Editor’s note: In a non-coronavirus world, Bill Self might have been coaching in Monday’s NCAA championship final while Gary Woodland definitely would’ve been prepping for his eighth Masters start. But with March Madness canceled and the Masters postponed, both are now staying at home like the rest of us. Helen Ross reports on the unique connection between the Jayhawks head coach and the former Kansas golfer. The Waste Management Phoenix Open earlier this year admittedly wasn’t one of Gary Woodland’s best. Over the course of four rounds, he hit seven balls in the water and another landed out-of-bounds. A day after the tournament concluded, though, Woodland was in Allen Fieldhouse to watch his beloved Kansas Jayhawks take on Texas. That tie for 40th at TPC Scottsdale was the last thing on his mind. That is, until he ran into Kansas coach Bill Self, who couldn’t resist reminding Woodland of all the errant shots. “He knows everything I do,â€� the reigning U.S. Open champion says with a chuckle. “He’s on ShotTracker every day. So, if I’m messing up, there’s usually a text coming my way. … I flew home the next day for a basketball game and that’s the first thing he says. “So he keeps up on me. He’s hard on me, so I need to make sure I play well, so I don’t hear from him.â€� Actually, Woodland enjoys hearing from Self, who left Illinois and took over the Kansas program in 2003, which the same year Woodland transferred and started playing golf for the Jayhawks. If he’d had his druthers, though, Woodland would have loved to play basketball at KU. And he did. Once. Only, it was an exhibition game at Allen Fieldhouse and Woodland, a freshman, was playing for NCAA Division II powerhouse Washburn University. Suffice it to say, the Ichabods were no match for the Jayhawks, who were ranked No. 1 in the country at the time. Ditto for the 6-foot-1 Woodland, who was guarding Kirk Hinrich, who went on to play 15 seasons in the NBA. “(It was) like, OK, I need to find something else, because this ain’t gonna work,â€� recalls Woodland, who went on to average 6 points and make 38 of 120 shots from three-point range that season. Golf was the fallback plan. When he was an undergrad, Woodland used to see Self around campus and remembers being somewhat intimidated. “Especially when I was in school, you see him walking down the hallway, you kind of say ‘Hi,’ and put your head down and move on,â€� Woodland says. “But he’s such a down-to-earth guy. He’s such a good guy and loves to have a good time, loves to talk. “And so now that I know him, he’s a text message or phone call away all the time.â€� The friendship blossomed when the two ran into each other at a movie theater shortly after Woodland, who remains a die-hard Jayhawk fan, graduated in 2007 with a degree in sociology. “He said, ‘Hey, I want to play golf with you before you leave town,’â€� Woodland recalls. “So, that was really the first conversation I really ever had with them. We went out and played golf together and we became good friends since then. “He’s been a great person for me, too, if I need advice. He’s somebody I can call, and he tells me how it is. He treats me, I would say, like one of his players, no sugar-coating anything. So, he’s a good person to have.â€� For his part, Self – whose Jayhawks were ranked No. 1 when the NCAA canceled this year’s tournament due to the coronavirus pandemic — says he’s enjoyed watching the way Woodland’s golf game has evolved. “I don’t know enough about golf to text specifics,â€� Self says. “I’m following because he can be two different players to me. He can be unbelievably consistent where he’s making a ton of pars. And then when he gets hot, he can make as many birdies as anybody. “But with that, he can also have as many doubles as anybody, too. So, he used to just hit it a mile, and now that he doesn’t hit it quite as far, he’s certainly scoring better because he’s hitting more greens because he’s playing out of the fairway more.â€� Self, who says he is about a 10 handicap, has been playing golf since he was in junior high school. Ball-striking used to be the best part of his game, but the coach says he isn’t sure what his strength is any more. “He’s actually pretty good.,â€� Woodland says. “He’s getting better. He hits it a long way. He’s not as good as he thinks he is, but he loves it. He has a great time. It’s a little hard, he’s got so many camps during the summer, but we definitely sneak out every year, which is fun.â€� And when the two play, Woodland gives Self a stroke a hole. “But he thinks he’s a lot better than that,â€� Woodland says with a grin. “I just do it just to be nice.â€� “I’m not competitive with him at all,â€� Self acknowledges. “I’m a competitor, I’m competitive, but not with him. And that’s a whole different level.â€� The Kansas coach is well- aware of Woodland’s basketball past, though. He was all-state in high school and a member of two state championship teams. Long-range shooting was one of Woodland’s fortes. Not that the 35-year-old golfer and the 57-year-old coach will be playing a game of H-O-R-S-E any time soon. “I do know he can shoot but at my age, I gave up playing pickup 15 years ago,â€� Self says.
