Consistency, discipline key for John Pak, the top golfer in PGA TOUR University Ranking

Everyone associated with the game – players, media, fans – has his or her own memory of what went down that week in 1997 and what it meant to them. It remains one of those rare events where you can still remember where you were and what you were doing when it happened. Tiger Woods winning the Masters at age 21, and in record fashion. “In that win that week, he checked all the boxes,â€� Charles Howell III said. “He’s young, he hit it far, he hit it straight, he had a phenomenal short game. He did it all, and he did it on the biggest, hardest stage in the world. I think in time we’ll look back on that week as sort of a turning point for the professional game.â€� Ernie Els, who in later years would become a frequent major championship bridesmaid to Woods, said he remembered seeing Woods on the range after that roller-coaster opening-round 70 that began with the 40 on the front nine and ended with a 30 on the back, “and I could see the excitement and the joyâ€� in Woods’ face. “He knew he’d won the first hurdle,â€� Els said. “I think he knew then that it was over.â€� Nick Faldo, the defending champion who was paired with Woods in that opening round, knew it was over, too. “The way I analyzed it, he went out in 40, came back in 30 and we didn’t see him for dust for another 14 years,â€� Faldo said. “That was the start of Tiger and the start of his dominance. It was a special day. You go out in 40 and then you win by 12. That’s something pretty unique.â€� Faldo shot 75 that day and followed it with an 81 and missed the cut. Paul Azinger, an 11-time PGA TOUR winner with one major championship and now a TV analyst for NBC and FOX, was paired with Woods in the second round. He began the day one shot ahead of Woods and ended it six shots behind after Woods’ 66 to his 73. “I’d never seen Tiger actually make a full swing and hit a shot — driving range, golf course, nothing —maybe on TV,â€� Azinger recalled. “I said to my caddie on the second hole — there was a little bit of a wait — and I said, ‘You know, I’ve never seen this kid hit a shot. I’m going to watch this.’ I’d heard about how far he hits it. That ball left four feet underneath the top of the trees, which is miles high, never curved an inch, about five feet right of the trees. “It was the most beautiful, picturesque drive I had ever seen in my entire life. I just looked at my caddie and whispered to him, ‘Holy s—.’ That was all I could say. He hit 6- or 7-iron in there to the right of the green, was all ticked off, chunked his chip, took the club and slammed it in the bag, and it went straight to the bottom. It sounded like a drum. I can remember this buzz of the crowd. It was the most unique buzz. He then chipped in for birdie. He shot the easiest 66 that I’d ever seen. “I hit 3-wood, 8-iron to 13 and he hit 3-wood, pitching wedge. I hit driver, 8-iron into 15, he hit driver, pitching wedge. We were two clubs apart, which blew my mind that I was two clubs shorter than anybody on TOUR. I was like, ‘Really? Two clubs? Are you kidding me?’ One club is one thing, two clubs? You can’t defend against being two clubs shorter than somebody. You’re not going to beat that guy. “It intimidated me a little bit. That’s why I tried not to hit balls near Tiger on the practice range, because I wanted to feed my confidence.â€� Azinger said after that second round he’d played with Woods, he thought, “I don’t know how anybody’s going to beat that.â€� “I didn’t jump the gun and predict he would win,â€� Azinger said. “But in my head, I was thinking, ‘Jack [Nicklaus] was right saying that he’s going to win the Masters 10 times.’ I believe him. The bigger the event, the higher he’ll raise the bar. He’s Michael Jordan in long pants.â€� On Friday night, Colin Montgomerie, who was three shots behind Woods at the time, waxed poetic about the fact that the young Woods had never been in the position of taking a major championship lead into the weekend, and how everything changes on the weekend of a major. “The pressure is mounting,â€� Montgomerie said in what clearly was a public warning to Woods. “And I have a lot more experience in major championships.â€� Woods, in his book “The 1997 Masters: My Story,â€� revealed that Montgomerie’s words “definitely motivated me.â€� He shot 65 that Saturday to Montgomerie’s 74, and after the round, Montgomerie spoke as if he’d seen a ghost. “All I have to say is one brief comment today,â€� he told reporters. “There is no chance … we’re all human beings here … (and) there is no chance humanly possible that Tiger is going to lose this tournament. No way.â€� Montgomerie, surely rattled by the thumping he took from Woods on Saturday, shot 81 on Sunday. For Woods it was merely a coronation; playing with Italy’s Costantino Rocca, he shot 69 to win by a record 12 shots. Like millions around the world, Gary Woodland, then a teenager in Kansas, watched it all play out on TV and decided then and there he wanted to become a professional golfer. “That week changed everything for me,â€� Woodland said. It did for a lot of others, too.

