The last midshipman in the graduating class at the U.S. Naval Academy is called “The Anchor Man.”
The PGA Tour’s “Anchor Man” heading into this week’s FedEx Cup playoffs is Rickie Fowler.
Fowler missed the cut at the Wyndham Championship on Friday and went home sitting at No. 124. Fowler missed the playoffs last year but kept his card thanks to his 2015 win at The Players. He was not secure for 2023.
With Tom Kim winning on Sunday, he became a Tour member and pushed the list down one spot. That was bad news for Matt Wallace, who was 125th — he was pushed to 126, unfortunately for him.
Max McGreevy played his way in. He was No. 124 heading into the Wyndham. Thanks to a 65 on Sunday, McGreevy finished tied for fifth and jumped up to 105th, safely in for the FedEx St. Jude this week in Memphis.
“I wasn’t trying to get a certain amount of points or finish top 30 or something like that,” McGreevy said. “I haven’t played good golf in a long time, so I was just trying to play good golf and I thought it could take care of itself.”
McGreevy was the only player, aside from Kim, to play his way into the playoffs. While Wallace was bumped at No. 125, the guy who started the week in that position, Austin Smotherman, missed the cut and finished No. 126.
Justin Lower was No. 127. He bogeyed his final hole at the Wyndham, which appeared to cost him the final spot in the playoffs. However, a par would have nabbed him the 125th spot, which, as Wallace can attest, still wasn’t good enough.
Jerry Kelly Wins Shaw Classic:
Jerry Kelly made a nervous four-footer for par at the final hole of regulation play Sunday then went on to beat John Houston in a playoff at the Shaw Charity Classic.
Kelly made birdie on the first playoff hole and joined Steve Alker as a three-time winner this season on the Champions Tour.
“I love coming to Canada,” Kelly said. “To get a win up here is something I’ve always wanted to do.”
Things were tight down the stretch of the final round as five players finished just a shot out of the playoff. Kirk Triplett, who held the overnight lead, missed a four-footer for par at the 18th. Triplett (69), Paddy Harrington (66), Joe Durant (62), Dean Wilson (66) and Alex Cejka (66) finished at eight-under par, a shot short of Kelly and Houston.
Shaw Charity Classic Scoreboard:
A Tearful Farewell To Sir Nick Faldo:
Sunday’s broadcast of the Wyndham Classic was the swan song for CBS lead golf analyst Sir Nick Faldo.
Faldo’s heading to his new ranch in Montana to begin his fly-fishing career.
Tears were flowing in the booth as Ian Baker Finch, whose name is on the Claret Jug with Faldo’s, gave a tribute to his fellow Open champion. Baker Finch began to get emotional, tears flowed and then more came from Sir Nick.
The broadcast included all sorts of tributes to Faldo and it is ironic that his broadcast career ended where he made his PGA Tour debut — back in 1979 at the Greater Greensboro Open.
5 Comments
baxter cepeda
It’s hard to believe Rickie F-ing Fowler was that close to losing his card. Considering all the good Rickie has done for golf, gotta wonder how much karma helped. And LIv. UnbeLIVable.
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Again, Nick Faldo will be missed. Probably my earliest vivid memory watching live golf was Faldo methodically reeling the Shark in at Augusta in 96. He showed such class in victory with his empathy for Norman.
He’s been a different person but equally great in the booth. He really has. Informing and entertaining. And of course classy.
Tom Edrington
I first met Faldo on the putting green at Bay Hill in 1979…..not much of a personality back then; As for Rickie, I repeat what a good friend of mine said who once took lessons from Butch Harmon in St. Louis when you could get a LESSON WITH Butch for $50 an hour and he said to me: “Name one player who has left Butch and gotten better…..” Rickie left Butch and went to hell in a hand basket.
baxter cepeda
That’s true but the the thing is guys whom have parted with Butch usually don’t completely collapse.
Tiger and Phil and Adam many others have done quite well post Butch. This is very unique to Rickie.
Rickie needs a new swing instructor. I would seriously go back to whomever he worked with before Butch.
Tom Edrington
Butch set Tiger up with his best swing, he got in trouble trying to change it, finally had to adapt to his injuries; Phil had a couple of cups of coffee with Butch, not sure how much time AS spend with him.
baxter cepeda
Tiger definitely got some of his knee injuries working with Butch. They were all about snapping that left knee. They had to make some changes before splitting.
2007 to almost 2016 is longer than a cup of coffee with Phil.
Tiger and Butch worked together before but as a pro they worked together from 1996-2002. So less than Phil.
Adam I believe started with Butch soon after the split with woods. They were together a long time. Basically copied tigers swing.
Also Norman. After he split up with Butch he he was still pretty darn good too.
Butch helps most guys be successful after they leave him. He doesn’t tend to leave people lost. Again Ricks situation is fairly unique.
Butch has had his differences with players but he has never really called out a player for possibly not being focused enough because of all the outside opportunities like he has Rickie; and Butch has worked with some huge players with tons of distractions. Maybe that’s what’s holding Rick back now.
But You did hear he split with his caddie?
I hate to see it but it could be a very good thing. I just don’t know what Rickie needs. At times with joe they seem lost and at odds between Rickies natural aggressive style which can be wreckless and trying not so well to be smart and conservative.
Does Rick need a guy to let him be the aggressive golfer he is? Almost like joe on steroids.
Or does he need a guy to make him play the disciplined golf joe or anyone has never been able to get out of Rick?
Regardless It is good to see one of the most loyal guys in golf get rid of one of his best buds. That’s definitely surprising but a sign Rickie is serious. . Unless of course he just wants to give joe a chance to find a good young players bag while he is still young enough.
I’ve been saying fowler may need to ditch tillery his swing coach post Butch. Now after ditching joe it seems very likely. I mean if Rickie can get rid of Joe, seriously, anything can happen.