Once upon a time you had to serve an apprenticeship on the PGA TOUR. If you were good enough to get amongst the big boys in your early 20s, your time was spent learning the ropes and staying out of the spotlight. Oh how times have changed. Welcome to the Monday Finish, where a not so long off the rookie shelf Xander Schauffele took on the world in China and conquered the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions and a brand-new rookie in Cameron Champ delivered on the potential many had already highlighted he had at the Sanderson Farms Championship. Here are five observations and insights into another weekend full of youthful exuberance and excellence. FIVE OBSERVATIONS 1. Xander Schauffele set a pretty high standard in his rookie season in 2016-17 — winning twice, including at the TOUR Championship. When he failed to win last season some quickfire takes concluded the youngster maybe overachieved in his rookie season … but such thoughts were short-sighted. You don’t always have to win to prove your worth. Schauffele returned to East Lake to defend his title last season, no mean feat. He did it with the help of two runner up finishes and two further third place results. He contended at two of the majors and THE PLAYERS. Clearly he is the real deal. And quite frankly, not winning last season might have been what he needed because he loves to play with a chip on his shoulder. He loves to feel like people don’t expect much from him, much like Brooks Koepka. “People can say whatever they want, but you know, my team and I, we know that we’re doing the right things, and it feels good to know that. It just feels good to win again,â€� Schauffele said after coming back from three shots down on Sunday to beat Tony Finau in a playoff. He just turned 25 — now there is a bright future on the horizon. 2. Anyone other than Tony Finau might be over this by now. Another runner up finish on the PGA TOUR, and this one in a playoff where he could taste the victory. From day one he was in the mix. And the three-shot lead he took into the final round in China had most thinking the patience and poise he’d displayed in his 11 top-10s last season — including three runner ups — was paying off. There was no doubt he had some Sunday nerves — his start was a little off and back-to-back bogeys on 11 and 12 had the smell of a Sunday slide. But impressively he bounced back and when he needed a birdie on the 72nd hole he produced it. His drive on the playoff was not his best but he was also a little unlucky to draw the lie he did. In the end he came up fractionally short again. But as usual he took it with grace and saw it as another learning experience. Another win for this man to go with his 2016 Puerto Rico Open is just around the corner, and it won’t stop there. “Definitely feel like I let one get away … It was cool to have a chance to win, a real chance to win, and I’ll definitely learn from this and keep moving forward,â€� Finau said. 3. It was an impressive title defense from Justin Rose in China. The FedExCup champion tried valiantly but just couldn’t muster enough of a charge down the stretch. A final hole bogey made his challenge appear weaker than it was on the scoreboard — in actual fact he was going for the hail mary eagle to finish to add some more drama and wasn’t that far off having a chance at it. While the game is getting younger and younger Rose continues to show the path for those closer to 40 than 20. He was a youth prodigy himself before battling through a huge slump at the beginnings of his career. Now look at him. The defending FedExCup champion who now once again threatens the world No. 1 slot. 4. Cameron Champ is just that: A champ. He’s barely into his career and he took out the Sanderson Farms Championship in style. The rookie proved that while he is the bomber off the tee we have heard so much about for a few years now, he is also much more than that. His putter proved more than capable in the big moments and his win came with an old driver after he cracked his gamer in his Sunday warmup. Perhaps the most impressive part of the win was his ability to turn things around mid-round. Champ lost a four-shot lead on the front nine on Sunday. You’d forgive most rookies for something similar — as it is usually part of the learning process. But instead of slinking away completely, Champ rallied and recovered in style. Once Corey Conners squared him up, Champ went on the offensive to great effect. He would end up making birdie on five of his last six holes to finish off an awesome effort and four-shot win. 5. It was another successful Asian Swing on the PGA TOUR with some impressive golf giving a handful of players a huge boost early in this new season. It is now very probable that winners Marc Leishman (CIMB Classic), Brooks Koepka (CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES) and Schauffele (WGC–HSBC Champions) will all be huge contenders for the FedExCup come playoff time. As each passing year goes by those who take the plunge into Asia are getting more and more reward. Word of mouth spreads fast with the players, and the hospitality shown in Malaysia, Korea and China has been impeccable. Don’t be surprised to see an even bigger swell in quality of fields next season. FIVE INSIGHTS 1. Schauffele’s win moves him to No. 1 in the FedExCup. He’s looking to make it three for three in making the TOUR Championship since joining the TOUR. He was third in the FedExCup in 2017 and 15th in 2018. He now has three career wins in 60 starts. 2. Schauffele was the only player in the field in China to shoot in the 60s in the third and fourth rounds. He hit 11-of-14 fairways, 15-of-18 greens in regulation and hit 29 putts in his final round. For the week he hit 25-of-56 fairways, 49-of-72 greens in regulation and hit 104 putts. 