This Week in Golf — Nov. 6-9

Johnson is taking time away from the PGA Tour, reportedly after failing a drug test. His agent said late last week that Johnson won’t return to action until after the birth of his first child early in 2015.

Last year, Johnson closed with back-to-back 66s to top Ian Poulter by three strokes. The win for Johnson was his eighth on the PGA Tour and first on the European Tour.

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy fired a 7-under 65 in the first round to grab the early lead, but went only 8-under par over the final three rounds to finish in a tie for sixth.

While Johnson and McIlroy are missing the event, six of the top-10 players in the world will be at Sheshan International Golf Club this week. World Nos. 2 and 3 Adam Scott and Sergio Garcia will be the highest ranked players in the field.

Scott is playing for the first time since the Tour Championship, while Garcia is coming off a tie for second last week at the CIMB Classic. Garcia has top-10 finishes in six of his last nine worldwide starts.

Also in the field will be Masters winner Bubba Watson, U.S. Open champion Martin Kaymer and FedExCup champ Billy Horschel.

Golf Channel will air all four rounds from 10 p.m. – 3 a.m. beginning late Wednesday evening.

The European Tour shifts to Turkey next week for the Turkish Airlines Open, where Victor Dubuisson beat Jamie Donaldson by two strokes last year.

PGA TOUR

SANDERSON FARMS CHAMPIONSHIP, Country Club of Jackson, Jackson, Mississippi – The remainder of the PGA Tour will be in Mississippi this week for the Sanderson Farms Championship.

This event was last played in 2013, when it was contested opposite the Open Championship.

Woody Austin birdied the first playoff hole to beat Cameron Beckman and Daniel Summerhays. The win for Austin was his fourth on the PGA Tour, and it made him the oldest winner on the PGA Tour since 2007.

With the top-50 players in the world invited to play the WGC-HSBC Champions, Ben Martin is the highest ranked player in the field this week. Martin is ranked 57th in the world thanks to his win at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

McGladrey Classic winner Robert Streb is also in the field this week along with eight former major champions, including Padraig Harrington.

Golf Channel will have coverage of all four rounds this week.

The last official PGA Tour event of the season is next week in Mexico. Harris English rolled to a 4-stroke win last year at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba.

LPGA TOUR

MIZUNO CLASSIC, Kintetsu Kashikojima Country Club, Shima-Shi, Mie, Japan – The LPGA Tour completes its six-week Asian swing this week with the Mizuno Classic.

Teresa Lu fired an 8-under 64 in the final round last year to win for the first time on the LPGA Tour. Lu trailed by two entering the final round, but won by two thanks to her 64.

Of the five winners from the previous events during this Asian swing, only Mirim Lee is in the field this week.

Just two of the top-10 players in the world are playing this week. World No. 2 Stacy Lewis and No. 7 Karrie Webb, the 2006 champion, will be at Kintetsu Kashikojima Country Club. Lewis, the 2012 winner, is looking to reclaim the top spot in the world rankings after losing it a week ago to Inbee Park.

There is no television coverage for this event.

The LPGA Tour heads to Mexico next week for the Lorena Ochoa Invitational, where Lexi Thompson fended off Lewis last year to win for the third time on the LPGA Tour.

Categorized in: PGA