THE FLATS – Matt Kuchar gets two cracks at a victory on a comfortable golf course at Muirfield … Charlie Rymer is back home after a “scary” bout with Covid-19 … Richy Werenski continues to improve since play resumed … J.T. Griffin and Ollie Schniederjans continue solid play on Korn Ferry Tour … More details below in this week’s Georgia Tech #ProJackets Report.
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THE LATEST NEWS
The PGA Tour and the Memorial Tournament announced Monday that despite a robust health and safety plan and State of Ohio approval for limited patron attendance, the world-renowned event founded and hosted by Jack Nicklaus will instead be held without fans on site and with no pro-am, due to the rapidly changing dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic. The news comes as many of the world’s best players arrive at Muirfield Village Golf Club for an unprecedented two-week swing at the “Course that Jack Built” — the Workday Charity Open this week, followed by the Memorial Tournament, with the 45th edition of the Tournament being staged July 14-19. Read more
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CHARLIE RYMER ENDURED SCARY TIME WITH COVID-19
Retired PGA Tour pro and former Golf Channel personality Charlie Rymer is back home after being hospitalized with COVID-19. Rymer, 52, who left Golf Channel in 2018 and now serves as an ambassador for Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, detailed his battle with the novel coronavirus on Twitter and to famed writer John Feinstein in a Golf Digest article. Read more
Buzz is quite the therapy dog! An afternoon Waccamaw River cruise on a tritoon with him will definitely get your attitude right! Especially with some @KipMooreMusic crankin! pic.twitter.com/ippVjhy98Y
— charlie (@CharlieRymerPGA) July 7, 2020
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KUCHAR A FAVORITE AT MUIRFIELD
The 2013 Memorial Tournament is one of Matt Kuchar’s nine PGA Tour victories, and the former Yellow Jacket will get two cracks at winning at Muirfield Village over the next two weeks, beginning this week when he competes in the Workday Charity Open, a one-time event that fills a spot vacated by the cancelled John Deere Classic. Workday also is one of Kuchar’s primary sponsors.
“He’s comfy here. Prior to an uncharacteristically poor showing at Muirfield Village last year, he went 11-for-11 from 2007-2018 with a win, a T2 and another three top fives among 10 top 15s,” writes Rob Bolton on PGATour.com. Read more
Kuchar will be joined for the Workday event by Stewart Cink, Chesson Hadley, Cameron Tringale and Richy Werenski. Inside the field
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JACKETS AT ROCKET MORTGAGE CLASSIC
Richy Werenski has finished T58 (Charles Schwab Challenge), T46 (Travelers Championship) and T21 (Rocket Mortgage Classic) in the last three weeks since competition returned, and improved his FedEx Cup position 10 more spots last week after opening with rounds of 67-66 at the Detroit Golf Club and finishing with a 13-under-par 275. Cameron Tringale closed with a 69 tied for 30th at 12-under 276 and sits 93rd in FedEx Cup points.
Chesson Hadley, Roberto Castro and Vincent Whaley all missed the cut.
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JACKETS AT TPC COLORADO CHAMPIONSHIP
J.T. Griffin posted his best finish since golf resumed, tying for 17th place along with Ollie Schniederjans at the TPC Colorado Championship. The 33-year-old Griffin was among a group of six first-round co-leaders, but stumbled to a 75 in round 2 before finishing 69-69 for an 8-under-par 280. The former Georgia Tech standout carded three top-10 finishes in four starts prior to the hiatus, and sits at No. 28 in the Korn Ferry points race.
“I gave some online lessons (during the break) and it was good to get some rent paid, but I don’t know if looking at golf swings is a great idea if you want to play professionally,” Griffin told PGATour.com. “It got me thinking about my own swing a little more. It was really fun to talk to some people and try to help them as much as I can. But I hope I don’t have to do that in the long run.”
Schniederjans posted an identical total of 280 after his closing 66, and improved to No. 37 in Korn Ferry points.
Paul Haley II, who lost a playoff and tied for second place at the previous week’s Utah Championship, missed the cut and fell to 34th on the points list. He talked about his comeback to the Korn Ferry Tour to the Salt Lake Tribune.
The Korn Ferry Tour is mirroring the PGA Tour with two consecutive events at the same facility, beginning with this week’s TPC San Antonio Challenge at the Canyons, followed by next week’s TPC San Antonio Championship at the Oaks.
Griffin, Haley and Schniederjans are back in action along with Anders Albertson, Reeves and Thompson.