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If you’re ever in need of a reminder for when Jay Monahan assumed the role of commissioner of the PGA TOUR as he did at the start of 2017, this year’s FedExCup Playoffs served as a handy reference point. For the first time in the history of the series that launched in 2007, there are new title sponsors on board. The four-event climax of the 2016-17 season opens with the newly named THE NORTHERN TRUST and Dell Technologies Championship, the latter at which Monahan was the first tournament director when it debuted at TPC Boston in 2003. After the scheduled finish of the Dell on Labor Day and a planned week off, the Playoffs will conclude with the BMW Championship and TOUR Championship. More on all four events, their host sites, trends for golfers in the Playoffs and the targets they’re chasing beneath the ranking. The 3-seed. Unlikely to open MC-MC as he did en route to capturing 2015 FedExCup, but this year has paralleled that season. Has a win (2015) and a T2 (2013) at East Lake. The FedExCup points leader is a machine anywhere he competes lately. Two top fives among four top 15s in the majors. Runaway winner recently at Firestone. Showing zero reason why he can’t maintain his current brilliance. Six top 10s in his last eight starts. Won at TPC Boston in 2015, and then finished T4 at Conway Farms. It’s rather amazing that he opens as the 4-seed, and that’s with a T8-T17-T13 run-up. The lineup of this year’s host courses might benefit him the most, too. Trending too strongly to dismiss despite only one top 30 in seven Playoffs starts (T18, 2015 TOUR Championship). Massive year in majors includes U.S. Open breakthrough. The 2013 FedExCup champ rose to 23rd with his victory at Sedgefield, also his fourth straight top 20. T10 at Conway Farms in 2015, and then a T2 at East Lake. The 2016 FedExCup champ is the 44-seed, but that shouldn’t last long. With a concentrated series on which to focus, he’ll be a force as long as his body cooperates. He thrived in his first two spins in the Playoffs with top 15s in eight events. Runner-up at Conway Farms in 2015. The 8-seed has three top fives since title defense in Memphis. Since Player of the Year isn’t quite decided, he can eliminate the doubt. Seeded second to start, the four-time winner this season will have a month’s worth of opportunities. Never lacking for proper confidence, the 18-seed is most definitely short on victories despite phenomenal form. Closed out last year’s Playoffs in 2nd-2nd-4th. Hard to believe he’s only 15th in points but he really didn’t come on until mid-May. Eight top 20s in his last nine starts. Seven consecutive trips to East Lake. Winless since the 2016 NORTHERN TRUST at Bethpage Black. Crashes in at 38th in points on the T2 at the PGA Championship. Top fives in last two tries at TPC Boston. While still a non-winner on TOUR, the 34-year-old Italian is having a career season. After finishing 111th in points in the last two, he’s 31st to open this year’s Playoffs. Checks in at 30th. Already one of the sneakier talents on bigger stages, he’s threatened elsewhere and often. Lost in a playoff in his debut at East Lake last year. The latest evidence that life begins at 40. Perfect in his last 12 starts with top 10s in four of his last seven. The 11-seed won at TPC Boston in 2010 and placed third in 2015. Formerly a streaky sort, the Aussie surprisingly sustained his form since winning at Bay Hill. Six top 20s during his active 9-for-9 stretch. Seeded 14th. As the 20-seed, may need a strong start to fulfill this projection, but accomplished ball-strikers are slump-proof. Top 10s in his last two trips to East Lake (2013, 2016). The lefty acknowledged that his 30th birthday (in January) sparked new focus. It sure has! Ten top 20s in 2017, including a close call at the U.S. Open. Beware the 10-seed. Opens 49th in points and with a bit of steam from a T9 at the PGA Championship. Winner at Conway Farms in 2015. The Playoffs presents proper closure to a challenging 2017. Ultimate wild card. The first-year PGA TOUR member makes his Playoffs debut ranked sixth. Only quantifiable weakness is inexperience, but he’s grinding away at that, too. One of the busiest might surprise casual fans at 28th in points, but he’s recorded six top 10s in 2017. Nine consecutive cuts made upon arrival. Smart, patient and punishing. Slotted