‘He knows everything I do’
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1st Round 3-Balls – R. Pampling / D. Barron / S. Flesch | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Doug Barron | +140 |
Rod Pampling | +150 |
Steve Flesch | +260 |
1st Round 3-Balls – R. Goosen / F. Couples / J. Leonard | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Retief Goosen | +115 |
Justin Leonard | +220 |
Fred Couples | +230 |
1st Round 3-Balls – S. Stricker / D. Clarke / S. Alker | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Steve Stricker | +105 |
Steven Alker | +150 |
Darren Clarke | +400 |
1st Round 3-Balls – D. Toms / M.A. Jimenez / J. Furyk | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Miguel Angel Jimenez | -105 |
David Toms | +180 |
Jim Furyk | +350 |
1st Round 3-Balls – S. Ames / E. Els / T. Jaidee | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Stephen Ames | +150 |
Ernie Els | +160 |
Thongchai Jaidee | +220 |
2nd Round Match-Up – L. List v T. Detry | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Luke List | -115 |
Thomas Detry | -105 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – G. Higgo / R. Werenski / B. Burgoon | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Garrick Higgo | +130 |
Bronson Burgoon | +200 |
Richy Werenski | +210 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – B. Hossler / S. Jaeger / C. Young | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Stephan Jaeger | +145 |
Beau Hossler | +150 |
Carson Young | +250 |
2nd Round Six-Shooter – Group A – S. Jaeger / A. Bhatia / B. Hossler / A. Novak / A. Rai / C. Davis | |
Type: 2nd Round Six-Shooter – Status: OPEN | |
Stephan Jaeger | +350 |
Beau Hossler | +400 |
Aaron Rai | +425 |
Akshay Bhatia | +425 |
Andrew Novak | +425 |
Cameron Davis | +500 |
2nd Round Match-Up – N. Dunlap vs G. Higgo | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Garrick Higgo | -110 |
Nick Dunlap | -110 |
2nd Round Match-Up – B. Hossler vs A. Rai | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Aaron Rai | -110 |
Beau Hossler | -110 |
1st Round 3-Balls – J. Kelly / V. Singh / J. Durant | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jerry Kelly | +105 |
Vijay Singh | +225 |
Joe Durant | +240 |
2nd Round Match-Up – M. Hubbard v J. Dahmen | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Mark Hubbard | -115 |
Joel Dahmen | -105 |
2nd Round Match-Up – M. NeSmith v P. Coody | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Matt NeSmith | -140 |
Pierceson Coody | +115 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – T. Montgomery / H. Hall / R. Fox | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Taylor Montgomery | +150 |
Ryan Fox | +160 |
Harry Hall | +225 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – A. Baddeley / J. Teater / D. Wu | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Dylan Wu | +140 |
Aaron Baddeley | +170 |
Josh Teater | +230 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – C. Davis / C. Hadley / A. Rai | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Aaron Rai | +130 |
Cam Davis | +180 |
Chesson Hadley | +225 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – J. Hahn / J. Lower / S. Stevens | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Sam Stevens | +150 |
Justin Lower | +160 |
James Hahn | +225 |
2nd Round Match-Up – A. Svensson vs C. Davis | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Adam Svensson | -120 |
Cam Davis | +100 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – P. Malnati / S. Scheffler / W. Zalatoris | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | -175 |
Will Zalatoris | +260 |
Peter Malnati | +430 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – N. Hardy / T. Moore / C. Reavie | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Taylor Moore | +110 |
Nick Hardy | +210 |
Chez Reavie | +240 |
2nd Round Match-Up – A. Bhatia vs P. Malnati | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Akshay Bhatia | -130 |
Peter Malnati | +110 |
2nd Round Match-Up – T. Moore vs J. Highsmith | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Taylor Moore | -160 |
Joe Highsmith | +135 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – R. Brehm / K. Kisner / S. Cink | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Stewart Cink | +105 |
Ryan Brehm | +220 |
Kevin Kisner | +240 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – J. Knapp / A. Bhatia / A. Svensson | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Akshay Bhatia | +160 |
Jake Knapp | +160 |
Adam Svensson | +200 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – N. Dunlap / L. List / K.H. Lee | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
K H Lee | +150 |
Luke List | +160 |
Nick Dunlap | +230 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – M. Wallace / G. Woodland / B. Snedeker | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Matt Wallace | +120 |
Gary Woodland | +140 |
Brandt Snedeker | +350 |
2nd Round Match-Up – K.H. Lee vs S.H. Kim | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
K H Lee | -130 |
S H Kim | +110 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – M. Laird / A. Cook / M. NeSmith | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Matt NeSmith | +150 |
