We’ve come to the final event of the PGA Tour regular season. The FedEx Cup Playoffs are next up, and to get into those you need to be in the top 70 of the season-long points list. And this is the last opportunity to get points and secure your spot for the post-season.
The tournament is the Wyndham Championship, held at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina. As usual, the tournament consists of two rounds Thursday and Friday, with the top 70 making the cut and playing the final two rounds over the weekend. And you only get FedEx Cup points if you make the weekend. There are a few former Bulldogs who need to do just that.
Last week Kevin Kisner had one of his best finishes the last couple of years with a T28 at the 3M Open, but that moved him to 184th place. That is unfortunately mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. The same can be said of Brendon Todd. He’s had a poor 24 months, and is all the way down to 227th.
Greyson Sigg did get a T39 last week, yet lost 3 spots down to 160th (thanks to guys below him getting a high finish). The only way to move into the top 70 for the playoffs is to win the Wyndham this week. That would be a tall order, considering he’s never had a top 3 finish in his 5 years on Tour.
Will Chandler is in the same boat considering he’s 159th in points. Only a win Sunday keeps him playing.
There are a few ‘Dawgs who just need a solid week to keep their hopes alive:
Keith Mitchell is in 72nd place and will need a cashmere-smooth T58 or better to make the playoffs.
Chris Kirk is one spot behind in 73rd and needs at least a solo 43rd or better.
Davis Thompson sits in 78th, so he will need a tie for 21st, or better, if he wants to make the playoffs. In his 3 years on Tour, he has 25 top 25 finishes, 8 top 10s, and a win so this is entirely doable.
That was the bad and not so bad news. The good news is that this season’s points list dictates that those in 57th or better position are mathematically guaranteed to make at least the first round of the playoffs. And that includes some of the boys from Athens:
Brian Harman is 19th. He isn’t guaranteed the 2nd round due to the bonus points available in the post-season, but he’s close.
Harris English is 6th in points, Russell Henley in 4th, and Sepp Straka is 3rd. All had Tour wins this season plus a lot of high finishes, and they’re virtually locks for both Memphis and the 2nd round at the BMW in Maryland.
The tournament will be broadcast by CBS (and PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ if you so choose) with normal viewing windows each afternoon. A significant sidenote is that this will be the last official broadcast by Ian Baker-Finch who is retiring after this week. You might not be familiar with “Finchie” but he was a very good player in the 80’s and 90’s, evidenced by his British Open win in 1991. Possibly just as famously developed a case of the yips with his golf swing and retired from play at a young-ish age. But he made a perfect transition to television, and I’ve enjoyed his measured, sometimes mirthful, analysis the last 20 years.
In summary, 4 former Bulldogs will be in the playoffs, and there’s a more that realistic chance 3 more will qualify, plus 2 others that can make it with a Hail Mary. That’s always cool to see. I hope you enjoy the last few meaningful golf tourneys before the pigskin begins. And as always…
GO ‘DAWGS!!!