eighth in points, he’s yet to resonate in the Playoffs. No top 25s in his last six starts in the series, including both trips through the limited field at East Lake. The 42-seed was 103rd in early July. With his latest renewal of strong putting, he’s poised to finish the job. Won at Conway Farms in 2013 and placed T13 in 2015. Not riding a patented heater, but playing well enough to demand attention as the 19-seed. Would surprise no one if his putter blazes the trail. T2 at TPC Boston in 2014. At 16th in points, he’s terrific position to advance to East Lake for the first time. Ran out of gas late but chalked up eight top 20s in 2017. Zero weaknesses. Benefited by opening as the 17-seed, the sublime ball-striker needs to capitalize on that skill set at Glen Oaks where the greens are unfamiliar. Never played East Lake on TOUR. Relative quiet all summer, the 12-seed should check the box of reaching East Lake for the first time. It’d be cherry on top for the 41-year-old’s return to competition. Notice how he eliminated murmurs of injury this year all the while recording four top fives worldwide, including a T2 at the PGA Championship. Opens as the 35-seed. Seeded 78th, he’s the lowest among this group, but the debutant’s firepower is well-documented. Perfect in nine starts with two top threes since resuming his career. POWER RANKINGS: FedExCup Playoffs RANK PLAYER COMMENT NOTE: In all 10 editions of the Playoffs, the top 13 seeds have advanced to the finale. So, in acknowledgment of that fact, each of this year’s top 13 seeds automatically are included above. After what may have been a blip in 2015 (due to the best golfers performing the best during the Playoffs), the latest iteration of the points system, which curtailed distribution by 20 percent of the system used from 2009-2014, once again turned out the kind of churn that the previous structure yielded. Eight golfers from outside the opening top 30 in points advanced to East Lake. That included eventual FedExCup champion Rory McIlroy, who started as the 36-seed, and Sean O’Hair, whose T2 in the opening event lifted him from 108th to 15th. He completed the Playoffs ranked 27th. O’Hair’s climb is what’s possible but not promised. For example, Jason Kokrak opened 65th in points last year, and then went T7-T8-T17 before settling at 33rd. While there’s lightning in a bottle out there, the long hitter is a reminder that the majority of those who advance to the TOUR Championship likely have enjoyed a fruitful season in advance of the volatility of the Playoffs. After 43 events that comprise the PGA TOUR season, the top 125 in FedExCup points qualified for THE NORTHERN TRUST. Five elected not to compete, including 64-seed Brandt Snedeker, who has already announced that he will not participate in the Playoffs due to discomfort in his sternum joint. Those who are pegging it are treated with the TOUR’s first visit to Glen Oaks Golf Club in Old Westbury, New York. The composite par 70 reads 7,346 yards on the scorecard and should be a joy to play. Plainfield Country Club, host of the 2015 edition, is the only other par 70 in the tournament’s history during the FedExCup era. All other stops were par 71s. At the conclusion of THE NORTHERN TRUST, the updated top 100 in FedExCup points will qualify for the Dell Technologies Championship. TPC Boston is the only site ever used for the tournament, which goes back to Monahan’s introduction. The course is 45 yards longer than it played last year and can now tip at 7,342 yards. The extension was due in large part to significant changes to the par-4 12th hole. The par-4 13th was also modified and reduced by four yards. More on this par 71 the week of the tournament. Only the first two events of the Playoffs will feature 36-hole cuts, but neither is subject to the 54-hole (MDF) cut. All golfers who survive the 36-hole cut are guaranteed 72 holes. The top 70 in points following the Dell Technologies Championship will travel to Conway Farms Golf Club north of Chicago for the BMW Championship. It first hosted in 2013 when Jim Furyk spun a 59 in the second round. The course returned to the rotation in 2015. The par 71 measures 7,208 yards. That reflects an increase of 10 yards, all at the par-5 finishing hole that can now play 585 yards. Short of victory at the BMW, the goal will be to wedge into the top 30 in the FedExCup standings. Those who do will