With the PGA Tour’s FedEx playoffs having begun over the weekend and continuing for two more weeks this month, it is noteworthy to say that the 70 players who qualified did a great job of earning their spots.
Bill Kennedy, Golf Columnist
These playoffs kicked off Thursday with the St. Jude Championship at the TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee. Then, they progress to Olympia Fields in Olympia Field, Illinois, Aug. 17-20, with the title weekend Aug. 24-27 at East Lake in Atlanta, Georgia.
The champion who comes out of this three-week competition is going to become golf’s No. 1 player for the 2022-2023 season, and in the process will have completed a multi-million-dollar year.
Some of the media broadcast people have bemoaned the fact that a great player like Justin Thomas, who was just outside the 70 qualifiers at No. 71, is not in that competition. They also were saddened by the absence of such notable and popular players like Adam Scott (No. 72), Shane Lowry (No. 78), Billy Horschel (No. 90) and Gary Woodland (No. 94).
There is no question that they are good players, particularly Thomas. The difficulty about hearing the “talking heads” laments is that it makes this sound like they are out of the money. They are out of the FedEx cash, but please do not feel sorry for them.
Thomas has made $54,137,404 in prize money during his career. Scott has earned $63,924,220. Lowry has made $17,129,827, and Woodland has picked up a “paltry” $7,804,287.
Then there is Horschel, who said to the TV cameras that if he did not make the playoffs, needing a championship at the Aug. 3-6 Wyndham Classic, he would be taking his family to the Bahamas for some relaxation and recreation. That is the consolation for a golfer who has career earnings of $35,182,660.
Add to this, the fact that Jon Rahm, the FedEx points leader for 2022-23, made $16,295,608 alone during this season, a number which can and will increase during the playoffs, and you have the PGA Tour players’ best-ever cash season.
Yes, it is a tough job and a tough life, but someone has to do it. So please — no crying towels for these guys.
*****
Former Martindale member Andrew Slattery’s bid to win the Maine Golf Match Play Invitational Aug. 7-9 at Biddeford-Saco came to a halt in the semifinal round, when he was defeated, 1-up, by the eventual champion, Caleb Manuel.
Another area player, Jace Pearson of Martindale, fell in the quarterfinal round, 3&2, to Mike Arsenault of Val Halla. Arsenault went to the final, where he lost to Manuel.
In the second round, Ashley Fifield of Martindale was conquered, 6&4, by Garrett Olson of Brunswick, while Craig Chapman of Fox Ridge succumbed, 2&1, to Ron Kelton of Purpoodock.
Three players lost in the first round — James Frost of Fox Ridge, 5&4, to Drew Kane of Prouts Neck; Jordan Jones of Fox Ridge, 5&4, to Chapman, and Curtis Jordan of Portland, who grew up playing at Martindale and Fox Ridge, was edged by Slattery, 2&1.
*****
There are no records to verify this theory about golf in Maine. But has this not been an extremely wet golf summer?
Many of the courses have had weekly events washed out. The Maine Golf tournament slate has had to call off a few events, and some of its championship tournaments have had to squeeze in two rounds because of rain.
One thing is for certain. The state’s courses have been very wet, causing an unusual number of cartpath-only days. Plus, there have been days in which some courses have allowed walking only.
When is this rain going to let up? If this writer knew the answer to that, he could become a highly respected and wealthy meteorologist.
*****
Maine Golf has its Play Days Aug. 15. For the men, it is at Bath, and for the women it will be a better ball format at Cape Neddick and Jato Highlands.
Bill Kennedy, a retired New Jersey golf writer and editor now residing on Thompson Lake in Otisfield, is in his 11th season as Sun Journal golf columnist.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
