Fowler already has T-2 and T-6 finishes this season. Can he grab his first Tour win since 2019 this week?
A loaded field consisting of 10 of the world’s top 19 players has made its way to the California desert for the American Express at PGA West.
World No. 2 Scottie Scheffler and No. 4 Jon Rahm are the two betting favorites while Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele and Will Zalatoris are the other top 10 players set to tee it up Thursday.
With a three-course rotation used over the first three rounds, the cut will be made after 54 holes. Pete Dye’s Stadium Course will host the final round Sunday.
NAPLES, Florida — It’s safe to say Nelly Korda made a strong impression Friday at Tiburon Golf Club.
For the first time in the event’s history, the QBE Shootout has two women in the field: Lexi Thompson and Korda. Thompson has played before, but Korda is making her appearance, playing with Denny McCarthy.
They played alongside Max Homa and Kevin Kisner during Friday’s first round, which was a scramble format. Korda and McCarthy are tied for fourth at 12 under heading into Saturday’s modified alternate shot portion.
Homa and Kisner, who are tied for second at 14 under, were asked about seeing Korda play in person for the first time. They were full of praise, both players saying they talked about her all day.
Here’s a great exchange between Homa and Kisner talking about Korda.
Kisner: “I think I called her the Tiger Woods of the LPGA Tour at one point. And then through about seven or eight holes I said she’s hit every shot just like she wants to for eight holes. Like does she hit a bad shot? I have no idea, I’ve never seen her hit a bad shot. We were laughing all day.”
Homa: “It was a little bit outrageous.”
Kisner: “She drove it down the middle.”
Homa: “She drove it down the middle on every hole, she almost hit the pin three times, hit it to like two inches on one par 4, then from way too far that next one, she almost hit the pin.”
Kisner: “Twenty-footer.”
Homa: “And chipped it great, so I don’t know how she does not win every week. It’s a testament to these other ladies that anyone can even sniff beating her because that was wildly impressive.”
Kisner: “I asked her out there if she wins every tournament.”
Homa: “She said no.”
Kisner: “She said no. I’m like, ‘I don’t believe you.'”
Homa: “Up for debate. She said Lydia gets them all. I think they would have a nice battle.”
“It was a little bit outrageous.”@K_Kisner and @MaxHoma23 explain what it was like to watch @NellyKorda up close and personal.
Denny McCarthy has four straight top-20 finishes in Jackson, including two top 10s.
After an exciting, and let’s be honest, closer Presidents Cup than expected, the PGA Tour returns to its regularly scheduled programming at the Sanderson Farms Championship.
Defending champion Sam Burns, who may still be fending off the victory hangover from Quail Hollow Club, is the betting favorite at +1000. Sahith Theegala, who grabbed a top-6 finish at the Fortinet Championship to open the new season, is next in line at +2000, as are Russell Henley, Denny McCarthy and J.T. Poston.
The winner at the end of the week at The Country Club of Jackson in Jackson, Mississippi, will earn 500 FedEx Cup points and over $1.4 million.
The Country Club of Jackson | Par 72 | 7,461 yards | Bermuda greens
The Country Club of Jackson hosts the PGA Tour’s Sanderson Farms Championship. (Photo by Joe Ellis/The Mississippi Clarion Ledger)
Key stats
Total driving
Strokes Gained: Putting: Bermuda
Data Golf Information
Course Fit (compares golf courses based on the degree to which different golfer attributes — such as driving distance — to predict who performs well at each course – DataGolf): 1. Atunyote Club, 2. Corales Golf Club, 3. Torrey Pines (North)
Percent chance to win (based on course history, fit, trending, etc.): 1. Sam Burns (5.4 percent), 2. Taylor Montgomery (4.2 percent), 3. Wyndham Clark (2.8 percent)
MEMPHIS, Tenn – Denny McCarthy began the final round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship in fine position on the crowded leaderboard.
Early into play Sunday, however, the 29-year-old, who is still in search of his first win on Tour, found himself in quite an unconventional position.
