Had there been no handicaps given to the 30 players in the field of the FedEx Cup playoffs championship Aug. 27 at East Lake in Atlanta, Georgia, we would have seen a playoff between Viktor Hovland and Xander Schauffle.
Bill Kennedy, Golf Columnist Daryn Slover/Sun Journal
Hovland, the likeable Norwegian, began the event Aug. 24 at 8-under par, while Schauffle was at 3-under. Each of them shot a total of 261 strokes, which resulted in Hovland taking the championship by five strokes.
Is that fair? As far as we know, no one is complaining. Here is why.
Hovland took the big money ($18 million), while Schauffle’s runner-up cash was a “paltry” $6.5 million. So, Schauffle’s second-place prize was more than any PGA Tour event championship money. So was third place, as Wyndham Clark got $5 million and for fourth place Rory McIlroy, a three-time FedEx champion, received $4 million.
It goes on. Keegan Bradley, who is New England’s representative on the PGA Tour, was tied for ninth and made $990,000. Fan favorite Ricky Fowler, who played very well at the end of the season, tied for 16th, earning him $710,000. Jon Rahm, who led the regular season GA Tour in Fex Ex points. tied for 18th and walked away with $670,000.
And finally, there was last place, a tie for 29th, which earned $550,000. That’s more than a half million bucks for coming in last. Not a bad consolation prize.
Because of many TV interviews, we know that Rahm, a Spaniard, speaks the English language very well. He lives in the U.S. with his wife, whom he met at Arizona State. Then there is Hovland, the Norwegian who has put his homeland on the professional golf map. Not only is he a great golfer, but he speaks perfect English and has a contagious smile.
For the most part, it was a great show of golf. The head-to-head matchup of Hovland and Schauffle in the fourth round was the highlight of the tournament. If you had not seen that action, you would not have believed that by shooting his final-round 62, Schauffle did not win the tournament. But Hovland fired a 63, putting him five net shots ahead of Schauffle.
Recognizing that this writer is repeating himself, without the handicaps, they posted even scores from scratch, would have had to go to a playoff. As hot as those two were playing, extra holes could have been fun.
A tip of the golf hat to the 30 men who made it to East Lake. They put on an excellent season-ending show.
*****
The Haylock sisters of Turner Highlands, Jade and Ruby, had an enjoyable day Aug. 26 at Val Halla in the Maine Golf Mixed Championship, as Jade teamed with Elliot Spaulding of Brunswick to win the event by shooting 7-under 65. Ruby, in a twosome with Wyatt Folsom of Augusta, was second with a 5-under 67.
In third place were Danielle Rock and Jace Pearson of Martindale at a 2-under 70. Tied for fourth were Lori Frost of St. Croix and James Frost of Fox Ridge (72) ,while Abby and Trevor Flanagan finished tied for 11th (75).
Low net went to Heather Adams of Spring Meadows and William Weber of Toddy Brook (65). Tied for fourth were Janet Jones and Xander Rich of Fox Ridge (net 68).
*****
Maine Golf has three upcoming Play Days scheduled. The men are at Natanis (Tomahawk) Sept. 5 with Sept. 8-9 competition at Lakewood. The women are playing Sept. 5 at The Meadows.
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.
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