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ELSEWHERE
The PGA Tour Champions had been set to resume this week with the Bridgestone Senior Players Championship at venerable Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, but that event has been pushed back to Aug. 13-16. The senior tour is now set to return to action July 30 with The Ally Challenge in Grand Blanc, Mich.
#PROJACKETS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Happy 4th of July! I hope everyone has a fun filled day celebrating our country’s independence. It is a privilege to live here and have the freedom we have. God Bless America. USA USA USA! pic.twitter.com/DtRDxyqfZ7
— Chesson Hadley (@chessonhadley) July 4, 2020
Look good, feel good, play good. 😎@JTGriffinGolf rides a fresh haircut and 5-under 67 to a tie at the top of the leaderboard @TPC_ColoradoHL. pic.twitter.com/I8gZG2aMTz
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) July 2, 2020
UPCOMING EVENTS (subject to change)
- PGA Tour: Workday Charity Open • July 9-12, 2020 • Muirfield Village Golf Club • Dublin, Ohio • Purse: $6,200,000 • FedEx Cup points: 500
- Korn Ferry Tour: TPC San Antonio Challenge • July 8-11, 2020 • TPC San Antonio (Canyons Course) • San Antonio, Texas • Purse: $600,000
- PGA Tour Champions: The Ally Challenge • July 30-August 1, 2020 • Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club • Grand Blanc, Mich. • Purse: $2,000,000
- Mackenzie Tour: remainder of 2020 season cancelled
- PGA Tour Series – China: tba
- PGA Tour LatinoAmerica: all events postponed
- All Pro Tour: Victoria Open • July 8-11, 2020 • Victoria Country Club • Victoria, Texas • Purse: $120,000
- Emerald Coast Tour: Rocky Bayou • July 26-28, 2020 • Niceville, Fla.
- G Pro Tour: Kannapolis Open • July 7-9, 2020 • The Club at Irish Creek • Kannapolis, N.C.
- SwingThought Tour: Tanglewood Country Club • July 9-10, 2020 • Winston-Salem, N.C.
PLAYER PLAYER LAST WEEK DATA ANDERS ALBERTSON
Hometown: Woodstock, Ga.
Turned pro: 2015
Years at Georgia Tech: 2011-15
Status: PGA TourPGA Tour
RSM Classic
missed cutFedEx Cup points ranking: 239
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 ChampionsPGA Tour
RSM Classic
T-17 (-10)Schwab Cup points ranking: 9
YTD Earnings (Champions): $1,258,156
Career earnings (Champions): $1,726,795
FedEx Cup points ranking: 173
YTD earnings (PGA Tour): $378,476
Career earnings (PGA Tour): $43,905,340 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: 61
YTD earnings (Champions): $356,865
Career earnings (Champions): $650,155
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: 143
YTD earnings: $628,066
Career earnings: $12,352,126 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 TourPGA Tour
RSM Classic
missed cutFedEx Cup points ranking: 109
YTD earnings: $1,469,667
Career earnings (PGAT): $60,228,357 CHRISTO LAMPRECHT
Hometown: George, South Africa
Turned pro: 2024
Years at Georgia Tech: 2000-24
Status: Korn Ferry TourPGA Tour
RSM Classic
64th (-1)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: 43
YTD earnings (KFT): $227,620
Career earnings (PGAT): $233,065
Career earnings (KFT): $859,183 LUKE SCHNIEDERJANS
Hometown: Powder Springs, Ga.
Residence: Alpharetta, Ga.
Turned pro: 2020
Years at Georgia Tech: 2016-20
Status: MacKenzie Tour/Forme TourPGA Tour
Butterfield Bermuda Championship
missed cutFortinet 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 TourPGA Tour Q-School
Second Stage
T-21 (did not advance)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 toursDid not play GPro 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: 56
YTD earnings (KFT): $172,746
Career earnings (KFT): $196,867 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 TourPGA Tour
RSM Classic
missed cutKFT points ranking: 55
YTD earnings (KFT): $65,960
YTD earnings (PGA Tour): $57,000
Career earnings (KFT): $632,504
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 TourPGA Tour
RSM Classic
T-8 (-13)FedEx Cup points ranking: 103
YTD earnings (PGA Tour): $1,474,033
Career earnings (PGA Tour): $4,119,842
KFT points ranking: 107
YTD earnings (KFT): $206,369
Career earnings (KFT): $350,642