Tag: Korn Ferry Tour

Like 420-yard bombs? You’re gonna love Brandon Matthews, who is in this week’s 3M Open field

“If I wasn’t here to win a golf tournament, I need to figure out a different profession.”

Brandon Matthews may not be a name you’re aware of, but his style of play is something that draws eyeballs.

He’s known for his driver, but more importantly, he’s known for the numbers he can put up with the big stick.

For example, at The Ascendant, a Korn Ferry Tour tournament held at the beginning of July, Matthews smashed a drive that went 412 yards. His driving distance average this season on the KFT is 320 yards.

You may be thinking, so what? Cameron Champ averages 320.2 yards. Rory McIlroy averages over 319. Well, Matthews is so long he isn’t able to hit driver as much as he would like.

He was asked about that during his Tuesday press conference before the start of this week’s 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities.

“Yeah, so driver’s definitely going to be in the bag, be able to hit it a few times out here. A lot of these holes where I am going to hit driver, it sets up really nice for my eye. It’s going to be nice to hit it a few times this week for sure,” he said when asked if driver has a place in the bag this week.

“It’s going to be great, but also to that point, it’s also an advantage when I can hit 3-iron, 2-iron, 3-wood, whatever it is up to the points where some guys are hitting a driver,” he said. “Using my length to an advantage in the proper way is kind of how I look at it where I get my advantage.”

Matthews earned his 2023 PGA Tour card earlier this year, as well as a spot in the 2022 U.S. Open field where he’d eventually make it to the weekend and finish 60th.

“It was really cool. You know, teeing off afternoon on a Saturday in my first major was pretty great,” he said when asked about his experience at The Country Club. “Birdied the first hole, so I was in contention on an afternoon on a Saturday of my first major, so gave me a lot of confidence. Unfortunately, you know, things kind of didn’t go my way from there. The mental side kind of left a little bit and doing that in a U.S. Open doesn’t really help a lot coming down the stretch. But it was a great experience.”

Two of the last three winners of the 3M Open can be classified as bombers: Cameron Champ and Matthew Wolff. The year Wolff won, DeChambeau was one of the runner-ups.

“It definitely gives me confidence to see past champions here and who’s played well,” Matthews said. “Again, excited for the opportunity, looking forward to competing on this golf course, on a golf course where longer hitters are at a slight advantage.”

Over the last month and a half on the KFT, Matthews has put together a great stretch of golf finishing inside the top 15 in three of his last four starts including a T-3 at The Ascendant two weeks ago.

He withdrew from his last start after three rounds.

And, despite the tougher competition, he sounds confident in his game.

“I constantly say that if I — if I’m at a golf tournament, I’m not here to make a cut, I’m not here to, you know, slightly contend or finish high. If I wasn’t here to win a golf tournament, I need to figure out a different profession.”

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Korn Ferry Tour announces changes, record 30 PGA Tour cards available

Beginning next year, 30 PGA Tour cards will be awarded to the top players on the Korn Ferry Tour Points List at season’s end.

When PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan announced significant changes coming to the future Tour schedule, he failed to mention how the Korn Ferry Tour, the primary feeder system to the big leagues, would be impacted.

On Tuesday, those changes were revealed. Beginning next year, 30 PGA Tour cards will be awarded to the top players on the Korn Ferry Tour Points List at season’s end. KFT President Alex Baldwin touted the increase of five PGA Tour cards from 25 as “yet another sign our mission to produce the next generation of PGA Tour stars is working.”

The additional five PGA Tour cards available via the Korn Ferry Tour were announced in concert with widespread changes to the PGA Tour’s qualification process, including that 10 Tour cards would be awarded to the top performers on the DP World Tour.

For the first time in a decade, Q-School will offer PGA Tour status to the top five finishers and ties.

“Bringing back the awarding of PGA Tour cards at Q-School will be exciting for our fans, membership, and potential new membership,” Baldwin added. The Tour cards available via Q-School and the DP World Tour will first be awarded in 2023 for the 2024 PGA Tour season.

