Featured groups: CareerBuilder Challenge

OWINGS MILLS, Md. – Tony Finau had thousands of messages when he finally grabbed his phone after breaking a five-year win drought at THE NORTHERN TRUST to take the lead in the FedExCup race, but one name stood out from the pack. Tiger Woods. The 82-time PGA TOUR winner – who is still recovering from a car accident in February – made sure Finau knew he was watching his steely performance down the stretch at Liberty National where he bested Cameron Smith in a playoff. “One of the very first (messages) was from Tiger, and that was a very special one. He was just explaining to me that he was proud of me and the fight and grit that I had. That was obviously a very, very special one for me to see,” Finau said from Caves Valley Golf Club in Maryland where he takes the FedExCup lead into this week’s BMW Championship. “He was one of the first, which means he was watching, which for me is very, very cool. I have to throw that out there as probably right at the top. And then countless athletes. Donovan Mitchell is an amazing basketball player for the Utah Jazz. Being a Jazz fan, that was a cool one for me. My buddy Mike Conley, who’s a point guard for the Jazz… but those are just a few of I feel like so many people. It’s been really cool to see how many are following my career and are generally happy for this victory.” Finau’s second TOUR win came 1,975 days after his first at the Puerto Rico Open of 2016 and he’d notched up 39 Top-10s without winning since. That included eight runner ups. As one of the nice guys on TOUR the love came thick and fast when he closed the deal. “I’ve kind of starved a lot of my fans and supporters of a win for five years, so this one is special in that I’ve gained a lot of fans in these five years, and to be able to share this with so many people has been very, very special,” Finau added. “It’s just pretty amazing how many people were willing to reach out and just show their support and how happy they were for me… Selfishly I want to win, and of course that’s a really cool thing, but to be able to see how many people have enjoyed this win for me, my family, my friends, it’s been really, really cool for me.” The Utah native revealed he celebrated with a steak dinner before loading up again on McDonalds at 3a.m. when the adrenalin didn’t allow him to sleep. It had been a long time since he’d allowed his body to soak up that much fast food. “I had a lot. I ordered a Big Mac, I had a Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese and then 10 chicken nuggets,” he revealed. “It reminds me of when I was a kid… and I had a large fry with an Oreo McFlurry and a bottled water. I had no problem cleaning all of it up.” Finau now turns his attention to winning the FedExCup but first he looks to keep top spot on the points list with another big performance at the BMW Championship. Should he do that he will head to East Lake with the maximum head start – beginning the TOUR Championship at 10-under in the chase for the $15million bonus and coveted title. If he wins it all there’s no telling how much McDonalds he might demolish.

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PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – PGA National is one of the most stressful courses on the PGA TOUR. Penalty strokes can add up quickly on its water-lined holes. That’s why Lee Westwood’s new mindset is such an asset this week. Westwood is having fun while other players are fretting about double-bogeys. The former World No. 1 said the game has never been more enjoyable, and that’s a big reason why he’s enjoying a career renaissance at age 46. His good form is continuing this week. Westwood, who’s competing this week on a sponsor exemption, is tied for second place at The Honda Classic’s halfway mark after shooting 67-69 in the first two rounds. Only four players have parlayed sponsor exemptions into PGA TOUR victories in the past decade, but Westwood is looking to do it for a second time. Ten years ago, he won the FedEx St. Jude Classic after receiving an invitation into the field. Westwood isn’t a charity case, though. He’s back among the game’s elite after winning the European Tour’s event in Abu Dhabi earlier this year. Beating that star-studded field moved him back into the top 50 of the world ranking. He’s currently the world’s 30th-ranked player. “I’m not sure it’s ever been this enjoyable,â€� Westwood said. “You know, I’ve always almost treated it too seriously. It’s nice to go out there and not really care. I’ve been working quite hard with a psychologist, and he’s given me a different appreciation for golf and life, really.â€� It takes more than happy thoughts to succeed at The Honda Classic, though. Westwood’s strong ball-striking is perfectly suited for this week’s layout. He’s missed just six fairways this week, ranking in the top 10 in driving accuracy and Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee. A hot putter has helped, as well. He’s gained more than four strokes on the greens. Westood, who’s one behind 36-hole leader Brendan Steele, will play in Saturday’s second-to-last group with a countryman who’d like to experience a similar resurgence. In 2011, Luke Donald took the top spot in the world ranking from Westwood. Donald is now 456th in the ranking and had to use a career money list exemption to compete this season. He’s struggled with injuries in recent years, competing just 21 times in the previous two seasons. He’s had just one top-25 in that span. A 66 on Friday also has Donald at 4 under par, one behind Steele. Donald had three 2s on his scorecard, including birdies on both par-3s in the Bear Trap. ‘A back injury at 40 years old, you can lose a bit of momentum,â€� Donald said. “You know, just not being out there, getting the reps in with the competitive feelings, it takes some time to get that back. Obviously confidence breeds confidence, and you need to keep kind of plugging away and getting yourself into position to really help for future times you’re in position. “Lee has obviously proven that age is just a number. He’s been playing great lately. … Just seeing those guys continue to grind and continue to fight and do well, it’s nice to see and certainly it motivates me.â€�

