A quiet start to the FedEx Cup playoffs

Since the 2017 NFL season, Tony Romo has spent his Sundays during the fall as the lead analyst for CBS’ top game each week. Prior to that, of course, he played quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. But perhaps this Sunday he’ll be playing golf. Romo is in the field at this week’s Safeway Open, playing on a sponsor exemption as part of the 144-man field at Silverado. It’s his fourth start at a PGA TOUR event, each one as an amateur. Romo is scheduled to work the Minnesota Vikings-Chicago Bears game at Soldier Field on Sunday, but CBS has given him permission to skip the game if he makes the cut. What are the chances of that happening? Well, here’s a look at his previous TOUR results. TONY ROMO’S PGA TOUR RESULTS Here’s what our PGATOUR.COM experts expect from Romo this week at the Safeway Open. BEN EVERILL (Staff Writer): Has as much chance of making the cut as the Dolphins have of making the playoffs this season, so … 0%. SEAN MARTIN (Senior Editor): I’m going to say 5%. He’s a fine amateur player but the PGA TOUR is the biggest stage in golf. MIKE McALLISTER (Managing Editor): I’ll say 1% … well, make it 2% since I grew up in Dallas as a Cowboys fan. But he’s beaten just five golfers (not including WDs) collectively in his three TOUR starts and has missed the cut by a collective 43 strokes. I’m no analytics expert but that doesn’t seem very promising. HELEN ROSS (Contributor): I’ll be generous and say 10%. He’s a solid amateur and obviously a talented athlete. But c’mon, this is the PGA TOUR. It’s a totally different level. ANDREW TURSKY (Equipment Insider): His PGA TOUR playing competitors aren’t defensive lineman trying to rip his head off, and no one can keep him from firing career rounds and slipping under the cutline. The problem is, he hasn’t played very well in professional events, which may affect any confidence he may have had. I’ll go with 9%. CAMERON MORFIT (Staff Writer): I’ll say 5%, but that’s generous. The PGA TOUR is a whole other level, which athletes from other sports always have to learn the hard way. ROB BOLTON (Fantasy Insider): 0%. He’ll be back at his day job on the weekend.

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Just how much can we expect from Tiger Woods? Has Phil Mickelson’s major window closed? Who could be the next breakthrough winner? With the major season over, we answer all the pressing questions.

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Martin Laird … The Scot has slumped in recent months, but he always emerges from hibernation in the Valley of the Sun. He’s also among the bevy of PGA TOUR members who will be sleeping at home this week, and he’s been a fixture at TPC Scottsdale since he first qualified in 2009. In 11 starts, he’s cashed eight times, four of which for a top 10. For various reasons, the final round has been his bane as he’s broken par only once in the last six finales, but his scoring average in his last 24 competitive loops overall is 68.75. Matt Jones … Like Laird, the native Aussie is a local resident, but Jones hasn’t qualified since 2017 when he needed a sponsor exemption to crack the field. He finished T36 for his fifth straight cut made in the tournament. He committed to this year’s edition on merit and with six consecutive paydays worldwide in tow, the highlight of which a victory at his national open in early December. He launched the streak with a T20 in South Korea and he opened the season with a T10 at Greenbrier. Bud Cauley … En route to a T4 at PGA WEST two weeks ago, he revealed that he had knee surgery in the fall. That explains why he sat out after a T9 in Houston, but both results are evidence that he was well enough then and feeling good again now. In his last 10 starts, five of his six cuts made went for a top 25. Inside the top 40 on TOUR this season in Strokes Gained: Putting, scrambling, par-5 scoring and adjusted scoring. Also 4-for-5 at TPC Scottsdale. Chesson Hadley … The last time he was included in this group, he finished T18 at the Shriners in October. It’s the best result of his last 13 starts. His track record at TPC Summerlin is terrific, so it was an easy call for the tall drink of water. His history at TPC Scottsdale isn’t as strong, but it’s getting there. He’s 3-for-4 with a T5 in 2018 and a T20 last year. When he’s on, his irons are responsible. Thus far this season, he’s 29th in greens hit, T33 in proximity and 15th in Strokes Gained: Approach-the Green, but he’s also 34th in putting: birdies-or-better, so there’s fire to follow the spark. Kiradech Aphibarnrat … Remember this guy? The Thai turned 30 last July and qualified for his first FedExCup Playoffs, but it was a disappointing summer and early fall until he finished T8 at THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES. It sparked a modest consecutive cuts made streak of five that remains active as he pegs it at TPC Scottsdale for the third time. He placed T33 last year while averaging only 11 greens in regulation per round (T66). He did his work on the greens, slotting third in both Strokes Gained: Putting and putting: birdies-or-better percentage. It’s his strongest skill, so this week’s objective it to set up more scoring opportunities to let it shine. NOTE: Sleeper is a relative term, so Rob uses unofficial criteria to determine who qualifies. Each of the following usually is determined to be ineligible for this weekly staple: Winners of the tournament on the current host course; winners in the same season; recent major champions; top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking; recent participants of team competitions.

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