THE FLATS – It is two weeks away from the planned restart of the 2019-20 schedule, the Charles Schwab Challenge on June 11-14 in Fort Worth, Texas, as well as the Korn Ferry Challenge the same weekend in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. More details below in this week’s Georgia Tech #ProJackets Report.
Professional golfers have begun preparing in earnest for a resumption of play, including the 20-plus former Yellow Jackets competing on the various tours, and two exhibition events have already been held. Chesson Hadley provides a look at his prep in social media below.
Before the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour resume, however, the SwingThought Tour resumes its schedule this weekend (May 30-31) in Knoxville, Tenn., and All Pro Tour has its Fore the Kids Open, June 2-5, in Brownwood, Texas. No former Yellow Jackets are in the field for either event.
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U.S. OPEN NO LONGER OPEN
The biggest news of the past week was the announcement from the United States Golf Association cancelling all of its events beyond the U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur (for both men and women) and the elimination of all qualifying tournaments for those four championships. The USGA has held two stages of qualifying for the U.S. Open since 1959.
Further information is forthcoming from the USGA on how it will fill the 156-player field for the U.S. Open, which is still scheduled for Sept. 17-20 at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y. READ MORE
Fifty players are currently exempt into the U.S. Open field, including Matt Kuchar (qualified for 2019 Tour Championship), Chesson Hadley (top-10 finisher from 2019 U.S. Open) and Andy Ogletree (reigning U.S. Amateur champion). Brentley Romine of Golf Channel has some ideas on how to fill out the rest of the field to most closely approximate the potential results of open qualifying.
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KUCHAR SPREADS GENEROSITY
Matt Kuchar has always been generous with his time and money to Georgia Tech athletics, contributing to the construction of the golf team’s Noonan Practice Facility, and also, with his wife, former Yellow Jacket tennis player Sybi, to Tech’s Byers Tennis Complex.
Recently he took time to participate in fund-raising efforts for Stetson University, the alma mater to both his parents, Peter and Meg. One of those events was a Q&A session sponsored by the Stetson Alumni Association. Kuchar reminisced with some of the Hatters alumni about going to Stetson basketball games as a kid. READ MORE
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A DAY IN THE LIFE OF STEWART CINK
This is sponsored content, but this video gives fans a good inside look at Stewart Cink, both at his daily life and his deprecating sense of humor.
#PROJACKETS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
First time traveling on a plane in a while. Little eerie here at the RDU airport. Amazing how things have changed.
Heading to Vegas to get some work in with @DrewSteckel before things get going again. pic.twitter.com/HznMurXroc
— Chesson Hadley (@chessonhadley) May 19, 2020
Down the line pic.twitter.com/vmnVgifAYO
— Chesson Hadley (@chessonhadley) May 20, 2020
Good days work with @DrewSteckel. Working on staying on top of the ball and not swaying off it during the backswing. Everything is starting to feel 👌💯💰 pic.twitter.com/4oxJfoSD56
— Chesson Hadley (@chessonhadley) May 20, 2020
Gosh it was nice to have live sports on TV today! It’s been a while, I really enjoyed it. Personally, I think my favorite part was the golf carts. The customization was awesome and I liked the golf cart cam as well. Kudos to @EZGOvehicles for helping raise money for a great cause
— Chesson Hadley (@chessonhadley) May 25, 2020
I’m no meteorologist but, not thinking this isn’t gonna miss us. Looking WSW from @tpcsugarloaf practice facility. pic.twitter.com/8qZgeyP1o3
— Stewart Cink (@stewartcink) May 18, 2020
It hit me tonight that all 3 courses I played most growing up (all 3 private clubs in Houston, Baton Rouge, and ATL) are now closed. I don’t know what that says about where I grew up, or about golf in general, or what? But damn.
— Roberto Castro (@cicioCASTRO) May 22, 2020
UPCOMING EVENTS (subject to change)
- PGA Tour: Charles Schwab Challenge • June 11-14, 2020 • Colonial Country Club • Fort Worth, Texas • Purse: $7,500,000 • FedEx Cup points: 500
- Korn Ferry Tour: Korn Ferry Challenge • June 11-14, 2020 • TPC Sawgrass-Dye’s Valley Course • Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. • Purse: $600,000
- PGA Tour Champions: Bridgestone Senior Players Championship • July 9-12, 2020 • Firestone Country Club • Akron, Ohio • Purse: $2,800,000
- Mackenzie Tour: ATB Financial Classic • August 6-9, 2020 • Country Hills Golf Club • Calgary, Alberta • Purse: $200,000
- PGA Tour Series – China: tba
- PGA Tour LatinoAmerica: Brazil Event I • August 20-23, 2020 • tba • tba • Purse: $170,000
- All Pro Tour: Fore the Kids • June 2-5, 2020 • Brownwood Country Club • Brownwood, Texas • Purse: $120,000
- SwingThought Tour: Three Ridges Golf Course • May 30-31, 2020 • Knoxville, Tenn.
