THE FLATS – Stewart Cink accelerates into the weekend at Sony Open, stays in Hawai’i for first Champions Tour event … Andy Ogletree welcomed into LIV Golf and HyFlyers team … Cink not a fan of new event structure on PGA Tour … Three Jackets in field for first Korn Ferry Tour event … More details below in this week’s Georgia Tech #ProJackets Report.
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CINK ACCELERATES INTO WEEKEND AT SONY OPEN
Stewart Cink has surveyed PGA TOUR Champions pros about when to commit a full-time crossover to the 50-and-over circuit, and he receives a consistent response.
Not that he gathers much specific insight.
“Most everybody I talked to just said, ‘You’ll know,’” Cink said. “They didn’t say how. They didn’t even say how they knew. They just said, ‘You’ll know.’”
Right now, Cink knows that he has a chance at his ninth PGA TOUR title. (Cink tied for 24th ultimately).
Cink, 50, opened the Sony Open in Hawaii in rounds of 67-65, one back of leader Carl Yuan through the late-early wave at Waialae Country Club. Cink stayed steady in gnarly conditions Thursday afternoon – steady rain and stiff winds – and pounced with a bogey-free, 5-under 65 on Friday morning, positioning himself for a realistic chance at his ninth TOUR title this weekend.
Unlike most of his TOUR peers, Cink is staying in Hawaii for next week’s PGA TOUR Champions season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai. Cink played four Champions Tour events last season (in addition to 27 TOUR starts) and might play a healthy number this season. His gathered advice has also included picking one Tour and sticking with it, but he plans to take the opposite approach.
“I’m not doing that,” Cink said. “I’m not trying to make the FedExCup or the Charles Schwab Cup my priority, to capture one of those Cups. I just want to play good golf, and I don’t care where it is.”
Sinking everything.@StewartCink stays hot and is tied for the lead @SonyOpenHawaii. pic.twitter.com/O5emkU1wNy
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) January 12, 2024
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CINK AMONG STORYLINES TO FOLLOW ON PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS
PGA TOUR Champions kicks off its 45th year next week in Hawaii with the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai, the first of 28 events in 2024. The season will culminate in November with the crowning of a Charles Schwab Cup champion in Phoenix.
The 2024 schedule includes 25 regular-season tournaments and three Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs events. During the season, players will compete for more than $67 million in total prize money, the highest in PGA TOUR Champions history. Here are some storylines to watch as the 2024 season unfolds.
2009 Open champion Stewart Cink, who turned 50 on May 21, 2023, made four starts last season, including a third-place finish at the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship. Cink will still be considered a rookie in 2024 due to only making four starts last year.
Stewart Cink will make his 2024 debut @SonyOpenHawaii.
He’ll stay in Hawaii next week to kick off his Champions Tour rookie season at Hualalai 🤩 pic.twitter.com/VMOuuWR9ly
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) January 10, 2024
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PETEFISH, STEELMAN START KORN FERRY TOUR SEASON IN BAHAMAS
Chris Petefish and Ross Steelman, both of whom played full-time on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2023, are guaranteed 12 starts in 2024 and got started with their 2024 Korn Ferry Tour schedule this week at the Bahamas Great Exuma Classic along with Paul Haley II, who also has status on the PGA Tour for 2024.
Steelman stood tied for 13th place at 6-under-par, six strokes off the lead after round 2 on Monday.
Looking to make a name for himself in his second season on the #KornFerryTour.
After finishing No. 4 on the 2023 PGA TOUR U rankings, Ross Steelman begins his first full pro season on Sunday @BahamasKFTour. pic.twitter.com/FxzgAqnECU
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) January 9, 2024
No longer a rookie 💪@pgatouru alum Ross Steelman feels comfortable stepping into his second season on the #KornFerryTour. pic.twitter.com/JeMV1CwoRd
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) January 13, 2024
OGLETREE READY TO TRANSITION TO LIV GOLF
Andy Ogletree enjoyed a remarkable 2023 on the Asian Tour that included two wins on its International Series, which helped him finish top of its Order of Merit.