Martin Laird | +160 |
Austin Cook | +220 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – K. Mitchell / D. Ghim / G. Sigg | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Keith Mitchell | +140 |
Doug Ghim | +170 |
Greyson Sigg | +225 |
2nd Round Match-Up – M. Meissner vs G. Sigg | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Greyson Sigg | -130 |
Mac Meissner | +110 |
2nd Round Match-Up – A. Novak vs T. Pendrith | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Andrew Novak | -125 |
Taylor Pendrith | +105 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – L. Maguire / X. Lin / B. Tardy | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Xiyu Lin | +130 |
Leona Maguire | +160 |
Bailey Tardy | +275 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – J. Dahmen / L. Griffin / K. Chappell | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Joel Dahmen | +110 |
Lanto Griffin | +210 |
Kevin Chappell | +240 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – B. Wu / T. Detry / A. Novak | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Andrew Novak | +150 |
Thomas Detry | +150 |
Brandon Wu | +240 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – M. Lee / B. Henderson / R. Yin | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Brooke Henderson | +175 |
Minjee Lee | +175 |
Ruoning Yin | +175 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – M. Meissner / R. McCormick / C. Hammer | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Mac Meissner | +130 |
Cole Hammer | +200 |
Ryan McCormick | +200 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – Parker Coody / Pierceson Coody / J. Bridgeman | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Parker Coody | +140 |
Jacob Bridgeman | +150 |
Pierceson Coody | +260 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – C. Hull / L. Thompson / A. Lee | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Alison Lee | +145 |
Charley Hull | +160 |
Lexi Thompson | +240 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – D. Skinns / T. Whitney / S. Bennett | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
David Skinns | +175 |
Sam Bennett | +175 |
Tom Whitney | +175 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – N. Xiong / M. Greyserman / P. Fishburn | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Max Greyserman | +135 |
Norman Xiong | +185 |
Patrick Fishburn | +210 |
2nd Round Match-Up – A. Tosti v T. Whitney | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Alejandro Tosti | -110 |
Tom Whitney | -110 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – T. Olesen / J. Highsmith / D. van der Walt | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Thorbjorn Olesen | +120 |
Joe Highsmith | +140 |
Dawie Van Der Walt | +350 |
Hero Indian Open | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Keita Nakajima | +150 |
Romain Langasque | +500 |
Joost Luiten | +600 |
Matteo Manassero | +900 |
Jeong Weon Ko | +2000 |
Johannes Veerman | +3000 |
Veer Ahlawat | +3000 |
Fabrizio Zanotti | +4500 |
Jeff Winther | +4500 |
Matthew Jordan | +4500 |
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Major Specials 2024 | |
Type: To Win A Major 2024 – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +105 |
Jon Rahm | +225 |
Rory McIlroy | +225 |
Viktor Hovland | +225 |
Brooks Koepka | +350 |
Ludvig Aberg | +350 |
Patrick Cantlay | +400 |
Collin Morikawa | +450 |
Justin Thomas | +450 |
Wyndham Clark | +450 |
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The Masters 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +450 |
Rory McIlroy | +1100 |
Jon Rahm | +1200 |
Brooks Koepka | +1800 |
Jordan Spieth | +2000 |
Xander Schauffele | +2000 |
Hideki Matsuyama | +2500 |
Joaquin Niemann | +2500 |
Justin Thomas | +2500 |
Ludvig Aberg | +2500 |
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PGA Championship 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +700 |
Jon Rahm | +1000 |
Rory McIlroy | +1000 |
Viktor Hovland | +1400 |
Brooks Koepka | +1600 |
Bryson DeChambeau | +2000 |
Patrick Cantlay | +2000 |
Wyndham Clark | +2000 |
Xander Schauffele | +2000 |
Cameron Smith | +2500 |
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US Open 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +700 |
Rory McIlroy | +800 |
Jon Rahm | +900 |
Viktor Hovland | +1000 |
Cameron Smith | +1600 |
Brooks Koepka | +1800 |
Cameron Young | +2000 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Ludvig Aberg | +2000 |
Patrick Cantlay | +2000 |
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The Open Championship 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +800 |
Jon Rahm | +1000 |
Rory McIlroy | +1000 |
Viktor Hovland | +1100 |
Brooks Koepka | +2000 |
Cameron Smith | +2000 |
Cameron Young | +2000 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Jordan Spieth | +2500 |
Ludvig Aberg | +2500 |
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Solheim Cup 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -140 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1200 |
Ryder Cup 2025 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -135 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1000 |