SILVAS, Ill. – Francesco Molinari is keen to represent Italy in the next Olympics, Tokyo 2020, and he can take the first steps at this week’s John Deere Classic. Hard to believe, but this week marks the start of the two-year Men’s Qualification period. Not that he’s thinking about it. “If I focus on Ryder Cup, Olympics, majors and stuff like that, it’s harder to do the day-to-day things properly,â€� said Molinari, whose world ranking has soared after recent victories at the Quicken Loans National (by eight shots) and the European Tour’s BMW Championship. The start of the Men’s Qualification period, which was news to every player asked about it Tuesday, underlines one of the big truths of the PGA TOUR, which is that in any given week players are competing with different agendas. They want to get to Tokyo, eventually, but also the majors, the World Golf Championships, and, most crucially with just six weeks (and eight events) remaining, the four-tournament FedExCup Playoffs. “We didn’t have all this stuff,â€� said Bob Tway, 59, an eight-time PGA TOUR winner who is at TPC Deere Run this week with his TOUR pro son, Kevin. “We didn’t have The Playoffs. And how you got into the majors was totally different. Normally if you won, you got into everything; that’s not always the case now. Now it’s all about getting into the top 30.â€� Here’s what they’re playing for at the Deere: Their livelihoods Knowing your FedExCup number is like scoreboard-watching. You don’t want to obsess about it, but you want to know where you stand, just the same. Cracking the top 30 qualifies players for the season-ending TOUR Championship, but to make it to the end, you’ve got to reach the start. The top 125 six weeks from now will reach the Playoffs opener, THE NORTHERN TRUST at Ridgewood (N.J.) Country Club, Aug. 23-26, and maintain full TOUR status for 2018-’19. “I’m 128 now,â€� said Canada’s Nick Taylor, who is coming off a T56 finish at A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier last week. “If you go into each week with the goal to win, it takes care of itself, but I’m on the bubble for keeping my card, so it’s kind of on my mind.â€� He’s not alone. “I’m 127,â€� said Troy Merritt, who not only knew his number, he knew which players jumped ahead of him in the standings (Sam Saunders, Harold Varner III, Joel Dahmen and Talor Gooch) while he attended his brother’s wedding in Minneapolis in lieu of playing the Greenbrier. “Summers are a grind,â€� Merritt added. “I spent two days at home in June. Another 80 FedExCup points would put me at 380, and I think I would be safe to take next week off.â€� Ryan Palmer said his priorities, and most everyone else’s priorities, are clear-cut. “It’s about getting in the Playoffs, because if you don’t make the Playoffs, you don’t have a card next year,â€� he said. TOUR Championship Molinari knew he was a lock for the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, Aug. 2-5, after winning the BMW, which put his world ranking well inside the top 50. (He’s 15th.) But on this side of the Atlantic? That was a concern, as the 35-year-old Italian was languishing at 123 in FedExCup. Then he won the Quicken Loans, rocketing up the standings. Now up to 43rd, he’s in the best shape of his career to finally make the season-ending TOUR Championship. “I was right on the bubble so the main thing was to get some FedEx points and make sure I was in The Playoffs,â€� said Molinari, who played in the 2010 and 2012 Ryder Cups. “Hopefully, if I keep playing like this, I’ll play my way to East Lake. I’ve never been there. I’ve watched it on TV lots of times and I would love to play there. People have told me it should suit my game. “It’s one of those things to kind of tick off the list if you get there,â€� he added. “At least once in my career I’d like to qualify for it, and hopefully it’s this year.â€� The last WGC in Akron Zach Johnson, the 2012 Deere winner, is a native Iowan with the dual role of player and host this week. He’s got a lot on his plate. Big picture, he’s trying to get to East Lake while also getting into position to make his sixth U.S. Ryder Cup team. But the 12-time TOUR winner has become aware of something else: At 51st in the world, he’s one ranking spot away from cracking the field for the final WGC-Bridgestone at Firestone South. (It moves to Memphis next year.) “I haven’t missed one of those since I’ve been on TOUR,â€� said Johnson. “I really like that golf course.â€� (He should; he finished second to Hideki Matsuyama at Firestone South last year.) Tiger Woods, the eight-time WGC-Bridgestone champion, is 69th in the world and also has made no secret of his desire to crack the top 50 and get back to Akron. When it comes to golf’s magic numbers, there’s 59 (on the scorecard), there’s 125, 100, 70 and 30 (FedExCup Playoffs), and then there’s 50 (Official World Golf Ranking). “After you make the Playoffs, the second priority is getting in the top 50 in the world,â€� said Palmer, who is 131st. “I was in there for three or four years, and I’d like to get back there.â€� The majors Molinari’s win at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm not only has him in great shape to make a run at East Lake, it gave him a berth in the 2019 Masters. (He was T20 at Augusta this year.) Kelly Kraft said there was no mistaking what he’d done with his second-place finish at The Greenbrier. He’d booked a trip to The Open, his first, at Carnoustie. His wife, Tia, will bring the passports to the John Deere, and they’ll head across the pond on the tournament’s charter. “They had the trophy out there on the first tee, the Claret Jug,â€� Kraft said of the Greenbrier. There’s one spot left at the Deere for the highest top-five finisher (and ties) not already qualified. Last year it went to winner Bryson DeChambeau, who was typical of last-minute entries. Asked if he was packed for The Open, he said, “I hope so. My agent is helping me out with that. I don’t know.â€� After The Open, it’s on to the PGA Championship, which has its own qualification criteria. Welcome to late-season life on TOUR. It’s a whirlwind.