That means the Korn Ferry Tour Finals will no longer be a competition for Tour cards between the top 75 on the Korn Ferry Tour and Nos. 126-200 in the FedExCup standings. Beginning in 2023, the four-event Korn Ferry Tour Finals will serve as the culmination of the Korn Ferry Tour season, where members will compete for increased purses and points allocations. The four Finals events will feature $1.5 million purses and award 600 points to each winner. The other 22 events on the schedule will have a minimum purse of $1 million and award 500 points to winners. The 2023 Korn Ferry Tour season is scheduled to run from January to October.

“The additional Tour cards available and reimagined Korn Ferry Tour Finals will properly reward more players for season-long success,” Baldwin said. “Stretching our season into October while maintaining a 26-event schedule will allow us to compose the best possible tournament calendar with natural breaks, peak golf course conditions, as well as providing graduates with time to prepare for their transition to the PGA Tour.”

One nice perk will stay the same: the No. 1 player on the 2023 Korn Ferry Tour Points List will continue to earn an exemption into the following season’s Players Championship, as well as the following season’s U.S. Open Championship.

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Former Texas star Pierceson Coody earns first Korn Ferry Tour win in just his third start

Coody didn’t take long to earn his first professional win.

Three starts into his professional career and Pierceson Coody is already a winner.

Just a month after helping lead Texas to the team title at the NCAA Championship, Coody ran away to win the Korn Ferry Tour’s 2022 Live and Work in Maine Open at 20 under, five shots clear of runner-up Jacob Bergeron. The former Longhorn shot a 5-under 66 in the final round at Falmouth Country Club for his fourth round in the 60s of the week (69-62-67).

Nelson Ledesma, Will Gordon, Fabian Gomez and amateur Cole Anderson finished T-3 at 14 under. Zach Sucher shot the low round of the day, a 7-under 64, to climb into seventh at 12 under.

Coody finished in the top five of the final 2022 PGA Tour University standings to receive Korn Ferry Tour membership for the rest of this season, starting with the BMW Charity Pro-Am earlier this month. The Plano, Texas, native missed the cut at the BMW, then finished T-4 last week at the 2022 Wichita Open.

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Why isn’t Ted Scott on Scottie Scheffler’s bag this week in Canada? He’s got a great excuse

Instead of carrying Scottie Scheffler’s bag this week in Canada, Ted Scott is teeing it up on the Korn Ferry Tour.

Scottie Scheffler battled hard to shoot 3-under 67 on Friday in Canada. The world No. 1 and reigning Masters champion is doing so with Jordan Guilford as his caddie this week at the RBC Canadian Open.

Asked in an interview after the round if his regular bagman Ted Scott would be back in action next week at the U.S. Open, Scheffler was quick to say, “Yeah. He’s OK. He’s all right.”

Scott, the veteran looper who was on Scheffler’s bag for his third green jacket winner, is doing better than all right and there’s a good reason why he isn’t north of the border – he’s competing in the Korn Ferry Tour’s BMW Charity Pro-Am in Greenville, South Carolina this week.

Scott, a former mini-tour pro and golf coach, describes his game as “the leader in other fairways hit” in his Twitter profile. He enjoyed some time behind the wheel on a race track ahead of the tournament and is listed as a “celebrity” amateur in the field.

Scott has been a caddie for 21 years, primarily with Bubba Watson, including for his wins at the 2012 and 2014 Masters. They split late last year and Scott joined Scheffler after the Ryder Cup at the RSM Classic. Scheffler, who was winless on the PGA Tour until February, has won four times in his last 10 starts.

Scheffler’s substitute caddie has worked for Andrew Putnam and Beau Hossler in the past, and Scheffler used him at two fall events before hooking up with Scott. Scheffler made it clear it’s a one-week gig.

For Scott, he’s soaking up the experience including having a caddie at his disposal.

“We were picking on him on the last hole,” Scott told PGATour.com, “because I said to him, ‘Hey, this is the one chance I have to get to have somebody get the pin out.’ He’s over there just hanging out with my buddy. ‘Like, dude, come over and get the pin out. I don’t want to touch this thing.’ ”

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With clock ticking, Korn Ferry Tour player leaves clubs at airport to make tee time, borrows set from pro

James Nicholas arrived at this week’s Korn Ferry Tour event minutes before his tee time after leaving clubs at the airport.

James Nicholas had a whirlwind morning before teeing off in the Korn Ferry Tour’s AdventHealth Championship in Kansas City, Missouri.