- G Pro Tour: Mimosa Open • June 23-25, 2020 • Mimosa Hills Country Club • Morganton, N.C.
PLAYER PLAYER LAST WEEK DATA ANDERS ALBERTSON
Hometown: Woodstock, Ga.
Turned pro: 2015
Years at Georgia Tech: 2011-15
Status: PGA TourDid not play FedEx Cup points ranking: 233
YTD earnings: $8,760
KFT points ranking: 126
YTD earnings (KFT): $14,525
Career earnings (PGAT): $556,905
Career earnings (KFT): $929,956 STEWART CINK
Hometown: Florence, Ala.
Residence: Duluth, Ga.
Turned pro: 1995
Years at Georgia Tech: 1991-95
Status: PGA Tour/PGA Tour ChampionsDid not play Schwab Cup points ranking: 12
YTD Earnings (Champions): $273,786
Career earnings (Champions): $1,364,145
FedEx Cup points ranking: 173
YTD earnings (PGA Tour): $273,786
Career earnings (PGA Tour): $43,800,650 WILL DICKSON
Hometown: Providence, R.I.
Residence: Atlanta, Ga.
Turned pro: 2021
Years at Georgia Tech: 2017-21
Status: Developmental toursDid not play GPro Points ranking: 20
YTD Earnings (GPro): $4,797
Career earnings (GPro): $59,704
Points ranking (KFT): 193
YTD earnings (KFT): $4,538
Points ranking (FET): 154
YTD earnings (FET): $2,571 DAVID DUVAL
Hometown: Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
Residence: Denver, Colo.
Turned pro: 1993
Years at Georgia Tech: 1989-93
Status: PGA Tour ChampionsDid not play Schwab Cup Points ranking: 51
YTD earnings (Champions): $351,167
Career earnings (Champions): $644,457
Career earnings (PGAT): $18,983,931 J.T. GRIFFIN
Hometown: Wilson, N.C.
Residence: Marietta, Ga.
Turned pro: 2011
Years at Georgia Tech: 2007-11
Status: Korn Ferry TourDid not play Fortinet Cup points: n/a
YTD earnings (Canada): n/a
Career earnings (Canada): $29,836
Career earnings (KFT): $187,056 CHESSON HADLEY
Hometown: Raleigh, N.C.
Turned pro: 2010
Years at Georgia Tech: 2006-10
Status: PGA TourDid not play FedEx Cup points ranking: 138
YTD earnings: $563,066
Career earnings: $12,287,126 SHUN YAT HAK
Hometown: Hong Kong
Turned pro: 2013
Years at Georgia Tech: 2012-13
Status: PGA Tour ChinaDid not play GPro Tour points ranking: n/a PAUL HALEY II
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Turned pro: 2011
Years at Georgia Tech: 2007-11
Status: PGA TourDid not play FedEx Cup points: 204
YTD earnings (PGA Tour): $9,160
KFT points ranking: 203
YTD earnings (KFT): $9,160
Career earnings (PGAT): $837,353
Career earnings (KFT): $1,098,205 CONNOR HOWE
Hometown: Ogden, Utah
Residence: Atlanta, Ga.
Turned pro: 2023
Years at Georgia Tech: 2018-23
Status: PGA Tour CanadaDid not play KFT points ranking: 159
YTD earnings (KFT): $32,406
Fortinet Cup points ranking: n/a
YTD earnings (Canada): $n/a MATT KUCHAR
Hometown:
Lake Mary, Fla.
Residence: Sea Island, Ga.
Turned pro: 2000
Years at Georgia Tech: 1997-2000
Status: PGA TourDid not play FedEx Cup points ranking: 102
YTD earnings: $1,260,037
Career earnings (PGAT): $60,018,727 CHRISTO LAMPRECHT
Hometown: George, South Africa
Turned pro: 2024
Years at Georgia Tech: 2000-24
Status: Korn Ferry TourDid not play KFT points ranking: 140
YTD earnings: $42,504
Career earnings (KFT): $42,504 ANDY MAO
Hometown: Johns Creek, Ga.