Tournaments within the tournament
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Regions Tradition | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Steve Stricker | +350 |
Steven Alker | +750 |
Padraig Harrington | +900 |
Stewart Cink | +900 |
Miguel Angel Jimenez | +1600 |
Stephen Ames | +1600 |
Jerry Kelly | +1800 |
Ernie Els | +2000 |
David Toms | +2500 |
KJ Choi | +2800 |
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Cognizant Founders Cup | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Nelly Korda | +300 |
Atthaya Thitikul | +1600 |
Brooke Henderson | +1600 |
Hae Ran Ryu | +2000 |
Jin Young Ko | +2000 |
Nasa Hataoka | +2500 |
Lydia Ko | +3000 |
Sei Young Kim | +3000 |
Hannah Green | +3500 |
Hye Jin Choi | +3500 |
Click here for more… | |
Myrtle Beach Classic | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Daniel Berger | +2000 |
Ben Griffin | +2500 |
Beau Hossler | +2800 |
Davis Thompson | +2800 |
Erik Van Rooyen | +2800 |
Matt Wallace | +2800 |
Alex Smalley | +3500 |
Andrew Novak | +3500 |
Greyson Sigg | +3500 |
Kevin Yu | +3500 |
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1st Round Match-Up – A. Smalley v G. Sigg | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Greyson Sigg | -115 |
Alex Smalley | -105 |
1st Round 3-Balls – J. Hahn / G. Sigg / C. Yuan | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Greyson Sigg | +115 |
Carl Yuan | +175 |
James Hahn | +275 |
Scottie Scheffler Specials | |
Type: Scottie Scheffler Specials – Status: OPEN | |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & US Open (Top 10 Finish) | +115 |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | +125 |
US Open (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | +135 |
PGA Championship (Top 5 Finish) & The Open (Top 5 Finish) | +200 |
US Open (Top 5 Finish) & The Open (Top 5 Finish) | +210 |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & US Open (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | +240 |
PGA Championship (Top 5 Finish) & US Open (Top 5 Finish) | +280 |
PGA Championship (Top 5 Finish) & US Open (Top 5 Finish) & The Open (Top 5 Finish) | +750 |
Win PGA Championship & US Open | +1400 |
Win US Open & The Open | +1800 |
Click here for more… | |
Wells Fargo Championship | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Rory McIlroy | +800 |
Xander Schauffele | +1000 |
Wyndham Clark | +1400 |
Max Homa | +1800 |
Patrick Cantlay | +1800 |
Cameron Young | +2500 |
Collin Morikawa | +2500 |
Justin Thomas | +2500 |
Sahith Theegala | +2500 |
Tommy Fleetwood | +2800 |
Click here for more… | |
Tournament 3 Balls – T. Fleetwood / M. Fitzpatrick / V. Hovland | |
Type: Tournament 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Tommy Fleetwood | +165 |
Viktor Hovland | +175 |
Matt Fitzpatrick | +180 |
Tournament 3 Balls – W. Clark / M. Homa / P. Cantlay | |
Type: Tournament 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Wyndham Clark | +160 |
Max Homa | +180 |
Patrick Cantlay | +180 |
Tournament 3 Balls – S. Theegala / C. Morikawa / H. Matsuyama | |
Type: Tournament 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Collin Morikawa | +160 |
Sahith Theegala | +175 |
Hideki Matsuyama | +185 |
Tournament 3 Balls – B. Harman / A. Noren / R. Henley | |
Type: Tournament 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Alex Noren | +170 |
Brian Harman | +170 |
Russell Henley | +180 |
Tournament 3 Balls – C. Young / J. Thomas / S.W. Kim | |
Type: Tournament 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Cameron Young | +170 |
Justin Thomas | +170 |
Si Woo Kim | +180 |
Tournament Match-Up – A. Bhatia vs S. Lowry | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Akshay Bhatia | -145 |
Shane Lowry | +110 |
Tournament Match-Up – P. Cantlay vs C. Morikawa | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Patrick Cantlay | -130 |
Collin Morikawa | +100 |
Tournament Match-Up – C. Conners vs S. Jaeger | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Corey Conners | -115 |
Stephan Jaeger | -115 |
Tournament Match-Up – T. Finau vs J. Day | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Tony Finau | -130 |
Jason Day | +100 |
Tournament Match-Up – M. Fitzpatrick vs J. Thomas | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Justin Thomas | -135 |
Matt Fitzpatrick | +105 |