The former Yale star who played both golf and football for the Ivy League school arrived at Blue Hills Country Club just minutes before his tee time. He had been an alternate and was not expected to make it into the field, but somehow earned a berth through a number of WD’s. Since his flight time cut things oh-so-close, Nicholas left his clubs behind at baggage claim and decided to immediately leave the airport and head to the course.

Upon arrival, Nicholas jumped out of the car and quickly asked officials if they had an extra set, shoes, and even a glove. Luckily for him, the club pro let him borrow his sticks and he was off.

Through 15 holes Thursday, he is 3 over. He’s made just one KFT start this season, the Astrata Golf Championship, and he missed the cut.

Watch his arrival here:

Nicholas posted these stories to his Instagram Wednesday explaining the hectic situation.

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Monday qualifier went from job as trash porter to near the top of the AT&T Byron Nelson heap

The former Korn Ferry Tour player lit up TPC Craig Ranch on Thursday, posting a 7-under 65.

McKINNEY, Texas — The weather was a little sticky, the pace of play wasn’t the greatest and the crowds were fairly paltry, but Kyle Wilshire had a pretty great day on Thursday.

How could he not? The former University of Central Florida star is less than two years removed from a job as a trash porter — collecting the trash at an apartment complex — all because it fit his practice schedule.

And after earning a berth in a PGA Tour event for just the third time through Monday qualifying, the former Korn Ferry Tour player lit up TPC Craig Ranch on Thursday, posting a 7-under 65 to sit near the top of the leaderboard after the first day of play. While Harry Higgs, Xander Schauffele, Danny Willett and others failed to get under par at TPC Craig Ranch, Wilshire finished with birdies on four of his final five holes to settle into a comfortable spot.

After a stellar college career in which he helped UCF to a conference title in 2010-11, a pair of NCAA Regional appearances and two NCAA Championship appearances, Wilshire spent time on the Mackenzie Tour and had 22 starts on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2017. He’s battled some injuries, including multiple knee surgeries, but never wavered from the belief that he could play with the world’s best.

“I just always kind of told myself that you get out what you put in, and when I was doing my job it wasn’t fun, but I made the most of it and I kind of turned it into an opportunity to get better and just tried to have the right mindset,” he said. “I think that’s what I have done now. The rest of my life is in order and I’m in a good spot and I’m just trying to take the advantage of the opportunities I have.”

Byron Nelson: PGA Tour Live on ESPN+

Wilshire missed the cut at the RSM Classic, but shot an admirable 1 over through two days. In his only other start — at the 2021 Butterfield Bermuda Championship — he finished tied for 62nd. He’s currently ranked 1,616, according to the Official World Golf Ranking, but has continued to work on his game through the pandemic, even if it meant taking an often difficult job.

“My girlfriend’s apartment complex was advertising a place for some help in the evening times, and COVID there was nothing really going on other than a small mini-tour in Florida,” he said. “I didn’t really want to be in an office job. I wanted to continue to work on my game, and this was in the evening times from 6 sometimes to 11 at night.

“It wasn’t the most glamorous job, but I wouldn’t say it humbled me, but allowed me to work on my game. I did it for four months. It kept me in good shape and I just think it made me a little tougher. Made me just appreciate the opportunity to play.”

And that’s why, even with scorching temperatures in North Texas, Wilshire was smiling as he finished his round. After following a road that’s taken multiple twists and turns, he’s intent on savoring every minute of his time on the big stage. No matter how long it lasts.

“When you’re out here it’s just not taking things for granted. When you play on the PGA Tour, you’re driving a brand new Cadillac this week. You’re eating the best food, it’s the best facilities. You got club companies taking care of you. I’ve never had that before,” he said.

“I just always hoped I’d get to this level and believed that I could. The journey has been a little bit different than a lot of people, but I’m blessed to be here.”

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Despite bogey on 18, Byeong Hun An wins Lecom Suncoast Classic on Korn Ferry Tour

He twice previously lost a playoff on the PGA Tour but now he has a win on the Korn Ferry Tour.

He’s played in the Olympics (2016) and a Presidents Cup (2019). He was close to winning twice on the PGA Tour before falling short in a playoff. He does have three international wins but on Sunday, Byeong Hun An broke through with a win at the Korn Ferry Tour’s Lecom Suncoast Classic, his first win anywhere in seven years.

