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PGA Tour

FedExCup Rankings: Scheffler Leads, Fitzpatrick best Englishman

The FedExCup on the PGA Tour continues to amass intrigue as players vie for ranking positions through the ongoing season. Multiple tournaments have now been completed, showcasing the globe’s top golfing talent. The latest event witnessed triumph from a golf maestro who adds valuable points to their season tally. As it stands, the distinguished Scottie Scheffler dictates the ranking’s peak position. In a notable statistic, England boasts four golfers among the premier 100 players in this elite competition.

FedExCup Focus: England’s Elite

Die englischen Spieler haben kein leichtes Spiel in den FedEx Cup Standings. Auf Platz 32 führt Matt Fitzpatrick die englischen Spieler an, wäThe English players do not have an easy game in the FedEx Cup Standings. Matt Fitzpatrick leads the English players in 32nd place, while the ranking is dominated by US players around Scottie Scheffler and Wyndham Clark. The second best Englishman is Tommy Fleetwood on 69, followed by Justin Rose on 78.

Top Contenders in the FedExCup Race

The ranking is headed by Scottie Scheffler, who once again impressively demonstrated his skills at the Players Championship. He is followed by runner-up Wyndham Clark in second place and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama in third. Fourth and fifth place are also occupied by two US Americans, Xander Schauffele and Sahith Theegala.

How the PGA Tours FedEx Cup works

The FedExCup is the season ranking of the PGA Tour. The top 30 players in the FedExCup ranking are allowed to take part in the PGA Tour’s final play-off tournament at the end of the season. The season ranking also determines who is allowed to play on the PGA Tour the following year. At each tournament, the players who make the cut collect points. The total number of points earned at a tournament depends on the value of the event. Major tournaments earn the most points. The winner receives 500 points for winning a normal PGA Tour tournament.

This text was written with the help of AI.

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PGA Tour

FedExCup Leaders: Scheffler & Clark Best of 59 US Players

As the PGA Tour season progresses, the quest for FedExCup supremacy continues with players battling it out across various events to accumulate vital points. The recent tournament win added another layer of excitement, cementing the leader’s position atop the FedExCup rankings. Currently, this coveted spot is held by Scottie Scheffler, who also leads the pack of 59 American players within the top 100 rankings. This dominant presence underscores the depth of talent stemming from the USA in the global golf landscape.

FedExCup Spotlight: US Players Making Strides

Wyndham Clark and Scottie Scheffler are the two highest-ranked American players in the FedExCup standings, with Clark gripping the second spot firmly and Scheffler maintaining his lead. Clark’s season is highlighted by his consistent performances, amassing a noteworthy number of points and breaking into the upper echelon with a victory and several top-10 finishes. Scheffler’s exemplary season, punctuated by multiple victories and top-10 finishes, has solidified his status as a formidable force on the PGA Tour. Unsurprisingly, the two golfers decided the Players Championship between them on a dramatic final day.

Top FedExCup Contenders: The Leaders of the Pack

The battle at the apex of the FedExCup rankings sees Scheffler leading a competitive group comprising players from across the globe. Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama, French talent Matthieu Pavon, and the consistent American Xander Schauffele join Sahith Theegala in rounding out the top 5 positions. Their accumulation of points, significant tournament performances, and victories showcase the intensifying competition and diverse talent present on the PGA Tour.

How the PGA Tours FedEx Cup works

The FedExCup is the season ranking of the PGA Tour. The top 30 players in the FedExCup ranking are allowed to take part in the PGA Tour’s final play-off tournament at the end of the season. The season ranking also determines who is allowed to play on the PGA Tour the following year. At each tournament, the players who make the cut collect points. The total number of points earned at a tournament depends on the value of the event. Major tournaments earn the most points. The winner receives 500 points for winning a normal PGA Tour tournament.

This text was written with the help of AI.

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PGA Tour

Players Championship 2024 in numbers: Birdie records & the legendary 17

The Players Championship 2024 kept the excitement going right to the end and provided great entertainment over four days. After the tournament, records, a first for the title holder and the realization that the legendary 17th is not known for causing sweaty palms for one or two professionals for nothing. A look at the statistics of the famous island green and other relevant statistics.

