clark - 66 (-5)
Tom Kim - 66 (-5)
Rory McIlroy - 66 (-5)
Cam Davis - 66 (-5)
Kurt Kitayama - 66 (-5)
Full Leaderboard: (link)
The CJ Cup in South Carolina | Tournament Facts
COURSE: Congaree Golf Club, Ridgewood, South Carolina
YARDS/PAR: 7,655 yards/Par 71
ARCHITECT: Tom Fazio (2018)
PRIZE Money - Purse: $10,500,000/$1,890,000
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Rory McIlroy
PAST HISTORY: (link)
PAST RESULTS: (link)
FEDEx CUP Points to Winner: 500
SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup
TV COVERAGE: Today’s TV coverage runs from 3:00pm to 6:00pm (ET) on Golf Channel while streaming on Peacock Network. On Saturday, October 22, coverage is on Golf Channel and Peacock from 3:00pm to 6:00pm (ET) and Sunday, October 23, coverage is set for 1:00pm to 3:00pm (ET) on Golf Channel and 2:30pm to 5:30pm (ET) on Golf Channel and Peacock Network.
PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: SiriusXM Radio will have live coverage of The CJ Cup beginning at today at 12:00pm to 6:00pm (ET). On Saturday, coverage airs from 1:00pm to 6:00pm (ET) and Sunday from 12 Noon to 5:30pm (ET) or to completion of event). PGA Tour Radio is available on Sirius 208/XM 92 or online via PGATourCom.
How to Watch: In case of changes, visit: (PGATourCom)
The CJ Cup | Basics
The Tee Times are from 8:15am to 1:25pm (ET).
Weather: Clear and sunny with temperatures ranging from 63-85 degrees from 8am-6pm. Humidity in mid-teens, winds blowing 5-8 mph with zero chance of rain. Weekend conditions will see gusty winds (25 mph) on Saturday but no rain.
Tournament Web Site: (link)
FedEx Cup Standings: (link)
PGA Tour Brunch will post before 8:00am (ET) on Saturday
Field, Tee Times, Leaderboard
Field: (link)
Tee Times: (link)
Leaderboard: (link)
What They’re Saying
Woodland, Mullinax Share Lead at CJ Cup (PGATourCom)
Rory McIlroy - Chasing No. 1 (PGATourCom)
Congaree GC - Only One Member (Golf Week/USA Today)
Tom Kim Makes Strong Impression (Golf Week/USA Today)
On This Day in Golf History
October 21, 2012 - Tommy “Two Gloves” Gainey, the journeyman professional known for wearing golf gloves on both hands, shot a course record (60) on the Ocean Course at Sea Island, Georgia to win the McGladrey Classic by one shot over former PGA Champion David Toms. - Courtesy of Randy Walker, Author of On This Day in Golf History, available via Amazon.com and by clicking HERE
Parting Putt
Classic … a fan for life.
Next Up
After this week’s bonus coverage, we’ll see you next year at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in January.
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