McCarthy’s 253-yard drive off the tee on No. 2 at TPC Southwind in Memphis struck a spectator who was seated in a foldout lawnchair. The ball eventually settled in the cupholder. By rule, McCarthy was allowed to take a straight drop. His next shot left him with a 32-foot, 9-inch putt, which he drained to birdie the hole.
It was McCarthy’s second of three straight birdies to start the round, as he sat at 11-under through four holes, two strokes behind the leader, J.J. Spaun.
Denny McCarthy and Sepp Straka are just a few of the underdog players at the top of the leaderboard.
MEMPHIS — Denny McCarthy took out a Sharpie, signed his two golf balls and handed them to Lisa Redley and Mike Esposito. They were FedEx St. Jude Championship volunteers who walked with McCarthy the entire second round Friday.
Redley was the scoring marker, having switched with someone to be with this group because she knew the mother of Tennessee resident Scott Stallings. Esposito was the standard-bearer, updating McCarthy’s score for the galleries as he rocketed into TPC Southwind’s consciousness.
Neither had any idea who McCarthy was until about four hours earlier.
“Who knew I’d be with the leader,” Redley said with a laugh after McCarthy entered the weekend at 9-under, a lead that held briefly on another afternoon dominated largely by names only the most dedicated of golf fans had heard of before.
Denny McCarthy waves to the crowd during the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee, Friday, August 12, 2022.
The first FedEx Cup playoff event here is set up to produce a wide-open and compelling weekend of action, so long as you’ve got Google ready to search the names of the golfers involved.
For three years of World Golf Championships played in Memphis, the biggest names in the sport littered the leaderboard in Memphis. Brooks Koepka outdueled Rory McIlroy in 2019. Justin Thomas won in 2020. Bryson DeChambeau was in contention on the back nine last year, when Abraham Ancer won his first PGA Tour event.
But this is largely becoming the tournament of McCarthy and Sepp Straka and Brian Harman, with a few notable exceptions.
It could be due to the odd decision by the PGA Tour to allow lift, clean and play conditions despite no rain in the forecast Friday, therefore making scoring conditions ideal. It could be the absence of the LIV Golf series defections like Dustin Johnson, Koepka and DeChambeau. It could be the bigger field and the lack of European Tour golfers due to the tournament’s new designation as a playoff event.
Whatever the case may be, given the threat facing the PGA Tour these days, it’s for the best if the trend changes. If someone the Tour is pushing as one of its new stars to combat this Saudi-funded competition makes a push during the third round and moves into contention for Sunday.
In the three years since the PGA Tour switched its FedEx Cup playoffs format, the eventual winner of the FedEx Cup did not finish worse than a tie for 11th place in the former Northern Trust Open that the FedEx St. Jude Championship replaced on the schedule this year.
But of all years, this is the one the PGA Tour needs a recognizable name holding up its FedEx Cup trophy. To give tangible proof that its product is just fine without the figures who bolted for more money in LIV.
Tony Finau fits the bill. So does Will Zalatoris or Sam Burns or Max Homa.
There is, of course, a certain charm to watching a golfer get his first PGA Tour win, or perhaps his first moment in the spotlight. The stories can be endearing. It happened many times at the old FedEx St. Jude Classic, even if the lack of star power at those tournaments were exactly why FedEx pushed so hard to elevate the Memphis PGA Tour stop beyond its previous status.
Take Trey Mullinax, a Birmingham, Alabama, native in contention as Friday wore on. As he walked onto the practice green before his round, a group of men started shouting loudly for him and not Thomas, a fellow University of Alabama product standing beside him.
Mullinax looked over and waved, until he realized who he was waving at. It was his cousins goofing on him.
“He looked over like, ‘Those idiots again,’” Maddux Mullinax said laughing. “We’ve also been cheering for Brandon Wu in his group. He’s got no fans here and it’s sad.”
Rory McIlroy hits from the fairway during the second-round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022, at TPC Southwind in Memphis.
Rory McIlroy had plenty, though, despite another rocky round at TPC Southwind. As he walked off the 18th green, still with nine holes to play because he began his round on No. 9, a few fans yelled out from the grandstand behind the green, “We love you, Rory.”