Players Championship 2024: Drama on the final day and 1000 beach balls – A look at the 17

On the final day of the 2024 Players Championship, it was once again a real source of despair. On Sunday, as is usual in the final round, the flag was placed on the far right of the island green between the small front bunker and the water (136 yards/124 meters). The PGA pros obviously had their problems with this: Over the course of the final day, only four birdies fell, the lowest figure of the week. At the same time, a total of 18 balls landed in the water, more than ever before in the tournament. Nine players even had to accept a double bogey or more, including Martin Laird, who hit two shots into the water on his way to a quadruple bogey. Logically, the stroke average of 3.34 was also significantly higher than on the previous days (3.09, 3.06, 2.84). Denny McCarthy hit the best shot on the final day, missing the hole by just 1 foot 3 inches (38cm).

Beau Hossler secured a special record on the 17th: with his shot into the water on the 17th hole, the US American recorded the 1000th ball sunk in the ShotLink era (since 2003). American Chris Kirk secured a positive record in the second round. Kirk found the green safely and played his 41st consecutive round without sinking a ball in the water on hole 17. He thus drew level with Jason Dufner, who has played the most rounds without a ball in the water on hole 17 since 2003. However, Kirk’s record streak came to an end in the third round. On the moving day, the American recorded a double bogey, followed by another bogey on the final day.

Ryan Fox celebrated a special success on the 17th. The New Zealander sank an ace on the very first day – it was to remain the only hole-in-one of the 2024 Players Championship.

A total of 47 balls landed in the water on the 17th hole during the tournament.

Rory McIlroy and Sam Ryder set two birdie records at the 2024 Players Championship

At the Players Championship 2024, it was not only the island green of the 17th that set records, but also Rory McIlroy and Sam Ryder. After McIlroy set the round record with ten birdies on the first day of the tournament, Ryder went on to become a sole record holder over four days. The American recorded an impressive 27 birdies over the entire tournament, overtaking ‘Fuzzy’ Zoeller in the process. In the end, despite Ryder’s many birdies, it was ‘only’ good enough for T16 (-10).

Scottie Scheffler achieves a first with title defense and collects 4.5 million USD

A first for an anniversary: At the 50th Players Championship, Scottie Scheffler became the first player to defend his title at the prestigious tournament. On a dramatic final day, the world number one prevailed against Wyndham Clark, who tragically missed the play-off with a lip-out on the last hole. Scheffler’s tournament victory earned him 4.13 million euros (4.5 million USD). But the remaining participants can also enjoy the highest prize money on the PGA Tour.

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PGA Tour

Players Championship: Rory McIlroy sinks five balls in to the water

After stunning 26 birdies in the 2024 Players Championship, Rory McIlroy should have earned a top spot on the leaderboard. The iron and short game of the Northern Irishman was solid and his putting gained him several of these birdies. But it looks like, with all the range work going in to the irons, he kind of forgot about his driver. Over the course of the four round McIlroy sank five golf balls in to the water at TPC Sawgrass, more than any other player.

Rory McIlroy sinks Players win

The first few holes of McIlroy’s Players Championship lookes promising, with the Northern Irishman securing six birdies within eight holes. Than a hooked drive followed on the 18th tee. It was the first time he had to take a penalty shot and drop a golf ball, but it was certainly not the last. He bogeyd 18 and went on noting three more birdies an his Back Nine. Than the 7th tee came and with it, another golf ball was gone into the water. Again it was a poor drive flying short left.

And his misfortune continued. On day two he found the water an the 12th, with – who could have guessed – his driver. The only day without a ball lost to the blue in TPC Sawgrass was round 3, alltough even on this day McIlroy had to lock in a double bogey on 14 after a drive going far right into a waste area.

In the final round McIlroy explored a new water area on hole four. This time it wasn’t the fault of his driver. Instead he sank the ball with a wedge and harsh wind conditions. Later on however he revisited the 18th hole left side penalty area and sank another drive at about the same place he did in round one.

