Normally, you wouldn’t think a guy would be all smiles after finishing tied for 45th in a PGA Tour event.
But this past week’s Wyndham Championship was the last call. Last call for the 2018 playoffs.
And there was Sam Saunders, grandson of the late Arnold Palmer, all smiles after a final round 69 on Sunday in Greensboro.
“I’ve been out here a while now and this is the first time I’ve made the playoffs — I’m excited,” Saunders said after his final round.
Saunders came into the week close to the 125 bubble at No. 120. He’s one of the few players in the field who didn’t move one spot up or down. He started at 120 and finished there and that was good enough for him to punch his ticket to the first round this week in New Jersey at Ridgewood Country Club.
A lot of the players on the bubble weren’t as fortunate.
Martin Piller came into the Wyndham ranked 124. He missed the cut, fell to 126 and will miss the playoffs.
Tyrone Van Aswegen was sitting right on 125 but he missed the cut as well and fell to 127. No playoffs for Tyrone.
Chad Campbell basically needed to make the cut, coming into the week at 126. He didn’t make the cut and fell to 127. Sorry Chad.
Such is life on the bubble.
Sergio Garcia needed a decent finish at the Wyndham. He came in at 131. Sergio finished at 12-under par after a closing 70 but that was only good enough to get him to 131, well short of the magic number. No, Garcia won’t lose his card. He’s exempt for five years after his win at the 2017 Masters.
