We made it, the season is only a week from over and it’s FedEx Cup Playoffs time. Abraham Ancer cashed in just at the right time as the regular season got one step closer to wrapping up in Memphis this past weekend at the WGC FedEx St Jude Invitational. And like many others, this weekend’s tournament didn’t disappoint with entertainment. Harris English had a monster lead and shot 40 on the back and didn’t even end up in the playoff that Ancer ending up winning. He was paired up with Bryson DeChambeau, who continues to be verbally heckled by fans over the Brooks Koepka, and also fell apart shooting a 41 and missing the playoff as well. One can only imagine the impact that might have on your round when you’re trying to keep it together and hold on to a lead. In any event, it made room for Ancer to slide up the leaderboard and later winning a playoff over Matsuyama and Burns. It was his first win in 121 starts on the PGA Tour, he’s 30 and I don’t think we’ve seen his last. He plays well at Augusta, maybe a green jacket in his future!???
Anyway, here we are and the 2021 Playoffs are just two weeks away. This year has been incredible in my opinion, we’ve seen a lot of really great tournaments with a little more than a handful of first time winners on the tour. Jordan Spieth is back and won. Brooks and Bryson are keeping it interesting. Matsuyama was masterful in Augusta and Mr. Phil Mickelson, at 50 years old, won the Wannamaker in Kiawah Island. Rahm comes back from having to withdraw from the Memorial at Jack’s Place because of Covid-19 protocols and wins the US Open at Torrey Pines on Fathers Day. Morikowa chalked up his second major with an Open Championship and Schauffele won the Gold for USA in the Olympics. (And I’ll just add that all signs point to Tiger’s recovery going well, and if someway, somehow we can get him back to playing a few more majors and a tournament here and there, that’d be amazing) It’s playoff time, then it’s Ryder Cup time, so here’s a snap shot of where things stand for both currently.
FedEx Cup Standings – Top 10
- Collin Morikowa
- Jordan Spieth
- Patrick Cantlay
- Harris English
- Jon Rahm
- Abraham Ancer
- Bryson DeChambeau
- Louis Oosthuizen
- Justin Thomas
- Sam Burns
Ryder Cup Standings
Team USA
- Collin Morikowa
- Dustin johnson
- Bryson DeChambeau
- Brooks Koepka
- Justin Thomas
- Xander Schauffele
Stricker gets 6 captain’s picks. Got to imagine Spieth, Reed and English make the cut. Phil maybe?? Bubba maybe?? Perhaps we’ll see someone breakout in these playoffs that catches fire and makes some noise for Team USA.
Team EUROPE
- Jon Rahm
- Tommy Fleetwood
- Tyrrell Hatton
- Rory McIlroy
We won’t know more on who’s a lock for the euros til we get to the BMW Championship, but that’s just right around the corner. Fitzpatrick and Casey are almost a sure bet and I’d expect to see both Vic’s make it as well. (Hovland and Perez)
The Wyndham Championship is down in North Carolina this weekend, where Jim Herman is the defending champ and then the playoffs begin. First stop is the Northern Trust in Jersey, then to Maryland for the BMW Championship and finally they’re back in Bobby Jones country at East Lake Country Club in Atlanta for the TOUR Championship. Lot of money on the line over the next month, so if you thought you saw some good golf already this year, you’re in for a treat.
Side Note: Special shoutout to Nelly Korda. She was absolutely amazing at the Olympics and going to be a name we all hear for a lot of more years to come.