CME Group Tour Championship notebook: First-round TV ratings set record

The CME Group tournament has been around since 2011, but didn't move to Naples until 2013, and didn't become the current CME Group Tour Championship until 2014.

Regardless of what it's been called, TV viewers are watching a lot this year.

The Golf Channel released its numbers for Thursday's first round on Friday evening, and it was the most-watched for the first round of this tournament with 261,000 viewers, a 178-percent increase over last year.

Commissioner Mike Whan said at his press conference Friday morning that TV ratings overall are up 17 percent, although he said a lot of that was from Des Moines and the Solheim Cup. Still, he said even taking that out, viewership is up five to six percent.

"I don't know a lot of other sports or a lot of other leagues that are talking about viewership increases for four or five years in a row," he said.

Lexi bounces back: Lexi Thompson, one of the five players controlling their destiny for $1 million, actually had to tee off No. 10 for the second round after shooting 1 under in the first.

Thompson, who is from Coral Springs, more than steadied herself, though, firing a 5-under 67 and is tied for 12th. She played the final 13 holes in 7 under after bogeying two of her first three.

"I hit a few really errant shots in the beginning," Thompson said. "It wasn't a good start to the round. Just tried to stay positive and find something that could work for the last 14, 15 holes."

Southwest Florida golf: Annika, Lexi play in Immokalee Foundation charity event

Martin right there: Naples resident Mo Martin, who plays out of The Club Pelican Bay, feels like she's close to a really low round. She's got the good start part of that down.

Thursday she was 3 under after five holes and shot a 70. Friday, she was 3 under after 9, but parred the rest of the way. Martin is tied for 17th at 5 under.

"It's just nice to execute what I plan on doing," she said. "That's the name of the game here. I'm executing well. It would be nice to just hit the potential that I feel like I've had the whole season."

Henderson lingering: Brooke Henderson is as far from Canada as she can get and still be in the United States. But she's right at home.

"There are a few places in the U.S. the Canadians seem to bunch together, and this is one of them," she said. "It's really cool to have that many people down here in Naples supporting me and cheering me on."

Henderson birdied the last two holes to salvage a 70 and is tied for 25th.

“To be honest, I haven’t really figured this course out the last few years, but I feel like going into to this year I am just striking it pretty good,” said the 31-year-old Swede. “I’ve been hitting it good off the tee for the last few weeks. That’s really what is setting me up for not really making any mistakes out there.”

Rolex Awards: You could forgive Katherine Kirk and Tiffany Joh if they walked around Friday.

The two popular players, known as being among the friendliest and most compassionate players on the LPGA Tour, received the two most significant non-playing awards presented annually Thursday night at the Rolex LPGA Awards dinner at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort.

Kirk is the recipient of the 2017 William and Mousie Powell Award, given annually to an LPGA member, who in the opinion of her playing peers, by her behavior and deeds, best exemplifies the ideals and values of the Tour.

Joh received the Heather Farr Perseverance Award, which honors an LPGA player who, through her dedication and love of the game, demonstrated determination, perseverance and spirit in fulfilling her goals as a player.

“Some have people asked me if I feel an obligation to give back to the game,” Kirk said. “I rather think of it as a privilege.”

Kirk, a native of Australia who now makes her home in Kansas, won the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic in July for her first win since 2010. She is a longtime supporter of Golf Fore Africa, a charitable organization run by King, which brings clean drinking water to impoverished areas of Africa.

“I’m one of the older players and when younger peers select you it makes you feel honored,” Kirk said.

In January, Joh learned she had cancer and underwent surgery to remove a malignant melanoma lesion from her scalp, later receiving word that the cancer was isolated to that area. Joh was back on the golf course within days of the surgery.

“During the most nerve-wracking moments, it was my friends and the people of this Tour that came through and offered support and encouragement,” Joh said.

The LPGA established the award in 1994 to celebrate the life of Farr, a Tour player who died in 1993 following a four-and-a-half-year battle with breast cancer. Past winners include Terry-Jo Myers of Fort Myers, Beth Daniel, Se Ri Pak, Sophie Gustafason and Ariya Jutanugarn.

Alex joins board: Marina Alex experienced a new assignment this week, attending her first meeting as a member of the LPGA Board of Directors.

Alex, a two-time first team All-American at Vanderbilt, started a two year term as a player director along with new independent directors Jon Iwata, chief brand officer with IBM, and Tom Schoewe, retired chief financial officer at Walmart.

Alex is not allowing the new assignment to affect her play, entering the third round 5 under par and tied for 17th.

“This will allow me to use my off time in a very constructive manner and help the LPGA continue the incredible path we’ve been on with Mike Whan the last few years,” Alex said.

Other LPGA players directors in 2018 include Vicki Goetze-Ackerman (President), Austin Ernst, Christina Kim, Gerina Piller, Morgan Pressel and Sarah Jane Smith.

Pettersen survives: Pettersen charged up the leaderboard but fell back before recovering at theend. She made three birdies and an eagle on her opening nine to make the turn at 5-under 31 and within one stroke of leader Sung Hyun Park.

She bogeyed Nos. 13 and 14, then double-bogeyed No. 15. She birdied 18 to stay in striking distance.

“Obviously nice to finish with a birdie, but just three really bad drives that puts me completely out of position. I got screwed on one shot after another,” said Pettersen, a 15-time LPGA Tour winner. “Not the best back nine, but still only halfway there. It was nice to go out this morning and kind of play good, be aggressive, and kind of see shots being executed the way you imagine them.”

Chip shots: Saturday is Family Day, from 1 to 5 p.m. Activities from the Naples Zoo, Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples and B1039 FM. Food trucks (Classic Cuban, Red Roc Cravings and The Brit Pit) and games will also be onsite. Live music from the High Tides will begin immediately following play. Children 17 and under get in free with a ticketed adult. ... Spectators are encouraged to wear pink for Bright Pink Day, supporting the nonprofit that is focused on prevention and early detection of breast and ovarian cancer. ... Saturday's PNC Family Clinic, which required advanced registration, is full. The clinic is from 2:30 to 5 p.m. ...  

Correspondent Dave Kempton contributed to this article.