Tournament Match-Up – T. Fleetwood vs M. Homa | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Max Homa | -120 |
Tommy Fleetwood | -110 |
Tournament Match-Up – R. Henley vs B. Harman | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Russell Henley | -120 |
Brian Harman | -110 |
Tournament Match-Up – V. Hovland vs S. Theegala | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Sahith Theegala | -115 |
Viktor Hovland | -115 |
Tournament Match-Up – S. Im vs B. An | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Byeong Hun An | -135 |
Sungjae Im | +105 |
Tournament Match-Up – C. Kirk vs B. Horschel | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Chris Kirk | -120 |
Billy Horschel | -110 |
Tournament Match-Up – H. Matsuyama vs C. Young | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Cameron Young | -120 |
Hideki Matsuyama | -110 |
Tournament Match-Up – W. Clark vs R. McIlroy | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Rory McIlroy | -165 |
Wyndham Clark | +125 |
Tournament Match-Up – A. Noren vs S. Burns | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Alex Noren | -120 |
Sam Burns | -110 |
Tournament Match-Up – A. Scott vs C. Bezuidenhout | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Adam Scott | -135 |
Christiaan Bezuidenhout | +105 |
Tournament Match-Up – J. Spieth vs S. Kim | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Si Woo Kim | -135 |
Jordan Spieth | +105 |
Tournament Match-Up – S. Straka vs T. Hoge | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Sepp Straka | -120 |
Tom Hoge | -110 |
Tournament Match-Up – K. Yu vs M. Wallace | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Kevin Yu | -115 |
Matt Wallace | -115 |
Tournament Match-Up – B. Griffin vs D. Thompson | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Ben Griffin | -120 |
Davis Thompson | -110 |
Tournament Match-Up – D. Berger vs C. Kim | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Daniel Berger | -130 |
Chan Kim | +100 |
Tournament Match-Up – J. Bridgeman vs S. Stevens | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Jacob Bridgeman | -115 |
Sam Stevens | -115 |
Tournament Match-Up – C. Gotterup vs V. Perez | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Chris Gotterup | -115 |
Victor Perez | -115 |
Tournament Match-Up – M. Greyserman vs G. Sigg | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Greyson Sigg | -130 |
Max Greyserman | +100 |
Tournament Match-Up – R. Histasune vs S. Kim | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Ryo Hisatsune | -130 |
S H Kim | +100 |
Tournament Match-Up – B. Hossler vs A. Novak | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Beau Hossler | -120 |
Andrew Novak | -110 |
Tournament Match-Up – K. Lee vs R. Fox | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
K H Lee | -115 |
Ryan Fox | -115 |
Tournament Match-Up – J. Lower vs T. Olesen | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Justin Lower | -120 |
Thorbjorn Olesen | -110 |
Tournament Match-Up – T. Semikawa vs M. Schmid | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Matti Schmid | -115 |
Taiga Semikawa | -115 |
1st Round 3-Balls – K. Streelman / A. Smalley / B. Taylor | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Alex Smalley | +100 |
Kevin Streelman | +185 |
Ben Taylor | +300 |
1st Round Match-Up – B. Griffin v D. Berger | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Ben Griffin | -115 |
Daniel Berger | -105 |
1st Round 3-Balls – D. Riley / J. Dahmen / D. Berger | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Daniel Berger | +130 |
Davis Riley | +190 |
Joel Dahmen | +220 |
1st Round Match-Up – K. Yu v S. Stevens | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Kevin Yu | -125 |
Sam Stevens | +105 |
1st Round 3-Balls – M. Laird / K. Yu / S. Gutschewski | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Kevin Yu | +110 |
Martin Laird | +145 |
Scott Gutschewski | +375 |
1st Round Match-Up – B. Hossler v D. Thompson | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Beau Hossler | -110 |
Davis Thompson | -110 |
1st Round 3-Balls – S. Ryder / S. Stevens / D. Thompson | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Davis Thompson | +135 |
Sam Stevens | +185 |
Sam Ryder | +210 |
1st Round Match-Up – S H Kim v T. Semikawa | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
S H Kim | -120 |
Taiga Semikawa | +100 |