That earned him a place with LIV Golf for the upcoming season, and his efforts have now been further rewarded after being named the Asian Tour’s Player of the Year with the Kyi Hla Han award.
It wasn’t just the two victories earned by the 2019 US Amateur champion that defined Ogletree’s year. He also produced five more top 10 finishes on the circuit, including ninth at the high-profile PIF Saudi International, which featured many LIV Golf players.
A measure of how the successful the American’s 2023 on the Tour had been can also be found with his rise in the world rankings. He began the year ranked 861st and finished it almost 700 places higher at World No.169.
The announcement means Ogletree follows fellow LIV Golf player Anirban Lahiri, who won the award in 2014 and 2015. Sihwan Kim, who was relegated from LIV Golf at the end of the season, also won the award in 2022.
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CINK “MIXED” ON NEW PGA TOUR EVENT STRUCTURE
Stewart Cink knows about change as well as anyone, a combination of good play and his birth certificate. At age 50, the former British Open champion is the only player at the Sony Open who will stay in Hawaii next week for the PGA Tour Champions opener.
Cink played at Firestone when it held the World Series of Golf. He missed it when it became a World Golf Championship for only Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup players. And then he won it in 2004 when it was for the top 50 in the world.
So what to make of this new PGA Tour model of signature events and $20 million purses with small fields and most of them not having cuts?
He is in the final year of his full exemption from two victories in the 2021 season, but he was well out of the top 50 (No. 153) in the FedEx Cup. That’s what it takes to secure spots in the eight signature events this year.
The change was a reaction to the ongoing threat of Saudi-funded LIV Golf. The idea was to bring the best players on the PGA Tour together more often and reward them with $20 million prize funds, not to mention a new PGA Tour requirement to have flushable toilets on the course for player families.
“Unfortunately, I do think it’s probably the right thing to do for golf fans,” Cink said. “If all the players play in those and we get great fields playing for a lot of money, then it’s great. It’s just I don’t think it serves everybody. And the PGA Tour has been about doing the best for everybody, for all the pros and members.
More from the Associated Press
Stewart Cink is not a fan of the new signature event format. pic.twitter.com/fcKTfGep9x
— GOLF.com (@GOLF_com) January 13, 2024
UPCOMING EVENTS
- PGA Tour: The American Express • January 18-21, 2024 • Pete Dye Stadium Course • LaQuinta, Calif. • Purse: $8.4M • FedEx Cup points: 500
- Korn Ferry Tour: The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic • January 21-24, 2024 • The Abaco Club on Winding Bay • Great Abaco, Bahamas • Purse: $1M • KFT points: 500
- PGA Tour Champions: Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalei • January 18-20, 2023 • Ritz-Carlton Golf Club • Orlando, Fla. • Purse: $2M
- PGA Tour Americas: Bupa Championship • March 21-24, 2024 • PGA Riviera Maya • Tulum, Mexico • Purse: $225K • Fortinet Cup points: n/a
- Asian Tour/International Series: International Series Oman • February 22-25, 2024 • Al Mouj Golf • Oman • Purse: $2M • Fortinet Cup points: n/a
- LIV Golf Series: Mayakoba • February 2-4, 2024 • El Camaleon Golf Club • Mayakoba, Mexico • Purse: $20M
#PROJACKETS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
A welcome message from the guys. pic.twitter.com/1jnQr2r9Cx
— HyFlyers GC (@HyFlyers_GC) December 18, 2023
Thanks to Nick Logan for hosting us guys from @The_McLemore at his @Hula_Bowl He’s got a huge heart for the athletes and provides them with a great stage to showcase their talents.
And always fun to hang with my pal @GitRDoneLarry Cable Guy is a weight loss guru now. I got… pic.twitter.com/xq215nGHxP
— Charlie Rymer (@CharlieRymerPGA) January 14, 2024
PLAYER PLAYER LAST WEEK DATA ANDERS ALBERTSON
Hometown: Woodstock, Ga.