punch a ticket to the TOUR Championship. East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta is the only host the tournament has had during the FedExCup era. If a golfer inside the top five in points upon arrival wins the tournament, he’s guaranteed the FedExCup as well. While primarily the same test in recent years, the most impactful change at East Lake occurred in 2016 when the nines were reversed. This year’s most notable news surrounds the hardware awarded the tournament champion. A replica Calamity Jane putter with which Bobby Jones won 13 majors, including the 1930 grand slam, is now the official trophy. It had been presented merely as a gift to the winner since 2005. Speaking of perks, all of the qualifiers for the FedExCup Playoffs are fully exempt for the 2017-18 season. They’ve also earned invitations into the CareerBuilder Challenge, the RBC Heritage, THE PLAYERS and the Quicken Loans National. The top 80 in points will be eligible for the DEAN & DELUCA Invitational, while the top 70 will be exempt into the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide. The Top 60 are automatically eligible to compete in this fall’s CIMB Classic and CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES, the inaugural tournament in South Korea. For those who finish inside the top 30, they can add starts in the first three majors of 2018 as well as the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship. And because it’s mathematically possible that the FedExCup champion can go the entire year without winning a tournament, he will be exempt into the Sentry Tournament of Champions if not otherwise eligible. He’ll also leave East Lake with the silver trophy, a five-year PGA TOUR exemption and $10 million of the $35 million in bonus prize money reserved for the Playoffs. ROB BOLTON’S WRITING SCHEDULE PGATOUR.COM’s Fantasy Columnist Rob Bolton will be filing his usual staples leading up to this week’s event. Look for the following columns this week. MONDAY: Rookie Ranking, Reshuffle, Medical Extensions, Power Rankings (THE NORTHERN TRUST) TUESDAY*: Power Rankings (FedExCup Playoffs), Sleepers, The Confidence Factor, Fantasy Insider WEDNESDAY: One & Done THURSDAY: Ownership Percentages in PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf and One & Done presented by SERVPRO * – Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM’s Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO, which also publishes on Tuesdays.

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GREENSBORO, N.C. – Justin Rose is a big tennis fan. He particularly likes Roger Federer and what he calls the “grace and elegance” in the way the genial Swede conducts himself and plays the game. Rose feels like he can learn from Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, too, though. The big three of tennis, who have each won a record 20 Grand Slam titles, swing freely and are always focused on their game plan, regardless of what circumstances might arise. “When they’re 15-30 down, they swing for the lines,” Rose said. “They don’t start chipping it back into the middle of the court, they commit to their shots. “Sometimes I find it easier to learn from other sports than I do in my own arena, probably just stubbornness of looking at other players and wanting to learn from them, but definitely when I see tennis players, yeah, they commit 100 percent.” And that’s exactly what Rose has done this week at the Wyndham Championship. He came to Sedgefield Country Club ranked 138th in the FedExCup and in danger of missing the Playoffs for the first time since they were created in 2007. But after rounds on 66 and 65 on the Donald Ross gem, Rose has moved inside the top 125, projected at 117th. Not only is Rose potentially playing his way to Liberty National next week, he’s got a chance to win for the first time since the 2019 Farmers Insurance Open, and 11th overall. He’s tied for fifth with Tyler Duncan and Brian Stuard at 9 under, five strokes off the pace being set by Russell Henley. “So far, so good for sure,” Rose said. “Objective number one is to make it to the Playoffs, but two, if you’re playing well this week, I know I need to finish top-10, but at the same time there’s no point limiting yourself to that kind of thinking at this point. “Winning would go a long way to kind of feel like you can compete in the Playoffs. Listen, that’s