1st Round 3-Balls – B. Hossler / B. Griffin / S.H. Kim | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ben Griffin | +160 |
Beau Hossler | +165 |
S.H. Kim | +200 |
1st Round Match-Up – C. Gotterup v T. Olesen | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Thorbjorn Olesen | -115 |
Chris Gotterup | -105 |
1st Round 3-Balls – C. Gotterup / J. Campillo / B. Thornberry | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Chris Gotterup | +115 |
Jorge Campillo | +135 |
Braden Thornberry | +375 |
1st Round 3-Balls – S. Valimaki / Pa. Coody / M. Atkins | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Sami Valimaki | +135 |
Parker Coody | +150 |
Matt Atkins | +260 |
1st Round 3-Balls – A. Smotherman / B. Silverman / A. Albertson | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Austin Smotherman | +145 |
Ben Silverman | +150 |
Anders Albertson | +250 |
1st Round 3-Balls – A. Bjork / J. Highsmith / B. Shattuck | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Alexander Bjork | +115 |
Joe Highsmith | +120 |
Braden Shattuck | +475 |
1st Round Match-Up – D. Wu v J. Bramlett | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Dylan Wu | -110 |
Joseph Bramlett | -110 |
1st Round Match-Up – A. Novak v V. Perez | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Andrew Novak | -115 |
Victor Perez | -105 |
1st Round 3-Balls – A. Novak / S. Piercy / D. Lipsky | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Andrew Novak | +115 |
David Lipsky | +210 |
Scott Piercy | +220 |
1st Round Match-Up – J. Lower v R. Fox | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Justin Lower | -125 |
Ryan Fox | +105 |
1st Round Match-Up – M. Wallace v M. Schmid | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Matt Wallace | -110 |
Matti Schmid | -110 |
1st Round 3-Balls – M. NeSmith / J. Lower / M. Schmid | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Justin Lower | +150 |
Matti Schmid | +150 |
Matt NeSmith | +240 |
1st Round Match-Up – E. Van Rooyen v R. Hisatsune | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Erik Van Rooyen | -110 |
Ryo Hisatsune | -110 |
1st Round 3-Balls – E. Van Rooyen / M. Wallace / N. Echavarria | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Erik Van Rooyen | +145 |
Matt Wallace | +165 |
Nico Echavarria | +230 |
1st Round 3-Balls – R. MacIntyre / R. Fox / A. Tosti | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ryan Fox | +160 |
Alejandro Tosti | +180 |
Robert MacIntyre | +180 |
1st Round Match-Up – C. Kim v J. Bridgeman | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Chan Kim | -110 |
Jacob Bridgeman | -110 |
1st Round 3-Balls – R. Hisatsune / M. Meissner / J. Gumberg | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ryo Hisatsune | +105 |
Mac Meissner | +165 |
Jordan Gumberg | +350 |
PGA Championship 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +350 |
Jon Rahm | +1200 |
Rory McIlroy | +1200 |
Brooks Koepka | +1600 |
Ludvig Aberg | +1600 |
Xander Schauffele | +2000 |
Bryson DeChambeau | +2500 |
Collin Morikawa | +2500 |
Max Homa | +2500 |
Patrick Cantlay | +2500 |
Click here for more… | |
Requests | |
Type: Requests – Status: OPEN | |
Rory McIlroy – RBC Canadian Open Winner | +1000 |
Miles Russell – Win a Major before 30th birthday | +1200 |
Scottie Scheffler & Nelly Korda – Win All Remaining 2024 Majors | +50000 |
US Open 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +350 |
Jon Rahm | +1200 |
Rory McIlroy | +1200 |
Ludvig Aberg | +1600 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Viktor Hovland | +2000 |
Brooks Koepka | +2500 |
Cameron Smith | +2500 |
Patrick Cantlay | +2500 |
Xander Schauffele | +2500 |
Click here for more… | |
The Open Championship 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +500 |
Jon Rahm | +1000 |
Rory McIlroy | +1000 |
Viktor Hovland | +1100 |
Brooks Koepka | +2000 |
Cameron Smith | +2000 |
Cameron Young | +2000 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Ludvig Aberg | +2000 |
Jordan Spieth | +2500 |
Click here for more… | |
Requests | |
Type: Requests – Status: OPEN | |
The Open Championship – Alex Noren – Top 20 Finish | +200 |
Solheim Cup 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -140 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1200 |
Ryder Cup 2025 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -135 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1000 |