Turned pro: 2024
Years at Georgia Tech: 2020-24
Status: developmental toursDid not play GPro points ranking: 72
YTD earnings: $1,215 LARRY MIZE
Residence: Columbus, Ga.
Turned pro: 1980
Years at Georgia Tech: 1975-79
Status: PGA Tour ChampionsDid not play Schwab Cup points ranking: 112
YTD earnings: $10,863
Career earnings (Champions): $5,166,866
Career earnings (PGAT): $7,947,092 ANDY OGLETREE
Hometown: Little Rock, Miss.
Residence: Roswell, Ga.
Turned pro: 2020
Years at Georgia Tech: 2016-20
Status: Asian TourDid not play LIV standings: 34
YTD earnings (LIV): $2,432,833
Order of Merit (Asian Tour): 52
YTD earnings (Asian Tour): $20,300
Career earnings (LIV): $3,543,875 CHRIS PETEFISH
Hometown: Danville, Calif.
Turned pro: 2018
Years at Georgia Tech: 2014-18
Status: Korn Ferry TourDid not play KFT Points ranking: 162
YTD earnings (KFT): $20,239
Career earnings (KFT): $342,455
Career earnings (PGA Tour Canada): $21,118 SETH REEVES
Hometown: Duluth, Ga.
Turned pro: 2014
Years at Georgia Tech: 2010-14
Status: Korn Ferry TourDid not play KFT points ranking: 39
YTD earnings (KFT): $227,620
Career earnings (PGAT): $846,696
Career earnings (KFT): $853,738 LUKE SCHNIEDERJANS
Hometown: Powder Springs, Ga.
Residence: Alpharetta, Ga.
Turned pro: 2020
Years at Georgia Tech: 2016-20
Status: MacKenzie Tour/Forme TourDid not play Fortinet Cup points: 121
YTD earnings (Americas): $4,736
Career earnings (Canada): $46,844 OLLIE SCHNIEDERJANS
Hometown: Powder Springs, Ga.
Turned pro: 2015
Years at Georgia Tech: 2011-15
Status: Korn Ferry TourDid not play KFT Points ranking: 100
YTD earnings: $85,403
Career earnings (KFT): $651,113
Career earnings (PGAT): $3,879,653 BEN SMITH
Hometown: Novi, Mich.
Residence: Atlanta, Ga.
Turned pro: 2022
Years at Georgia Tech: 2018-22
Status: developmental toursGPro Tour
Waverly Open
T-14GPro points ranking: 39
YTD earnings: $6,976 ROSS STEELMAN
Hometown: Columbia, Mo.
Residence: Atlanta, Ga.
Turned pro: 2023
Years at Georgia Tech: 2021-23
Status: Korn Ferry TourDid not play KFT points ranking: 53
YTD earnings (KFT): $167,256
Career earnings (KFT): $191,377 TYLER STRAFACI
Hometown: Davie, Fla.
Residence: Davie, Fla.
Turned pro: 2020
Years at Georgia Tech: 2016-20
Status: noneDid not play Fortinet Cup points: 219
YTD earnings (Canada): $789
Career earnings (PGAT Americas): $45,681
YTD earnings (GPro Tour): $1,112
Career earnings (PGA Tour): $21,111
Career earnings (Canada): $12,970 CAMERON TRINGALE
Hometown: Laguna Niguel, Calif.
Turned pro: 2009
Years at Georgia Tech: 2005-09
Status: LIV Golf/Asian TourDid not play LIV standings: 28
YTD Earnings (LIV): $2,727,625
YTD earnings (Asian Tour): n/a
Career earnings (LIV): $9,599,325
Career earnings (PGAT): $17,310,004 RICHY WERENSKI
Hometown: South Hadley, Mass.
Turned pro: 2014
Years at Georgia Tech: 2011-14
Status: Korn Ferry TourDid not play KFT points ranking: 56
YTD earnings (KFT): $65,960
YTD earnings (PGA Tour): $57,000
Career earnings (KFT): $620,681
Career earnings (PGAT): $6,765,035 VINCENT WHALEY
Hometown: McKinney, Texas
Residence: Alpharetta, Ga.
Turned pro: 2017
Years at Georgia Tech: 2013-17
Status: PGA TourDid not play FedEx Cup points ranking: 126
YTD earnings (PGA Tour): $735,743
Career earnings (PGA Tour): $3,381,552
KFT points ranking: 107
YTD earnings (KFT): $206,369
Career earnings (KFT): $350,642