THE FLATS – The top-10 machine Matt Kuchar chalks up another one at the Fortinet Championship … Stewart Cink navigates the Silverado Resort hours after scouting trip to Italy with Team USA … More details below in this week’s Georgia Tech #ProJackets Report.
*****
KUCHAR CONTENDS AT FORTINET CHAMPIONSHIP
One of the most popular players on the PGA Tour is contending in Northern California.
Fresh off a 7-under 65, Matt Kuchar heads into the final round of the Fortinet Championship trailing Sahith Theegala by three strokes.
He did not make a single bogey and made seven birdies, including a chip-in at the par-3 17th.
“It’s an exciting place to be,” Kuchar said when asked about his position on the leaderboard.
“Certainly a great leaderboard, some really good names up there at the top. I’m thrilled to be part of those names and looking forward to having some fun out there. Listen, this is kind of why we all play. You want to have a chance come Sunday, and golf gets a lot more fun when you’ve got a chance to win a tournament on Sunday.”
Kuchar always seems to have fun on the golf course, whether he is in contention or missing the cut. His smile is infectious, his dad jokes are contagious, and seemingly everyone on tour loves him.
Kuchar finished in a tie for seventh place ultimately, after posting a closing 73 on Sunday and securing the 116th top-10 finish of his illustrious career. Vincent Whaley also turned in a solid performance over the weekend, tying for 25th place at 8-under-par 280 to move up 10 positions in the FedEx Cup points race. Six events remain for Whaley and three other Yellow Jackets to climb into the top 125 and keep their PGA Tour status for 2024, including Richy Werenski (No. 144), who tied for 66th, and Paul Haley II (No. 135) and Stewart Cink (No. 166), who both missed the cut. Chesson Hadley sits at No. 122 after tying for 62nd place.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Kuuuuuuuuch!<br><br>He’s now -7 today, -14 overall and shares a piece of the lead with Sahith Theegala and S.H. Kim! <br><br>Love seeing Kuchar play well. One of the fan favorites on tour. <a href=”https://t.co/o3z7UHBIc6″>pic.twitter.com/o3z7UHBIc6</a></p>— Jack Milko (@jack_milko) <a href=”https://twitter.com/jack_milko/status/1703191258838020404?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>September 16, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>
Kuuuuuuuuch!
He’s now -7 today, -14 overall and shares a piece of the lead with Sahith Theegala and S.H. Kim!
Love seeing Kuchar play well. One of the fan favorites on tour. pic.twitter.com/o3z7UHBIc6
— Jack Milko (@jack_milko) September 16, 2023
*****
JOHNSON, CINK PLAY DUAL ROLES AT FORTINET CHAMPIONSHIP
Zach Johnson and Stewart Cink were dazed and even a little daffy.
They were doing a press conference at the Fortinet Championship at Silverado Resort in Napa, California, 6,245 miles from Rome. That’s where U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Johnson and Cink, one of his vice-captains, were last weekend for an advance scouting trip, along with nine of the 12 players on the team.
Multi-tasking is the name of the game these days for the two longtime friends, who at Silverado will keep their minds on their own careers – Cink will also play the PGA TOUR Champions’ PURE Insurance Championship next week – while tending to their Ryder Cup duties. For now, that means getting on West Coast time.
Asked about his dual roles, Cink, who calls Napa one of his favorite spots on TOUR, said he’s devised a way to keep them straight. Hint: It involves wine.
“I will be sampling some of the Napa varieties so I can compare it to some of the Italian varieties when we get over there,” he said. “That’s part of my strategy this week to keep my mind compartmentalized.”
He was just getting warmed up.
“I still got to figure out where the holes are,” he said of the rerouted Silverado North. “I know all 18 holes here, but now I don’t know which order they’re going in. Where do I walk after No. 7? I don’t know. I have to probably look at the ropes and the signs to figure all that out. I haven’t played the course yet since I’ve been here.”