3. Champ ranked second in both Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee and Putting for the week at Sanderson Farms, becoming the 22nd winner on TOUR (since 2004 where ShotLink lasers were used) to rank inside the top two in both categories on the way to victory. A total of 86 percent of his total strokes gained for the week were a result of both his off the tee and on the green performances at the Country Club of Jackson. 4. Champ led the field in Driving Distance (All-Drives) averaging 308 yards off the tee. He hit eight drives of 340 yards or longer becoming the 42nd winner on TOUR to do so in the ShotLink era (since 2003). 5. In the final round, Champ made more than 114 feet of putts, a career high. He made a total of 28 birdies for the week, marking the most of any player by six. He converted over 50 percent of his birdies when hitting a green in regulation. Champ missed only eight putts from 15 feet and in going 66-of-74 (89 percent) for the week. WYNDHAM REWARDS The Top 10 players at the end of the FedExCup regular season will benefit from the Wyndham Rewards program. Xander Schauffele takes top spot this week courtesy of his win at the WGC–HSBC Champions while Cameron Champ jumps up from 72nd to sixth after winning the Sanderson Farms Championship. Runner up in China — Tony Finau — is the other new arrival inside the top 10 with a move to seventh.
Monday Finish: Xander Schauffele, Cameron Champ off to hot start
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3rd Round 2 Balls – C. Ciganda / A. Valenzuela | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Carlota Ciganda | -120 |
Albane Valenzuela | +130 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – A. Lee / M. Alex | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Alison Lee | -115 |
Marina Alex | +130 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – A. Noren v S. Lowry | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Alex Noren | -120 |
Shane Lowry | +100 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – B. DeChambeau v B. Koepka | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Brooks Koepka | -130 |
Bryson DeChambeau | +110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – C. Smith v M. Homa | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Cameron Smith | -110 |
Max Homa | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – T. Finau v T. Kim | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Tony Finau | -145 |
Tom Kim | +125 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – R. McIIroy v X. Schauffele | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Xander Schauffele | -115 |
Rory McIlroy | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – K. Bradley v J. Spieth | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Jordan Spieth | -125 |
Keegan Bradley | +105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – V. Hovland v J. Thomas | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Viktor Hovland | -115 |
Justin Thomas | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – H. English v T. Detry | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Harris English | -125 |
Thomas Detry | +105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – J. Day v M.W. Lee | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Jason Day | -115 |
Min Woo Lee | -115 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – C. Morikawa v S. Theegala | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Collin Morikawa | -145 |
Sahith Theegala | +120 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – P. Cantlay v C. Young | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Patrick Cantlay | -130 |
Cameron Young | +110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – T. Hoge v W. Zalatoris | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Will Zalatoris | -130 |
Tom Hoge | +110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – P. Cantlay vs J. Spieth | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Patrick Cantlay | -125 |
Jordan Spieth | +105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – A. Eckroat vs T. Detry | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Austin Eckroat | -110 |
Thomas Detry | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – H. English vs K. Bradley | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Harris English | -110 |
Keegan Bradley | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – T. Finau vs B. Hun An | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Byeong Hun An | -115 |
Tony Finau | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – L. Herbert vs T. Moore | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Taylor Moore | -155 |
Lucas Herbert | +125 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – T. Hoge vs M. McNealy | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Maverick McNealy | -110 |
Tom Hoge | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – M. Hubbard vs A. Rai | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Aaron Rai | -115 |
Mark Hubbard | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – S. Lowry vs K. Kitayama | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Kurt Kitayama | -110 |
Shane Lowry | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – R. MacIntyre vs M. Wallace | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Matt Wallace | -115 |
Robert MacIntyre | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – H. Matsuyama vs S. Theegala | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Hideki Matsuyama | -115 |
