In a bid to stir up some excitement for the International Crown's return, Hanwha LifePlus is doling out foam fingers like they're going out of style. But after Team USA’s sweeping victories in the first three days, it might seem the fate of the tournament is already decided.

The good vibes started early on Thursday, with Yealimi Noh and Angel Yin scoring a 5-and-4 win over the People’s Republic of China's Ruoning Yin and Yan Liu. Yealimi Noh, with a special connection to Korea, was never supposed to represent the Stars and Stripes, by the way. That mantle was going to Nelly Korda. But a cruel twist of fate (for Korda) offered Noh the debut chance. Can you guess the reason?

Well, check out the actual answer here.

Noh is definitely proving to be an asset. Even though she and Yin faltered a little on the third day, they secured a tie against Australia’s Minjee Lee and Stephanie Kyriacou. Lauren Coughlin and Lilia Vu had a better day, winning against Hannah Green and Grace Kim, 5-and-4. With that, the quartet is the only undefeated team in the event with five and a half points.

The Stars and Stripes have a chance to register their first win since 2016. Japan will be the USA’s opponent in the semifinals. Meanwhile, the ‘Rest of the World’ team, consisting of Lydia Ko, Brooke Henderson, Charley Hull, and Wei-Ling Hsu, will face Australia.

Both the semifinals will start on Sunday morning. Then the two finalists will go head-to-head in the afternoon, featuring one foursome and two singles matches. Yes, the competition might be fierce, but we’re liking Team USA’s chances here.

Something’s amiss at the Bank of Utah Championship this week. Peculiarly so. Max Homa got badly injured. Two players withdrew. And two rounds have been suspended. First off, Homa shot a bogey-free 5-under 66 yesterday to jump right into contention. But the highlight was his hopping and limping while wincing in pain.

On the 12th green, it became so severe that Homa almost had to use his club as a walking stick. He tried his best to hide the pain, but the grimace on his face while receiving treatment tells you how badly it hurt.

The six-time PGA Tour winner later explained it had to do with bone spurs on the right ankle that had “terrible dorsiflexion.” The rocky terrain of Black Desert worsened the matter. Meanwhile, Aldrich Potgieter shot an even-par 71 on Thursday before abruptly withdrawing from the second round. Reports of LIV Golf offers are swirling around him.

But his reason for WD was entirely different — and you WILL definitely sympathize with the 21-year-old star. Vince Covello also pulled out just hours before the second round. We don’t yet know why, but his first round was a mess (10-over 81).

Oh, and the second round was suspended (again) due to darkness. Not surprising considering the sunset time, 6:40 p.m. at Ivins these days. Interestingly, the Utah course greenkeepers utilize the long night to keep the course tip-top for the next round. Thanks to self-driven mowers — watch these little robotic beasts in action here. Nevertheless, for 51 pros, who will have to complete the second round on Saturday, it’ll be a grueling moving day.

Quite a way to enter the weekend in Utah!

Nothing makes amateurs more envious than watching the pros pull off massive backspin. Like the one we saw from Kevin Roy yesterday at Black Desert. Just watch the ball spin back to the hole as if pulled by a string. It’s indeed tricky, but here is how you can get the basics right:

Lastly, please make sure the clubface is dry and clean. Only then can you think of adding backspin. And once you’ve got a natural feel for it, try more advanced tips from here:

Sometimes, the world can feel like it's coming undone. A fellow golf aficionado, going by the username ‘skaleywags’ on Reddit, went through what you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. They lost everything in a house fire, including their pup. Left in limbo, golf became a succor for existence. In their words: “Sometimes it takes beating balls at 3 am cause sleep just doesn't work.” Yet, there's still hope to be found. Let the scorecard tell you how much golf helps them cope with the tragedy.

We’ve seen this before in pro golf, too. Tiger honoring his dad after the 2006 Open triumph. Camilo Villegas dedicating his 2023 Butterfield Bermuda victory to his late daughter, Mia. Or, Erik van Rooyen winning for his friend. These are the moments when golf becomes more than just a game.