An carded a final-round 69 which included a bogey on the final hole at Lakewood National GC Commander in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. His four-day total of 17-under 267 (65-66-67-69) was good enough to win by a shot over a foursome of Seonghyeon Kim, Scott Harrington, Ben Griffin and MJ Daffue.

Eight other golfers tied for sixth at 15 under, including Michael Gellerman, whose double-bogey 6 on 18 proved costly. Gellerman started the day with his first 54-hole lead on the Korn Ferry Tour in 65 starts.

The Korn Ferry Tour takes a month off before returning with back-to-back events in Louisiana at the Chitimacha Louisiana Open in Broussard and the Lake Charles Championship.

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‘No bueno, shank’: A Korn Ferry Tour player had his mom on the bag last week — she was mic’d up and the result was fantastic

“It was a great run for four rounds. But unfortunately, I’m going to have to let you go.”

Sometimes all we need is wholesome content and this is just that.

Clay Feagler had his mom on the bag last week for The Panama Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour due to passport issues with his normal looper. Feagler finished the week in a tie for 25th, but the experience on the course with his mom will overshadow his performance.

Despite the good times, the relationship on the course has come to an end.

“It was a great run for four rounds. But unfortunately, I’m going to have to let you go,” Feagler said to his mom in the video.

There are countless great moments from this clip, check out the whole thing below.

APGA Farmers winner Patrick Newcomb to give Korn Ferry Tour exemption to runner-up Tim O’Neal

The tour’s CEO called the move “a perfect example of the inclusivity and togetherness” of the APGA.

Last weekend Patrick Newcomb curled in a birdie putt on the final hole to win by one over Tim O’Neal, whose birdie putt lipped out on the 72nd hole at Torrey Pines in the APGA Farmers Insurance Open.

The win earned Newcomb an exemption into the Korn Ferry Tour’s 2022 Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation, May 5-8 at The Grove in College Grove, Tennessee, but the 31-year-old Murray State grad has decided to pass his exemption on to O’Neal.

“We are thrilled that Patrick Newcomb’s request to pass along his exemption to Tim O’Neal has been approved. Tim has been a tremendous player on the tour since its inception and has been an incredible role model to the younger generation on our tour today,” said the APGA Tour’s CEO Ken Bentley. “He proved on Sunday at Torrey Pines that he still has the game to compete on PGA Tour level courses and it is exciting to see him get the opportunity at the Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation. Patrick’s decision to pass along this exemption to his friend Tim is a perfect example of the inclusivity and togetherness that best represents what the APGA Tour stands for.”

O’Neal, 49, has three wins on the PGA Tour Latinoamerica, most recently in 2016 at the Casa de Campo Dominican Republic Open, and three additional APGA Tour titles. He also qualified for the 2015 U.S Open and competed in the 2019 Genesis Open as the Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption recipient.

Since 2010 the APGA Tour, a non-profit organization, has been striving to help prepare African Americans and other minority golfers to compete and win at the highest levels of professional golf.

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Brandon Harkins earns first title in 134 starts at Korn Ferry Tour’s Bahamas Great Abaco Classic

Harkins also had one of the best rounds of 2021 after a 28 on the back nine at Pebble Beach.

The opening two events of the new Korn Ferry Tour season each took place in the Bahamas and each featured a first-time winner. The first was last week’s crowning of 19-year-old champion Akshay Bhatia. The second? A win 12 years in the making.

Brandon Harkins turned professional in 2010 and 134 starts later has his first official win under his belt after claiming the 2022 Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club via a two-hole playoff with Zecheng Dou.

Dou, who held the 54-hole lead, shot a 3-under 69 but opened the door for a playoff with costly bogeys on Nos. 16 and 18. The pair played the par-5 18th twice in the playoff, with each making par on the first hole. Harkins eliminated Dou with a par on the second.

While the win is the first official victory for Harkins, the 35-year-old signed for one of the best rounds of 2021 after a 28 on the back nine at famed Pebble Beach Golf Links in the 2021 TaylorMade Pebble Beach Invitational, an unofficial event where he beat fellow pros Alex Čejka and Harry Hall by two.

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