NASHVILLE RECAP: RANGEGOATS GC LOOKS TO POSITIVES FROM THE GROVE

COLLEGE GROVE, Tenn. – It was shaping up to be an interesting week for RangeGoats Golf Club entering LIV Golf Nashville. The team entered ninth in the season-long team standings and still in the mix for a strong second-half run reminiscent of 2023. But after a tough start at The Grove, a surge will have to wait until next month in Spain.

RangeGoats GC dug an early hole and finished 11th in Nashville to sit ninth in the season standings. Despite their rough start on Friday, they were only one or two low scores away from entering the weekend in a better position. The team finished Round 1 with three counting scores totaling 1-over par, but there were bright spots.

One was Captain Bubba Watson, who shot his team’s lowest score on Friday with a 1-under 70. The two-time Masters champion followed it up with an even-par 71, and his teammates picked up the slack this time. Matthew Wolff took command with a 4-under 67 and Thomas Pieters bounced back from a first-round 73 with a 3-under 68. It was a positive day for the team as every player shot par or better.

Sunday proved to be the team’s best overall day. Wolff led the way with a 4-under 67, Thomas Pieters recorded a 3-under 68 and Watson had a 2-under 69. Peter Uihlein will look to put Nashville behind him after finishing 3 over for the week.

The Grove proved to be challenging for some teams but a good fit for others. With wide fairways, the thought entering the week was that the longer hitters would have an advantage due to having shorter irons entering greens. But the fast greens, slippery slopes and tricky fall-offs proved to be a bigger challenge than first expected, and those who were on top of their short games benefited most.

Couple that with dry, hot and humid weather, and the greens became even more challenging as the week wore on. Multiple players commented on how true the greens were rolling, and some even said they were similar to those at the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 the previous week. So, it was no surprise that some of the League’s better short-game players who are not necessarily the longest bombers played well.

The team will now reset, rest and prepare for LIV Golf Andalucía at Real Club Valderrama in Spain from July 12-14.