So 26 birdies, 11 bogeys and 3 double bogeys later McIlroy finished with -9 on T17. And the author would venture a relatively safe prediction that he will be spending a few extra hours on the range with the driver over the coming week.

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PGA Tour

Rory McIlroy After Players Championship: “I Think I’m Headed in the Right Direction”

Rory McIlroy finishes the Players Championship, the flagship event of the PGA Tour, in 19th place. The Northern Irishman posted a score of 72 (even par) on the final day at the TPC Sawgrass. In the press conference after the final round, he explained why he was not satisfied despite 26 birdies and how the dispute with LIV Golf could continue.

Full Interview with Rory McIlroy after Players Championship

Question: You said at the beginning of the week you were kind of in between swings. I know it’s probably not the week you wanted, but do you feel like you’re closer to whichever one you want?

Rory McIlory: I think overall I probably made a little bit of progress from this time last Sunday at the Arnold Palmer, so, yeah, it’s there. I think, after the first round I sort of my expectations sort of went sky high because I was like, oh, I think I’ve figured it out. Then the last three days were a little bit more of a struggle.

But I think I’m headed in the right direction. I’ve definitely straightened out a few of the iron shots, which was a big key for me coming into this week. I made enough birdies, it’s just a matter of getting rid of the bad stuff.

Question: You’re playing the week before the Masters, but do you think you might visit Augusta in advance, or has that been as good for you as you would have liked?

Rory McIlory: No, I mean, I might go there on the way to San Antonio. Might head up there on the Monday and play and then head to San Antonio. But no trips planned as of yet.

Question: It’s always kind of cool, though, sometimes you go with your dad, I mean just maybe just for the fun of it more than anything?

Rory McIlory: Yeah, I’ve done that a lot and it’s really nice and I can certainly do that after the Masters, but when I do it before, I don’t feel like I get a ton out of it. Like in terms of like preparation for the week and actually getting into the mindset I need to get into. So maybe a quick pit stop on the way to San Antonio to play a practice round and spend some time. But as I said, nothing planned as of yet.

Question: It’s been confirmed that there’s a meeting tomorrow with the player directors and Yasir. Do you welcome that?

Rory McIlory: Absolutely. I think it should have happened months ago, so I am glad that it’s happening. Hopefully that progresses conversations and gets us closer to a solution.

Question: Does Tiger need to be involved in that do you think at this point?

Rory McIlory: I mean, he’s a player director. He’s on the board, so absolutely he needs to be involved.

Question: What you do hope their message is? What do you hope to take away from that meeting?

Rory McIlory: The players or the PIF?

Question: The players.

Rory McIlory: The players? That fundamentally he wants to do the right thing. I think I’ve said this before, I have spent time with Yasir and his — the people that have represented him in LIV I think have done him a disservice, so Norman and those guys.

I see the two entities, and I think there’s a big, I actually think there’s a really big disconnect between PIF and LIV. I think you got PIF over here and LIV are sort of over here doing their own thing. So the closer that we can get to Yasir, PIF and hopefully finalize that investment, I think that will be a really good thing.

Question: What does PIF want do you think that’s different to LIV?

Rory McIlory: Look, they’re a sovereign wealth fund. They want to park money for decades and not worry about it. They want to invest in smart and secure businesses, and the PGA TOUR is definitely one of those, especially if they’re looking to invest in sport in some way.

Question: Back on the golf, 26 birdies is a record around here. I know it’s nice to be leaving with —

Rory McIlory: Woo-hoo. (Laughing).

Question: There’s been a lot of people play here in 50 years.

Rory McIlory: Yeah, no, it feels, I did the same — I did the same thing at the back end of 2020 I remember, the back end of the COVID year I was making a ton of birdies and making a ton of mistakes, as well, and it was just a matter of trying to figure out a way to keep the bogeys off the card and still make the birdies.

So, yeah, look, it’s not all bad. It could be a lot worse, I guess. If these are the worse finishes that I’m going to have 20ths, you know, I feel like that’s my floor and I haven’t quite got to the golf that I’ve wanted to play to get to my ceiling. Hopefully, over the next few weeks I can work at it and get closer to that level of golf.