UPCOMING EVENTS
- PGA Tour: Sanderson Farms Championship • October 5-8, 2023 • Country Club of Jackson • Jackson, Miss. • Purse: $8.2M • FedEx Cup points: 500
- Korn Ferry Tour: Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship • September 21-24, 2023 • Ohio State University Golf Club • Columbus, Ohio • Purse: $1.5M
- PGA Tour Champions: Pure Insurance Championship • September 22-24, 2023 • Pebble Beach Golf Links • Pebble Beach, Calif. • Purse: $2.3M
- PGA Tour Canada: season concluded
- Asian Tour: International Series Singapore • October 5-8, 2023 • Tanah Merah Country Club • Singapore • Purse: $2M
- LIV Golf Series: Chicago • September 22-24, 2023 • Rich Harvest Farms • Sugar Grove, Ill. • Purse: $25M
- G Pro Tour: Waverly Open • September 19-21, 2023 • Sanctuary Golf Club • Waverly, Ga. • Purse: $66,525
#PROJACKETS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Excused absence 🇺🇸@stewartcink heads to @RyderCupUSA and wishes his competitors well at @AscensionCCG. pic.twitter.com/XA1MgV3OFG
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) September 10, 2023
I’ve been the Tan Line Guy for long enough!!!! https://t.co/uFRQRQPtL3
— Stewart Cink (@stewartcink) September 11, 2023
𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 close to a hole out 🤏@ChessonHadley | @FortinetChamp pic.twitter.com/oWjSkHLMKp
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 14, 2023
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PLAYER PLAYER LAST WEEK DATA ANDERS ALBERTSON
Hometown: Woodstock, Ga.
Turned pro: 2015
Years at Georgia Tech: 2011-15
Status: PGA TourPGA Tour
Rocket Classic
missed cutFedEx Cup ranking: 211
YTD earnings (PGAT): $30,782
KFT points ranking: 154
YTD earnings (KFT): $16,067
Career earnings (PGAT): $587,687
Career earnings (KFT): $946,022 STEWART CINK
Hometown: Florence, Ala.
Residence: Duluth, Ga.
Turned pro: 1995
Years at Georgia Tech: 1991-95
Status: PGA Tour/PGA Tour ChampionsUSGA
U.S. Senior Open
Runner-up (-10)Schwab Cup points ranking: 2
YTD Earnings (Champions): $1,788,982
Career earnings (Champions): $3,515,777
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: 59
YTD Earnings (GPro): $3,310
Career earnings (GPro): $59,704
Points ranking (KFT): n/a
YTD earnings (KFT): n/a DAVID DUVAL
Hometown: Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
Residence: Denver, Colo.
Turned pro: 1993
Years at Georgia Tech: 1989-93
Status: PGA Tour ChampionsPGA Tour Champions
Kaulig Companies Championship
T-33 (+5)Schwab Cup Points ranking: 38
YTD earnings (Champions): $278,763
Career earnings (Champions): $931,972
Career earnings (PGAT): $18,983,931 BARTLEY FORRESTER
Hometown: Gainesville, Ga.
Residence: Atlanta, Ga.
Turned pro: 2025
Years at Georgia Tech: 2019-24
Status: Developmental toursDid not play GPro points ranking: 10
YTD earnings: $13,485 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 TourKorn Ferry Tour
Memorial Health Championship
T-11 (-20)Korn Ferry Tour points ranking: 145
YTD earnings (KFT): $45,480
Career earnings (KFT): $1,127,909
FedEx Cup points ranking: 198
YTD earnings: $45,480
Career earnings: $12,397,606 SHUN YAT HAK
Hometown: Hong Kong
Turned pro: 2013
Years at Georgia Tech: 2012-13
Status: PGA Tour ChinaDid not play PAUL HALEY II
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Turned pro: 2011
Years at Georgia Tech: 2007-11
Status: PGA TourKorn Ferry Tour
Memorial Health Championship
T-59 (-10)KFT Points ranking: 180
YTD earnings (KFT): $12,660
Career earnings (PGAT): $1,110,865
Career earnings (KFT): $1,102,785 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: n/a
YTD earnings (KFT): n/a
Fortinet Cup points ranking: n/a
YTD earnings (PGAT Americas): 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
Rocket Classic
missed cutFedEx Cup points ranking: 135
YTD earnings: $636,429
Career earnings (PGAT): $60,864,786 CHRISTO LAMPRECHT
Hometown: George, South Africa
Turned pro: 2024
Years at Georgia Tech: 2000-24
Status: Korn Ferry TourKorn Ferry Tour
Memorial Health Championship
missed cutKFT points ranking: 24
YTD earnings: $166,537
Career earnings (KFT): $285,715
Career earnings (PGAT): $76,674 ANDY MAO
Hometown: Johns Creek, Ga.
