PGA Tour Brunch | NORTHERN TRUST
@PGATourBrunch Wrap-Up of Rain-Soaked FedEx Cup Playoffs NORTHERN TRUST
JERSEY CITY - The first round of the FedEx Cup Playoffs concluded Monday after a day-long delay due to tropical storm Henri drenching the New York-New Jersey region and dumping some six-plus inches of rain on Liberty National.
The NORTHERN TRUST became the third consecutive tournament - and third straight week on the PGA Tour schedule - with a playoff, marking the first time with three straight playoffs since 2019 The RSM Classic, 2020 Sentry Tournament of Champions, 2020 Sony Open in Hawaii. Overall, it was the 13th playoff of the PGA Tour season.
Tony Finau defeated Cameron Smith in the playoff, earning his second PGA Tour title in his 143rd start since his first victory on Tour back at the 2016 Puerto Rico Open. In the 142 starts between victories, Finau recorded eight runner-up finishes and 39 top-10s. With the 2,000 FedEx Cup points for winning the NORTHERN TRUST, Finau moves to No. 1 in the FedExCup standings for the first time in his career.
World No. 1 Jon Rahm, who held at least a share of the lead after each of the first three rounds, played the final four holes in 2-over and finishes solo-third.
Keith Mitchell birdied each of the final three holes to move into the Top 70 in the FedExCup standings and he qualified for this week’s BMW Championship.
Six players moving into the Top 70 in the FedExCup standings and qualifying for the BMW Championship were: Alex Noren (T-4), Erik van Rooyen (7th), Tom Hoge (T-4), Harold Varner III (T-11), Mitchell (T-8), and Harry Higgs (T-16).
The six players moving out of the Top 70 were: Matthew Wolff, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton, Martin Laird, Troy Merritt, and J.T. Poston who all MTC.
Final Leaderboard from THE NORTHERN TRUST:
Tony Finau 67-64-68-65—264 (-20)*
Cameron Smith 69-68-60-67—264 (-20)
Jon Rahm 63-67-67-69—266 (-18)
Alex Noren 69-64-70-66—269 (-15)
Tom Hoge 69-64-67-69—269 (-15)
Justin Thomas 63-69-67-70—269 (-15)
* defeated Cameron Smith with a par-4 on the first playoff hole (No. 18)
Full Leaderboard (link)
What They’re Saying:
Finau Ends Drought to win at Northern Trust (ESPN/Associated Press)
Patrick Reed Hospitalized in Houston (Digital Sports Desk)
Reed In Hospital with Double Pneumonia (Golf Channel)
After Close Calls, Finau Finally Wins (Golf Channel)
First Look at BMW Championship (PGATourCom)
Reed Withdraws from BMW (PGATourCom)
BMW - The Field (Top 70 or Replacements) - (PGATourCom)
FedEx Cup Standings (PGATourCom)
#SportsBiz, Sporting Goods and Golf Industry News
Prize Money from the Northern Trust (Golf Week/USA Today)
What’s in Tony Finau’s Bag? (PGATourCom)
On This Day in Golf History:
August 24, 1997 - Greg Norman won his 20th and final PGA Tour title at the World Series of Golf at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. Norman shot a final round (67) to defeat runner-up Phil Mickelson by four strokes. - Courtesy of Randy Walker, Author of On This Day in Golf History, available via Amazon.com and by clicking HERE
Parting Putt:
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