Question: Is the volatility swing related or is it an approach thing you’ve seen in the last couple weeks?

Rory McIlory: I think it’s swing related. My misses last week were predominantly to the left. So I really tried to eradicate that this week, and for the most part with the irons I did, but started to get a left miss off the tee.

Golf is a very fickle game. It gives you one thing and then takes away something else from you. It’s just, again, like, I feel like I’ve got all the components there, but just trying to put them all together on a given week. That’s the tricky part at the minute.

Question: Is that bigger picture view that you said — or excuse me, when you talked with Yasir, did you sense from him a bigger picture view than what we’re seeing with LIV?

Rory McIlory: Absolutely. I think there’s a way to incorporate — I think, you know, they’re big on team golf and they want to see team golf survive in some way in the calendar. I don’t think it has to necessarily look like LIV. I think in my mind you should leave the individual golf the individual golf and then you play your team golf on the sort of periphery of that.

But, again, it’s going to require patience. People have contracts at LIV up until 2028, 2029. I don’t know if they’re going to see that all the way out, but I definitely see LIV playing in its current form for the next couple years anyway while everything gets figured out. I don’t think this is an overnight solution, but if we can get the investment in, then at least we can start working towards a compromise where we’re not going to make everyone happy, but at least make everyone understand why we’re doing what we’re doing.

Question: What particularly is it about LIV that you see is the disconnect with Yasir?

Rory McIlory: I think their disruptiveness and his — their disruptiveness, and then his, I don’t know what the right word is, I guess his desire to be involved in the world of golf in a productive way.

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PGA Tour

PGA Tour: Shocking Lip-out on Last Hole Prevents Play-off at Players Championship

The final of the Players Championship, the flagship event of the PGA Tour, could not have been more dramatic: The world number one plays a magnificent round, with three players chasing him on the final holes to force a play-off. Firstly Brian Harman dropped out of the race, then Xander Schauffele. Finally, Wyndham Clark has the chance to reach the play-off against Scottie Scheffler on 20 under par.

The reigning US Open winner absolutely needs a birdie on the 18th to do so. Clark plays the difficult tee shot courageously and aims straight for the flag as he approaches the green. A good five metres then separate him from the play-off. His putt is good and seems to hold the line until the last second, but it doesn’t want to drop.

Shocking Lip-out at Final Hole of Players Championship

“I’m still a bit beside myself. I’m shocked that putt didn’t go in,” Clark said in frustration after the round. He was so sure that the ball would fall that he had already started to cheer, as you can see on another video. By missing the chance, the American made his compatriot Scheffler the immediate winner of the Players Championship. The incident is likely to gnaw at the 30-year-old for a while yet. Perhaps the 1.8 million dollars in prize money he received for finishing in a tie for second place will help.

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PGA Tour

Players Championship 2024: How the prize money of 25 million US dollars is distributed

As the unofficial fifth major, the Players Championship 2024 awaits us this week as a major highlight in the PGA Tour’s tournament calendar. The absolute elite of the golf world will meet at the TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, to compete for a unique total prize fund of 25 million US dollars.

Players Championship 2024: players can expect this prize money

The PGA Tour increased the prize money for the Players Championship to 25 million US dollars last year. Just three years ago, it was USD 15 million, was raised to USD 20 million and has stood at USD 25 million since last year. This amount puts the tournament on a par with all LIV Golf events, which are also endowed with 25 million US dollars each, and overtakes the prize money of the four major tournaments, which usually have a total prize money of 20 million US dollars.

The PGA Tour recently published an overview of the distribution of the prize money that will flow this year. The winner will receive 4.5 million US dollars. The rest of the money will be distributed among the 65 best and tied players who make the cut after two rounds. While the sole runner-up can expect over ten percent of the total prize money with 2.725 million US dollars, the other three players in the top five can also look forward to seven-figure sums – provided there are no ties with the fifth-placed player.