Turned pro: 2024
Years at Georgia Tech: 2020-24
Status: developmental toursDid not play GPro points ranking: n/a
YTD earnings: n/a LARRY MIZE
Residence: Columbus, Ga.
Turned pro: 1980
Years at Georgia Tech: 1975-79
Status: PGA Tour ChampionsDid not play Schwab Cup points ranking: n/a
YTD earnings: n/a
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 TourLIV Golf
Dallas
T-40 (+8)LIV standings: 50
YTD earnings (LIV): $1,033,550
Order of Merit (Asian Tour): n/a
YTD earnings (Asian Tour): n/a
Career earnings (LIV): $4,884,800 CHRIS PETEFISH
Hometown: Danville, Calif.
Turned pro: 2018
Years at Georgia Tech: 2014-18
Status: Korn Ferry TourDid not play GPro points ranking: 63
YTD earnings (GPro): $3,165
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: 209
YTD earnings (KFT): $7,450
Career earnings (PGAT): $686,162
Career earnings (KFT): $866,633 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 Career earnings (Canada): $46,844 OLLIE SCHNIEDERJANS
Hometown: Powder Springs, Ga.
Turned pro: 2015
Years at Georgia Tech: 2011-15
Status: Korn Ferry TourLIV Golf
Dallas
50th (+12)Asian Tour Order of Merit: 30
LIV standings: 57
YTD earnings (LIV): $290,572
YTD Earnings (Asian): $360,000
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: 37
YTD earnings: $4,725 ROSS STEELMAN
Hometown: Columbia, Mo.
Residence: Atlanta, Ga.
Turned pro: 2023
Years at Georgia Tech: 2021-23
Status: Korn Ferry TourKorn Ferry Tour
Memorial Health Championship
T-48 (-13)KFT points ranking: 28
YTD earnings (KFT): $163,692
Career earnings (KFT): $457,473
Career earnings (PGAT): $96,914 TYLER STRAFACI
Hometown: Davie, Fla.
Residence: Davie, Fla.
Turned pro: 2020
Years at Georgia Tech: 2016-20
Status: noneDid not play GPro points ranking: 26
YTD earnings (GPro): $5,485
Career earnings (PGA Tour Americas): $45,761
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 TourLIV Golf
Dallas
T-9 (-4)LIV standings: 32
YTD Earnings (LIV): $2,011,893
YTD earnings (Asian Tour): $22,700
Career earnings (LIV): $13,339,321
Career earnings (PGAT): $17,310,004 RICHY WERENSKI
Hometown: South Hadley, Mass.
Turned pro: 2014
Years at Georgia Tech: 2011-14
Status: Korn Ferry TourKorn Ferry Tour
Memorial Health Championship
T-62KFT points ranking: 116
YTD earnings (KFT): $40,266
Career earnings (KFT): $676,801
Career earnings (PGAT): $6,789,530 VINCENT WHALEY
Hometown: McKinney, Texas
Residence: Alpharetta, Ga.
Turned pro: 2017
Years at Georgia Tech: 2013-17
Status: PGA TourPGA Tour
Rocket Classic
T-32 (-14)FedEx Cup points ranking: 104
YTD earnings (PGA Tour): $787,701
Career earnings (PGAT): $5,270,321
Career earnings (KFT): $362,778