Turned pro: 2015
Years at Georgia Tech: 2011-15
Status: PGA TourPGA Tour
Puerto Rico Open
missed cutFedEx Cup points ranking: n/a
YTD earnings: n/a
KFT points ranking: n/a
YTD earnings (KFT): n/a
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 Champions
Cologuard Classic
T-8 (-8)Schwab Cup points ranking: 10
YTD Earnings (Champions): $148,000
Career earnings (Champions): $1,874,795
FedEx Cup points ranking: n/a
YTD earnings (PGA Tour): n/a
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: n/a
YTD Earnings (GPro): n/a
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
Cologuard Classic
T-67 (+6)Schwab Cup Points ranking: 52
YTD earnings (Champions): $39,450
Career earnings (Champions): $692,480
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 toursGPro Tour
St. Simons OpenGPro points points: n/a
YTD earnings: n/a 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 TourPGA Tour
Puerto Rico Open
missed cutFedEx Cup points ranking: n/a
YTD earnings: n/a
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 PAUL HALEY II
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Turned pro: 2011
Years at Georgia Tech: 2007-11
Status: PGA TourKorn Ferry Tour
Astara Chile Classic
missed cutKFT Points ranking: 113
YTD earnings (KFT): $4,580
Career earnings (PGAT): $837,353
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 CanadaKorn Ferry Tour
Astara Chile Classic
missed cutKFT 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 TourDid not play FedEx Cup points ranking: 59
YTD earnings: n/a
Career earnings (PGAT): $60,228,357 CHRISTO LAMPRECHT
Hometown: George, South Africa
Turned pro: 2024
Years at Georgia Tech: 2000-24
Status: Korn Ferry TourKorn Ferry Tour
Astara Chile Classic
T-11 (-12)KFT points ranking: 9
YTD earnings: $131,008
Career earnings (KFT): $173,512 ANDY MAO
Hometown: Johns Creek, Ga.
Turned pro: 2024
Years at Georgia Tech: 2020-24
Status: developmental toursGPro Tour
St. Simons Open
missed cutGPro 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
Hong Kong
T-20 (-7)LIV standings: 39
YTD earnings (LIV): $406,200
Order of Merit (Asian Tour): n/a
YTD earnings (Asian Tour): n/a
Career earnings (LIV): $3,796,375 CHRIS PETEFISH
Hometown: Danville, Calif.
Turned pro: 2018
Years at Georgia Tech: 2014-18
Status: Korn Ferry TourDid not play KFT Points ranking: n/a
YTD earnings (KFT): n/a
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 TourKorn Ferry Tour
Astara Chile Classic
missed cutKFT points ranking: 136
YTD earnings (KFT): $7,450
Career earnings (PGAT): $233,065
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 Fortinet Cup points: n/a
YTD earnings (PGAT Americas): N/a
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
Hong Kong
T-42 (-2)Asian Tour Order of Merit: 30
LIV standings: 49
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: n/a
YTD earnings: n/a 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: 17
YTD earnings (KFT): $59,175
Career earnings (KFT): $256,042 TYLER STRAFACI
Hometown: Davie, Fla.
Residence: Davie, Fla.
Turned pro: 2020
Years at Georgia Tech: 2016-20
Status: noneDid not play Fortinet Cup points: n/a
YTD earnings (PGAT Americas): n/a
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 TourLIV Golf
Hong Kong
T-20 (-7)LIV standings: 26
YTD Earnings (LIV): $705,000
YTD earnings (Asian Tour): $22,700
Career earnings (LIV): $10,051,825
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
Puerto Rico Open
missed cutKFT points ranking: 70
YTD earnings (KFT): $16,140
Career earnings (KFT): $648,644
YTD earnings (PGA Tour): n/a
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
Puerto Rico Open
T-16 (-15)FedEx Cup points ranking: 115
YTD earnings (PGA Tour): $140,951
Career earnings (PGA Tour): $4,260,793
KFT points ranking: 107
YTD earnings (KFT): $206,369
Career earnings (KFT): $350,642