Beyond the prize money

In addition to the large sums of money, other lucrative prizes await the winner. He will receive 750 FedEx Cup points as well as a five-year exemption for the tournament and the guarantee of a PGA Tour card for the same period. In addition, he secures a starting place at The Sentry, where all Tour winners from the previous year meet at the beginning of the year, as well as the right to compete in all four majors over the next three years. The winner will also receive 80 official world ranking points, just 20 less than the players who win this year’s Majors.

Prizemoney Payout Players Championship 2024

Pos. Player Earnings
1Scottie Scheffler4,500,000.00
T2Brian Harman1,891,666.67
T2Xander Schauffele1,891,666.67
T2Wyndham Clark1,891,666.66
5Matt Fitzpatrick1,025,000.00
T6Si Woo Kim875,000.00
T6Hideki Matsuyama875,000.00
8Ludvig Åberg781,250.00
T9Maverick McNealy706,250.00
T9Sahith Theegala706,250.00
T11Joel Dahmen606,250.00
T11Taylor Montgomery606,250.00
T13Corey Conners489,583.34
T13Christiaan Bezuidenhout489,583.33
T13Nate Lashley489,583.33
T16Doug Ghim406,250.00
T16Sam Ryder406,250.00
T16Sepp Straka406,250.00
T19Harris English285,535.72
T19Shane Lowry285,535.72
T19Dylan Wu285,535.72
T19Kurt Kitayama285,535.71
T19Rory McIlroy285,535.71
T19Alex Noren285,535.71
T19Adam Schenk285,535.71
T26Mackenzie Hughes186,250.00
T26Chris Kirk186,250.00
T26Matt NeSmith186,250.00
T26Matti Schmid186,250.00
T26Nick Taylor186,250.00
T31Mark Hubbard152,812.50
T31Sungjae Im152,812.50
T31Ben Martin152,812.50
T31Taylor Moore152,812.50
T35Lee Hodges119,285.72
T35Denny McCarthy119,285.72
T35Jimmy Stanger119,285.72
T35Jason Day119,285.71
T35Tommy Fleetwood119,285.71
T35Brice Garnett119,285.71
T35Aaron Rai119,285.71
T42David Lipsky93,750.00
T42Grayson Murray93,750.00
T42C.T. Pan93,750.00
T45Sam Burns70,062.50
T45Austin Eckroat70,062.50
T45Tony Finau70,062.50
T45Jake Knapp70,062.50
T45Ryan Moore70,062.50
T45Collin Morikawa70,062.50
T45J.T. Poston70,062.50
T45Adam Scott70,062.50
53Andrew Putnam60,250.00
T54Zac Blair57,500.00
T54Emiliano Grillo57,500.00
T54Tom Hoge57,500.00
T54Martin Laird57,500.00
T54Min Woo Lee57,500.00
T54Francesco Molinari57,500.00
T54Sami Valimaki57,500.00
T54Cameron Young57,500.00
T62Thomas Detry55,000.00
T62Viktor Hovland55,000.00
T64Tyler Duncan53,500.00
T64Max Homa53,500.00
T64Seamus Power53,500.00
T64J.J. Spaun53,500.00
T68Patrick Cantlay51,500.00
T68Rickie Fowler51,500.00
T68Chan Kim51,500.00
T68Peter Malnati51,500.00
72Gary Woodland50,250.00
73Keith Mitchell49,750.00

