Nissan #ProJackets Golf Report

Sept. 27, 2016

THE FLATS – Matt Kuchar and Roberto Castro enjoyed a strong finish their PGA Tour seasons over the weekend, tying for 15th and 17th places, respectively, at the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club. Kuchar wound up the season No. 18 in FedEx Cup points, while Castro finished in the No. 22 position.

By qualifying for the Tour Championship, both players earned exemptions into next year’s Masters Tournament, U.S. Open and British Open, as well as The Players. The Tour now takes a three-week break before beginning the 2016-17 schedule with the Safeway Open, Oct. 13-16, in Napa, Calif.

In the final round of the 2016 TOUR Championship, Matt Kuchar uses a hybrid club to make his 18-foot putt for birdie from the fringe on the par-5 18th hole.

In the final round of the 2016 TOUR Championship, Roberto Castro holes out for birdie from 40 feet on the par-4 7th hole.

Can’t say enough about the @playofffinale #ATL crowds were great and East Lake really shined with its new bigger better finish. Awesome. pic.twitter.com/8LgBKcmYkA

— Roberto Castro (@cicioCASTRO) September 26, 2016

Kuchar now turns his attention to the Ryder Cup, having been selected to join Team USA for the fourth time. The biennial matches between the United States and Europe begin Friday at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn. Foursomes and four-ball sessions will be played Friday and Saturday, and the event concludes with 12 singles matches on Sunday.

One of the most consistently solid players on the PGA Tour – 76 top 10s from 2007-2016 – Kuchar will make his fourth start in a Ryder Cup. In three previous appearances, Kuchar has a 4-5-2 record. The seven-time PGA Tour winner is also hoping to be a member of a winning Ryder Cup team for the first time in his career. His strong suit is the four-balls format, where he has gone 2-1-2. Kuchar won the bronze medal in the Rio Olympics, the only American in men’s golf to make the podium. Kuchar was selected by Davis Love III as a Captain’s Pick on Sept. 12.

Take a tour of the Ryder Cup USA locker room and team room
Exclusive look at the American team uniforms

Web.com Tour: All five Georgia Tech alumni in the Web.com Finals failed to make the cut at last weekend’s Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship, leaving in doubt the ability of Chesson Hadley and Nicholas Thompson, both tied for 54th on the Web.com Finals earnings list, to regain their PGA Tour cards for next season.

The top 25 earners at the end of the four-event series, which culminates with the Web.com Tour Championship, Oct. 6-9 at Atlantic Beach, Fla., will earn status on the PGA Tour along with the regular-season top 25 money winners. Richy Werenski and Ollie Schniederjans, who finished second and sixth in the regular season and have already earned their cards, can enhance their status (i.e.: get into more events) with high finishes in the Finals. Anders Albertson, who finished the regular season No. 55 in earnings but is tied for 95th in Final earnings, will retain his Web.com Tour status should he not leap into the top 25.

UPCOMING EVENTS

PGA Tour: Ryder Cup • September 30-October 2, 2016 • Hazeltine National Golf Club • Chaska, Minn. • Purse: n/a • Winning Share: n/a • FedExCup Points: n/a
Web.com Tour: Web.com Tour Championship • October 6-9, 2016 • Ohio State University Golf Club (Scarlet Course) • Columbus, Ohio • Purse: $1,000,000 • Winning share: $180,000
PGA Tour Champions: Toshiba Classic • October 7-9, 2016 • Newport Beach Country Club • Newport Beach, Calif. • Purse: $1,800,000 • Winning Share: $270,000
MacKenzie Tour: season over
PGA Tour China: Clearwater Bay Open • November 3-6, 2016 • Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club • Hong Kong, China • Purse: ¥1,200,000 • Winning Share: n/a
PGA Tour LatinoAmerica: 63 Aberto do Brasil • September 22-25, 2016 • Rio de Janeiro Golf Course • Rio de Janeiro, Brazil • Purse: $175,000 • Winning Share: $31,500
SwingThought.com Tour: National Pro Series/Cascade Mountains Classic • September 27-29, 2016 • North Bellingham Golf Club • North Bellingham, Wash.