all way ahead of me, but tomorrow just kind of keep doing what I’m doing. I think this golf course suits good strategy and good patience, so those are some of the things I’m going to try to continue with over the weekend.” For Rose, who birdied the 72nd hole at the TOUR Championship in 2018 to win the $10 million FedExCup bonus, it’s already been a big week. He found out on Monday that he’d won the Payne Stewart Award, given annually since 2000 to a golfer who exemplifies the late pro’s character, sportsmanship and commitment to charity. He’s happy with the progress he’s seeing on the golf course, too. Rose has kept his mind clear and hit quality shots at the right time. In short, he’s doing what Federer and Djokovic and Federer would do. “Whatever the scenarios are this week, I need to be able to swing freely and commit through coming up the 18th hole with a chance to finish top-10 or a chance to win or whatever it might be,” Rose said. “It’s a great opportunity this week just to continue to kind of practice that kind of hopefully steppingstone back towards playing great.” NOTES: Matthew Wolff may have missed the cut at the Wyndham Championship, but he walked away with $1 million after winning the Aon Risk Reward Challenge. The competition is based on a player’s two best scores each week on a designated hole. He finished with a flourish, too, making birdie on the 15th at Sedgefield on Friday. “Obviously there’s a lot of money to be made out on TOUR, but I’m new out here and every little bit helps,” said the 22-year-old . “And Aon puts on a great contest, year-long contest. Just happy that I got it done. And I knew about it kind of the last couple months, so on the Aon know holes I was a little more nervous than I usually am, but played them pretty well and just came out on top.” … There will be no changes in the final Comcast Business TOUR Top 10 standings after Jason Kokrak, who came to Greensboro ranked No. 12, and Hideki Matsuyama, who was 14th, failed to make the cut. They were the only two who could have moved into the top 10, which is based on FedExCup points, this week. So Collin Morikawa, who won the Open Championship, will get the $2 million bonus. A total of $10 million is donated to the top 10 players with No. 10 earning $500,000. … Three of the six players tied for second after the first round – Scott Piercy, Michael Thompson and Ted Potter Jr. – came to the Wyndham Championship ranked outside the top 125 but were projected inside after the first round. But the hopes of making the Playoffs for Thompson and Potter ended on Friday after they missed the cut. Potter shot 64-77 and Thompson shot 64-74. … Tyler Duncan, who is tied for fifth after shooting 62 on Friday, is currently projected to move into the top 150 at No. 147. He is already exempt for the 2021-22 season by virtue of his win last year at the RSM Classic. … Two players are currently projected to move into the top 200, which would give the access to the Korn Ferry Tour Finals. Kiradech Aphibarnrat moved from No. 204 to 192nd after shooting 68 while David Lingmerth is projected to move from No. 205 to 197th after Friday’s 67. PLAYOFFS BUBBLE WATCH Here are the players who were projected to move in and out of the top 125 at the end of Friday’s second round at Sedgefield Country Club. PROJECTED IN Scott Piercy (126 to projected 80) – Piercy maintained a share of second after shooting 66 on Friday. He is tied with former Wyndham Championship winner Webb Simpson and Olympic silver medalist Rory Sabbatini. Rory Sabbatini (141 to projected 95) – Sabbatini did not make a bogey in his second round of 64. He has made 11 birdies and dropped just one shot to par over the first two rounds. Justin Rose (138 to projected 117) – Rose made his second eagle of the week in shooting 65 on Friday. PROJECTED OUT Ryan Armour (122 to projected 126) – Armour shot 68 on Friday but he missed the cut by one. He still has a chance to make the field for Liberty National but what happens is now out of his control. Patrick Rodgers (123 to projected 127) – Rogers rallied with a 67 but also missed the cut by one. He’s in the same boat as Armour. Bo Hoag (125 to projected 128) – Hoag followed up his 67 with a one-over 71 to miss the cut by a stroke, as well. The bubble boy will have to wait until Sunday night to find out his fate.

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