Pos. Pct. Amount
1 18% $4,500,000.00
2 10.90% $2,725,000.00
3 6.90% $1,725,000.00
4 4.90% $1,225,000.00
5 4.10% $1,025,000.00
6 3.63% $906,250.00
7 3.38% $843,750.00
8 3.13% $781,250.00
9 2.93% $731,250.00
10 2.73% $681,250.00
11 2.53% $631,250.00
12 2.33% $581,250.00
13 2.13% $531,250.00
14 1.93% $481,250.00
15 1.83% $456,250.00
15 1.83% $456,250.00
16 1.73% $431,250.00
17 1.63% $406,250.00
18 1.53% $381,250.00
19 1.43% $356,250.00
20 1.33% $331,250.00
21 1.23% $306,250.00
22 1.13% $281,250.00
23 1.05% $261,250.00
24 0.97% $241,250.00
25 0.89% $221,250.00
26 0.81% $201,250.00
27 0.78% $193,750.00
28 0.75% $186,250.00
29 0.72% $178,750.00
30 0.69% $171,250.00
31 0.66% $163,750.00
32 0.63% $156,250.00
33 0.60% $148,750.00
34 0.57% $142,500.00
35 0.55% $136,250.00
36 0.52% $130,000.00
37 0.50% $123,750.00
38 0.48% $118,750.00
39 0.46% $113,750.00
40 0.44% $108,750.00
41 0.42% $103,750.00
42 0.40% $98,750.00
43 0.38% $93,750.00
44 0.36% $88,750.00
45 0.34% $83,750.00
46 0.32% $78,750.00
47 0.30% $73,750.00
48 0.28% $69,750.00
49 0.27% $66,250.00
50 0.26% $64,250.00
51 0.25% $62,750.00
52 0.25% $61,250.00
53 0.24% $60,250.00
54 0.24% $59,250.00
55 0.24% $58,750.00
56 0.23% $58,250.00
57 0.23% $57,750.00
58 0.23% $57,250.00
59 0.23% $56,750.00
60 0.23% $56,250.00
61 0.22% $55,750.00
62 0.22% $55,250.00
63 0.22% $54,750.00
64 0.22% $54,250.00
65 0.22% $53,750.00
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PGA Tour

PGA Tour Live Blog: Scottie Scheffler defends Players Championship title

THE PLAYERS Championship 2024 Live Scores

The THE PLAYERS Championship in the season 2024 is being played in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, United States of America at the TPC Sawgrass (THE PLAYERS Stadium Course). The tournament starts at the Thursday, 14th of March and ends at the Sunday, 17th of March 2024.
The THE PLAYERS Championship is part of the PGA Tour in the season 2024. In 2024 all players competing for a total prize money of $25,000,000.
The course for the tournament at TPC Sawgrass (THE PLAYERS Stadium Course) plays at Par 72.

The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass is celebrating its 50th anniversary and promises to be a highlight of the PGA Tour with 46 of the top 50 in the world rankings in the field, including Rory McIlroy and last year’s winner Scottie Scheffler.

PGA Tour live

Through the Golf Post Live Blog you can follow all results on the PGA Tour live. Alongside the DP World Tour (formerly the European Tour), the PGA Tour is the world’s largest tournament series in men’s professional golf. The tour attracts prize money that is just as high as the level of the international elite that comes together at quite a few of the tournaments. The annual highlights of the season are the four major tournaments (co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour), the Players Championship and the final FedExCup playoffs, which conclude the season every year. Signature events were created for this purpose. These include the three FedExCup playoff tournaments, The Sentry, the invitational tournaments (Genesis Invitational, Arnold Palmer Invitational and Memorial Tournament) and four other tournaments, which can change annually.

The PGA Tour has gained its importance primarily through its ability to retain top players through the attractiveness of the tournaments and the size of the prize money, which has risen steadily in recent years. The FedExCup is the American equivalent of the European Race to Dubai, with players collecting points throughout the season until the FedExCup winner is crowned in three tournaments in August. The FedExCup playoffs consist of three tournaments: the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the BMW Championship and the final Tour Championship. The winner of the Tour Championship also becomes the winner of the FedEx Cup and secures the record jackpot of 25 million US dollars.

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PGA Tour

Players Championship 2024: 17 presents the tamest on Saturday

In 2023 the 17 on Players Championship Saturday had been the second.easiest since 1983 with a scoring average of 2.72 and only two balls in the water. The easiest day was the the third round in 1996 with an average score of 2.68.

While the 2024 moving day stats were not as easy as that, it still was the easies day on 17 of the tournament so far with a scoring average of 2.836 and six balls in the water. Among those was one of Wyndham Clark, who was co-leader before making a bogey on 17.

