2021-22 Korn Ferry Tour Graduate Reshuffle

NASSAU, Bahamas – Keegan Bradley would love to be one of the PGA TOUR’s best putters. In his heart, though, he knows that’s not realistic. So he has a more achievable goal for 2019. “This is going to sound weird, but my goal is just to putt average,� he said Wednesday on the eve of the Hero World Challenge. Actually, it’s not weird if you look at the rest of Bradley’s game. Last season, he ranked second in Strokes Gained: Approach-the-Green. The year before, he ranked 10th in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee. The year before, he ranked 25th in Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green. He knows he can put all those elements together, and indeed he ranked 14th in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green last season. In the last six years, he’s never ranked outside the top 30 in that category. Putting has been his nemesis, thanks in part to the anchored putting ban that forced Bradley, among others, to make major adjustments in their game a few years ago. The way Bradley figures it, his game from tee-to-green is good enough to give him a chance in every start … as long as his putting doesn’t derail him. And when his putting is at its best – such as at Aronimink when he won the BMW Championship, ranking first in the field in Strokes Gained: Putting – then he’s hard to beat. “With the way I’m striking the ball, I’m going to be competitive,� Bradley said. “And if I do have weeks where I putt great, I’m going to contend and hopefully win. … “I definitely want to be one of the best putters, for sure, but statistically if I’m near the average on the TOUR, I’m going to gain a lot of shots on the field.� With his victory at Aronimink still fueling his enthusiasm, Bradley is looking forward to making the kind of noise he did in his breakout 2011 season, when he won two events, including the PGA Championship in his first-ever start in a major. “I can’t remember a time I’ve been more excited about a year than next year,� Bradley said. “I’ve got to be careful that I don’t go overboard with that, but I feel as though my golf game is the best it’s ever been. [If] I just kind of keep improving with my putting and stuff, I should be there. I should be ready to go and contend in more tournaments and hopefully win some more.� And if he starts winning some more, he’ll put himself into consideration for a spot on the U.S. Team at the 2019 Presidents Cup in Australia. Bradley hasn’t made a U.S. appearance since the disappointing 2014 Ryder Cup. Missing out on the last four years has been tough for a player who thrives on national pride. “It’s tough not play but it’s even tougher to not even be part of the conversation,� he said. “… Now what’s fun is this year, I feel I have a legitimate shot to make the team. I thought I had that chance in years past, but it was a little distant. This year I feel as though I can make that team, and with Tiger as the captain – for a lot of us players that grew up watching him, that’s going to be pretty incredible.�

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SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Russell Knox recorded four straight birdies on the back nine and fired a 7-under 65 on Thursday for a one-shot lead after the opening round of the Valero Texas Open. RELATED: Leaderboard | Top 10 Valero Texas Opens Knox closed out his round with a seven-foot putt to save par at the par-5 18th at TPC San Antonio, and was one shot ahead of Rasmus Hojgaard. Hojgaard fired a 66 despite a double bogey on his final hole. Matt Kuchar is another stroke back after an opening 5-under 67 and is among a group that includes Denny McCarthy, Aaron Rei and J.J. Spaun. Defending champion Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy finished at even-par 72. They were outside the top 60 after one round and could flirt with the cut line on Friday. Bryson DeChambeau had a 1-over 73. After holing a bunker shot for eagle on his 11th hole and following with a birdie on the next, he made bogey on four of his last six holes. Knox, a 32-year-old Scotsman with two career PGA TOUR wins, started his birdie streak at No. 12. All of his birdie putts were inside 10 feet. At the 15th, he was about 20 feet away from a back pin position following his approach and chipped in from the fringe. It was his second chip-in in the round. “That was one of those kind of bonus birdies that you need when you’re going to have a good day,” Knox said. “Obviously thrilled with the round. It’s been more of the way I want to play.” Hogjaard, a 21-year-old from Denmark and two-rime winner on the DP World Tour, had his sights on the first-round lead heading to his closing hole. But, his drive sailed well left of the fairway. It took him four shots to reach the green on the par-4 ninth. “I had to chip sideways back into the fairway,” he said. “Just was a little too aggressive after that. Yeah, short-sided myself and I didn’t get up and down and suddenly you walk away with double-bogey. Yeah, that was a bit annoying, but it happens.” Kuchar was 5 under after 11 holes. Thirty feet away from the pin on the next hole, he failed to get up and down and missed a seven-foot putt for par. He got a shot back with a birdie on his 14th hole, and parred out, falling short in a bid to match his season-best round of 64 at the Sony Open in Hawaii, where he finished in the top 10. “A lot of good and bad that can happen here on this course,” Kuchar said. “I was kind of managing early on in the round and then found a little something on about the fifth or sixth hole. I started having some birdie chances and converted on a few late in my first nine.” Kuchar has won nine times on the PGA TOUR. McCarthy, Rai and Spaun are looking for their first.

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It wasn’t always this way. In years past, Tiger Woods would separate himself from the rest of the field (on and off the course). Now, with Tiger’s new camaraderie with players, they are just as interested in the hype as we are.

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