Sahith Theegala | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – C. Morikawa vs B. DeChambeau | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Collin Morikawa | -115 |
Bryson DeChambeau | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – A. Noren vs D. Burmester | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Dean Burmester | -125 |
Alex Noren | +105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – X. Schauffele vs B. Koepka | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Xander Schauffele | -135 |
Brooks Koepka | +115 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – S. Scheffler vs R. McIIroy | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | -150 |
Rory McIlroy | +125 |
3rd Round Match-Up – S. Soderberg v B. Todd | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Sebastian Soderberg | -125 |
Brendon Todd | +105 |
3rd Round Match-Up – D. Ghim v L. Hodges | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Doug Ghim | -110 |
Lee Hodges | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Up – A. Tosti v A. Bjork | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Alejandro Tosti | -125 |
Alexander Bjork | +105 |
3rd Round Match-Up – L. Glover v A. Hadwin | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Adam Hadwin | -110 |
Lucas Glover | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Up – A. Putnam v T. Olesen | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Andrew Putnam | -110 |
Thorbjorn Olesen | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – T. Hatton v B. Harman | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Tyrrell Hatton | -145 |
Brian Harman | +125 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – R. Fox v R. Holgaard | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Ryan Fox | -115 |
Rasmus Hojgaard | -105 |
3rd Round – Six Shooter – Group A – M. Homa / J. Day / P. Cantlay / M.W. Lee / C. Smith / J. Spieth | |
Type: 3rd Round – Six Shooter – Status: OPEN | |
Max Homa | +350 |
Cameron Smith | +400 |
Patrick Cantlay | +400 |
Jason Day | +475 |
Jordan Spieth | +475 |
Min Woo Lee | +475 |
3rd Round – Six Shooter – Group B – S. Scheffler / B. Koepka / R. McIIroy / B. DeChambeau / X. Schauffele / C. Morikawa | |
Type: 3rd Round – Six Shooter – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +260 |
Rory McIlroy | +375 |
Brooks Koepka | +475 |
Xander Schauffele | +475 |
Bryson DeChambeau | +500 |
Collin Morikawa | +550 |
3rd Round – Six Shooter – Group C – V. Hovland / H. Matsuyama / B. Hun An / J. Thomas / S. Theegala / T. Finau | |
Type: 3rd Round – Six Shooter – Status: OPEN | |
Viktor Hovland | +330 |
Byeong Hun An | +400 |
Hideki Matsuyama | +450 |
Justin Thomas | +450 |
Sahith Theegala | +450 |
Tony Finau | +475 |
3rd Round – Six Shooter – Group D – H. English / R. MacIntyre / T. Detry / M. Wallace / A. Eckroat / M. Hubbard | |
Type: 3rd Round – Six Shooter – Status: OPEN | |
Harris English | +350 |
Thomas Detry | +400 |
Austin Eckroat | +425 |
Robert MacIntyre | +425 |
Matt Wallace | +450 |
Mark Hubbard | +475 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – M. Kang / S. Kemp | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Sarah Kemp | -110 |
Minji Kang | +120 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – M. Khang / A. Lee | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Megan Khang | -105 |
Andrea Lee | +115 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – M. Jutanugarn / A. Buhai | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ashleigh Buhai | -105 |
Moriya Jutanugarn | +115 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – Y. Nishimura / A. Furue | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ayaka Furue | -135 |
Yuna Nishimura | +150 |
Tie | +750 |
Scottie Scheffler Specials | |
Type: Scottie Scheffler Specials – Status: OPEN | |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & US Open (Top 10 Finish) | -250 |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | -200 |
US Open (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | -150 |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & US Open (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | +125 |
PGA Championship (Top 5 Finish) & US Open (Top 5 Finish) | +125 |
PGA Championship (Top 5 Finish) & The Open (Top 5 Finish) | +150 |
US Open (Top 5 Finish) & The Open (Top 5 Finish) | +200 |
PGA Championship (Top 5 Finish) & US Open (Top 5 Finish) & The Open (Top 5 Finish) | +650 |
Win PGA Championship & US Open | +1200 |
Win PGA Championship & The Open | +1400 |
Click here for more… | |
3rd Round 2 Balls – P. Anannarukarn / N. Koerstz Madsen | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Nanna Koerstz Madsen | +105 |
Pajaree Anannarukarn | +105 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – G. Ruffels / M. Saigo | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Gabriela Ruffels | -145 |
Mao Saigo | +160 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – N. Korda / A. Jutanugarn | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Nelly Korda | -230 |
Ariya Jutanugarn | +250 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – A. Thitikul / S. Mi Lee | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Atthaya Thitikul | -180 |
So Mi Lee | +200 |
Tie | +750 |
US Open 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +350 |
Rory McIlroy | +1100 |
Jon Rahm | +1200 |
Ludvig Aberg | +1600 |
Xander Schauffele | +1600 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Viktor Hovland | +2000 |
Brooks Koepka | +2500 |
Cameron Smith | +2500 |
Patrick Cantlay | +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 | +175 |
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 |