The hole with the iconic island green played 123 yards. There has only been one hole in one this week so far, which came in round 1 from Ryan Fox. The closest shot to the pin on saturday came from Peter Malnati, who placed his ball 1 foot and 6 inches from the hole. A total of 24 birdies were made, 41 pars and only 4 bogeys plus 4 double bogey.

Players Championship 2024: 17 in Numbers

Actual length 123 Yards
Balls in the water 6
Closest to the hole Peter Malnati, 1 Fuß, 6 Zoll
Hole-in-ones 0
Birdies 24
Pars 41
Bogeys 4
Doppel-Bogeys 4
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PGA Tour

Players Championship 2024: Wyndham Clark: “The shot and the putt that meant it all.”

Wyndham Clark lost his lead on saturday at the Players Championship. While he was lapped by other players he himself made a deciding bogey on 17, when his first shot landed in the water.

Players Championship: Wyndham Clark on his moving day

Q. Did that feel like a pretty important bogey on 17? You seemed really pumped to make that putt. After a mistake like that, is it a big deal?

WYNDHAM CLARK: Yeah, it’s massive. It’s unfortunate on a hole that’s so iconic and has a bunch of trouble to have kind of your worst swing of the day. But yeah, I followed it with a great swing and a great putt. I’m in the final group tomorrow, which is huge.

I’m hoping that’s a huge point in the tournament and we look back after tomorrow and look at that hole and say, hey, that was maybe the shot and the putt that meant it all.

Q. Does not going to the drop area, is that your thing that you would always do, or is it a circumstances where the pin is?

WYNDHAM CLARK: Fortunately I went first and I had some time to think about it. I asked my caddie John, and he’s like, it’s just too close for us to be able to hit it — the easier shot was just redoing it. We had a good club. Honestly, I made a bad swing and chunked it, and if we went closer, I think it made it a tougher shot.

Q. Did you lose your focus?

WYNDHAM CLARK: No. I mean, I’m not throwing John under the bus by any means, but it was probably a perfect sand wedge. He thought if I nuked it, it could get on top. Kind of, as we were walking to put the ball down, he’s like, Let’s take a little off a full sand wedge. As I was over the ball I kind of got to the top and I was like, take a little off and then I just kind of deceled and chunked it. It wasn’t really a lack of focus or anything. It just was honestly a poor swing.

Q. You shot 70, kind of felt like maybe your bad round, but to still be in the final group —

WYNDHAM CLARK: Yeah, exactly. I think everyone kind of has one round where they have to really grind it out and make those par putts and bogey putts or whatever it is. I felt like that was today. I’m hoping tomorrow I’ll wake up laser locked-in focused and can go have an awesome round and hopefully have a great finish here.

Q. I heard you talking to Todd. Did you feel like you lost focus at any point throughout the round?

WYNDHAM CLARK: No. I mean, gosh, it’s hard in a final group on a Saturday, and especially when everyone else is making a lot of birdies. Sometimes you can press and try to force the issue, and I thought I did an amazing job. If I make the par putt on 8 and make the birdie putt on 9, could have been a totally different round. I could be at 19 or 20, and we’d be having a different conversation.

I felt like I still played good golf. I hit a lot of good shots. Just seemed like a couple missed clubs, a couple missed putts. Other than that, I thought I played fine.

Q. How important was it for you to be in the final group? Does it feel a bit like Wells Fargo all over again?

WYNDHAM CLARK: Yeah, I always think it’s great to be in the final group and kind of know where everyone is at, so depending on what the circumstances are, you can either press it or play really smart coming in.

But yeah, it’s fun playing with Xander. He’s so good, and his caddie, we’re all good friends. It’s going to be fun tomorrow. He has the upper leg right now, and I’m hoping tomorrow I bring it and we can have some fireworks and play some great golf.

Q. What do you think makes him tough as a competitor?

WYNDHAM CLARK: He’s so consistent, and obviously you saw today the guy makes a lot of putts. Hopefully tomorrow he doesn’t make that many putts and I make some putts. I have a lot of respect for Xander’s game. He’s just so steady. He doesn’t really have any flaws.