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NEWBURGH, Indiana – Justin Suh closed out his first PGA TOUR-sanctioned victory with a 4-under 68 in the final round of the 2022 season-ending Korn Ferry Tour Championship presented by United Leasing & Finance. Suh made just three bogeys all week at Victoria National Golf Club, the fewest scores of bogey or worse by any player in the field, and finished at 21-under par, two strokes ahead of Austin Eckroat, who was among the 25 players awarded PGA TOUR cards via The Finals 25. By virtue of the victory and the 1,000 points awarded, Suh finished No. 1 on both the Korn Ferry Tour Finals Eligibility Points List and the season-long Korn Ferry Tour Eligibility Points List. As a result of sweeping the No. 1 rankings, Suh will have fully exempt status for the 2022-23 PGA TOUR season, an exemption for the 2023 PLAYERS Championship and, for the first time in history, an exemption for the 2023 U.S. Open. Suh joins world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (2019) and PGA TOUR winner Chesson Hadley (2017) as the only players in history to win both points lists. “My game has progressed so much over the course of the year and it feels extremely gratifying that it paid off,” Suh said. “I wasn’t really thinking about the overall season title. I wanted to win this event, especially since it’s the last Korn Ferry (Tour) event. I knew I could win out here. I’ve been close so many times. To put it all together, it feels great. “It’s one of the most important weeks of the year. I know it’s a lot of stress for guys fighting to get their (PGA) TOUR cards, but it’s an exciting week. I’m just really happy a couple of my friends got in.” Suh carried a one-stroke lead into the final round and maintained the outright lead for the majority of the day. The San Jose, California native birdied the par-4 fourth, bogeyed the par-3 seventh and immediately bounced back with a birdie at the par-4 eighth to turn at 1-under par. Suh birdied two of the first three holes on the back – the par-5 10th and par-4 12th – and put extra distance between he and Eckroat with a birdie at the par-5 15th. “After I birdied No. 12, I felt pretty good there,” Suh said. “It was a big par save on No. 14 and birdie on No. 15. I saw Tano (Goya)’s name at No. 25 on No. 15 and I was nervous for him because he just made a bogey on No. 12 and I knew he was on the bubble. Super happy for him. It was awesome to see him finish.” Goya, who played alongside Suh and Nicholas Lindheim in the final group Sunday, and eventually held on for his first PGA TOUR card as he played the final six holes at 1-under par. Another central figure of drama Sunday afternoon was Kyle Westmoreland, who played collegiately at the United States Air Force Academy and attained the rank of captain as he served a five-year stint with the United States Air Force after graduation. Westmoreland was anywhere from No. 23 to No. 26 on the Korn Ferry Tour Finals Eligibility Points List after he finished his round with a birdie at the par-5 ninth. After a relatively lengthy wait, Westmoreland finished No. 25 and became the first Air Force Academy graduate to earn a PGA TOUR card. The first man out of The Finals 25 was Joey Garber, who double bogeyed the par-4 14th but closed with four consecutive birdies for a chance at a return to the PGA TOUR. Garber signed his scorecard as the No. 25 players on The Finals 25, but Nicolas Echavarria’s bogey-free 6-under 66, highlighted by birdies on the par-5 15th and par-4 17th, ultimately knocked Garber out. The 2023 Korn Ferry Tour schedule will be announced Tuesday, October 4.

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