RYDER CUP: Tom Watson recalls the first scouting trip he made to the Ryder Cup course when he was U.S. captain the first time. This was 1993 at The Belfry in England. Watson saw it for the first time in September when he arrived with his team.

“I showed up like all the other players — players that hadn’t played it before. I was new,” he said last week at Hilton Head.

It was an example of how much the event has changed over the last two decades. Europe has just started its run of dominance. It was still an entertaining event held every other year. Watson recalls doing no more than a half-dozen press conferences in the year leading up to the matches.

“I’ve had several dozen already about theRyder Cup,” he said. “And that’s the difference.”

DIVOTS: Brooks Koepka, who already has used his allotment of PGA Tour exemptions, earned a spot in the Zurich Classic this week through Monday qualifying. He needs seven FedEx Cup points (64th place alone) to be eligible for special temporary membership and have access to unlimited exemptions. … Matt Kuchar’s victory in the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head bumped Patrick Reed out of the top five – in Ryder Cup standings. Kuchar is now at No. 3 behind Bubba Watson and Jimmy Walker. … Turning Stone Resort, which once hosted a PGA Tour event, has been selected to host the PGA Professional National Championship in 2016, the tournament in which top 20 club pros qualify for the PGA Championship.

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