The biggest star in golf and the face of the PGA Tour’s fight against LIV Golf then raised his putter in the air to acknowledge them and thanked all the fans who had gathered on the rope line.
It was as if he already knew this would be his last time at No. 18 at this year, a year in which the winner of this tournament might also need an introduction to most of the people watching.
You can reach Commercial Appeal columnist Mark Giannotto via email at mgiannotto@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter: @mgiannotto
Denny McCarthy has already posted an early candidate for shot of the day.
Denny McCarthy has already posted an early candidate for shot of the day during the second round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
His eagle on the sixth hole at TPC Southwind gave him the outright lead (9 unde). McCarthy’s second shot from 153 yards out on the par 4 sailed just past the flagstick and one-hopped back into the hole. McCarthy is the only golfer so far to eagle the sixth hole.
McCarthy is ranked No. 43 in the FedEx Cup standings, and his highest finish this season was tied for fifth at The Memorial Tournament presented by Workday.
He was tied for first with Sahith Theegala early Friday morning.
A hole-out eagle to take the lead 💪@_DennyMcCarthy is -5 thru 6 holes today.
It’s time for the final event of the 2021-22 PGA Tour regular season.
The Wyndham Championship, played at Sedgefield Country Club, is the last opportunity for players on the bubble to earn their way into the postseason for a chance to reach the Tour Championship at East Lake.
Kevin Kisner is the defending champion, but coming off a missed cut at the Rocket Mortgage Classic is not one of the betting favorites (+4000). That honor goes to Shane Lowry and Will Zalatoris (+1500), who have both been close to winning several times this season.
Other big names in the field include Sungjae Im, Webb Simpson, Billy Horschel, Corey Conners, Adam Scott and Tyrrell Hatton.
Sedgefield Country Club | Par 70 | 7,131 yards | Donald Ross design
The Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Chris Seward/Associated Press)
Key statistics
Strokes Gained: Approach
Driving accuracy
Data Golf Information
Course Fit (compares golf courses based on the degree to which different golfer attributes — such as driving distance — to predict who performs well at each course – DataGolf): 1. TPC Sawgrass, 2. TPC Potomac, 3. TPC River Highlands
Trending: 1. Will Zalatoris (last three starts: MC, T-28, T-20), 2. Keith Mitchell (T-6, T-36, MC), 3. Taylor Pendrith (T-13, T-11, T-2)
Percent chance to win (based on course history, fit, trending, etc.): 1. Sungjae Im (6.3 percent), 2. Shane Lowry (5.7 percent), 3. Billy Horschel (5 percent)
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Is this the week Cameron Young can break through for his first win?
The 2022 FedEx Cup playoffs are officially on the horizon as players are down to their last two opportunities to earn their way into the postseason.
This week, the PGA Tour is in Detroit for the Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club, a track designed by Donald Ross.
After a star-less event at the 3M Open, the RMC features some of the Tour’s best talent.
Patrick Cantlay is the betting favorite at +1000 with last week’s winner, Tony Finau, and Will Zalatoris next in line at +1500. Coming off a T-16 at the 3M, defending champion Cam Davis sits at +3000 to repeat.
Golf course
Detroit Golf Club | Par 72 | 7,370 yards | Donald Ross design
A general view of the Detroit Golf Logo at the Detroit Golf Club during the practice session for the Rocket Mortgage Classic on June 30, 2020, in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
Key statistics
Birdies or better percentage
Par 4s (350-400)
Data Golf Information
Course Fit (compares golf courses based on the degree to which different golfer attributes — such as driving distance — to predict who performs well at each course – DataGolf): 1. Albany, 2. CordeValle GC, 3. LaCantera GC
Trending: 1. Tony Finau (last three starts: T-13, T-28, 1), 2. Patrick Cantlay (T-13, T-4, T-8), 3. Will Zalatoris (T-2, MC, T-28)
Percent chance to win (based on course history, fit, trending, etc.): 1. Patrick Cantlay (8 percent), 2. Will Zalatoris (6 percent), 3. Tony Finau (4.9 percent)
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In a star-less field, who can take advantage of the opportunity?
Before the best players in the world head across the pond for a few weeks of links golf, a field of PGA Tour pros is in Silvis, Illinois, for the John Deere Classic.
Webb Simpson, who’s coming off a tie for 13th at the Travelers Championship, enters the week as the betting favorite at +1300. Adam Hadwin follows him at +1500 while Sahith Theegala, who suffered heartbreak once again, this time in Cromwell, Connecticut, sits at +2000.
Lucas Glover is the defending champion and enters with four straight made cuts, including a T-23 at the PGA Championship.
Let’s take a look at some names to target this week.
Golf course
TPC Deere Run | Par 71 | 7,289 yards
A view of the second hole with the Rock River in the background at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois. Photo by Brian Spurlock/USA TODAY Sports
Key statistics
Birdies. Players need to make a lot of birdies if they want a shot at contending. The average winning score over the last five playings of the JDC is 21.4 under. So, let’s target players with great par 4 scoring averages and proximity to the hole.
Data Golf Information
Course Fit (compares golf courses based on the degree to which different golfer attributes — such as driving distance — to predict who performs well at each course – DataGolf): 1. The Summit Club, 2. East Lakes Golf Club, 3. Annandale GC
Percent chance to win (based on course history, fit, trending, etc.): 1. Charles Howell III (3.6 percent), 2. Adam Hadwin (3.4 percent), 3. Webb Simpson (3.3 percent)
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“This is one (tournament) that I’ve had circled on my calendar for a little while.”
When he was 12 or 13, Denny McCarthy tackled for the first time one of the toughest golf courses in his area – TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm north of Washington, D.C.
He got the better of the rugged layout.
Playing from a collection of forward tees – the course is still burdensome from there – the youngster broke par.
“I shot like 1‑under 70 and it was like my best round ever on a golf course, so I remember I do have that nice memory,” McCarthy said Tuesday. “I know it was on the older course, but I remember it felt like that round, it was like I knew I was going to play a hard golf course and I treated it like a U.S. Open and I played well that day. So that was a nice feeling as a young kid to know that I could play a hard golf course well.”
McCarthy is back at TPC Potomac this week for the Wells Fargo Championship, which has been relocated from Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, this year because that course is hosting the upcoming Presidents Cup. McCarthy said he played TPC Potomac about a half-dozen times before the redo and another dozen times afterward. While he admits he doesn’t remember a whole lot of the course, it does provide some familiar footing that could give him an edge.
In addition to that mojo, McCarthy tossed in unique prep before Thursday’s first round. The former golf and basketball standout at nearby Georgetown Preparatory School headed to the NBA’s Washington Wizards practice facility on Tuesday for a shootaround and a possible three-point contest.
“This is one (tournament) that I’ve had circled on my calendar for a little while,” said McCarthy, 29, who also was a two-time All-American in golf at the University of Virginia. “It will be nice to have a crowd out here Thursday and Friday. Hopefully, I can make some noise and play well on the weekend and maybe gather a few more people on the weekend would be pretty cool.”
McCarthy also feels good about his golf game. While the results haven’t been to his liking of late – he’s ranked 157th in the world and looking for his first PGA Tour title – he is more upbeat than discouraged.
He’s only missed one cut in his last 14 starts and has five top 15s. He also remains one of the game’s best putters as he’s ranked in the top 20 in Strokes Gained: Putting and Total Putting.
Denny McCarthy lines up a putt while on the green at the ninth hole during the second round of the Valero Texas Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
“I haven’t really had many great results lately, but that doesn’t mean my game’s not in a good spot,” said McCarthy, who now lives in Florida. “I played all four Florida events, made all those cuts. Got caught in a few of the bad waves, which is obviously going to happen. I’ve still been playing good golf.
“I haven’t seen my name up top as much as I would have liked, but I’m still working on the right things. And my game feels really good and I’m starting to hit it really well to give myself a lot of looks. I’ve still been putting well, too, I just haven’t really made as much as I’m used to seeing go in, but I know if I just keep doing what I’m doing, good things are right around the corner.”
