Justin Thomas thinks Tiger Woods will have ‘a great year’

Brooks Koepka said he doesn’t consider Rory McIlroy to be a rival because the Northern Irishman hasn’t won a major championship since Koepka’s first full-time season on Tour in 2014.

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JERSEY CITY, N.J. – A line of Wyndham robes adorned the walls inside the Liberty National clubhouse with names emblazoned across their backs. When one of the recipients saw Brooks Koepka’s, he joked it might be a bit overdue, given his penchant for some revealing social media posts this season. It was just one of the many lines that brought extra smiles to a well-deserved group of men being honored – the inaugural class of the Wyndham Rewards Top 10. In its first season, the Wyndham Rewards Top 10 sought out to reward the best players over the regular season on the PGA TOUR with an impressive bonus structure. A total of $10 million was spread out over the top 10 players, headlined by a $2 million bonus for top spot. Koepka, with his three-win season, claimed it. Of course, the robes were also welcomed, as were some beautiful trophies. Rory McIlroy, Matt Kuchar, Xander Schauffele, Gary Woodland, Patrick Cantlay, Dustin Johnson, Paul Casey, Webb Simpson and Jon Rahm rounded out the Topo 10. Between them, they won 14 times and had 78 top-10 finishes. “You’re in the top of your class, and that’s a remarkable achievement over a period of 43 regular season events,â€� PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan told the gathering. “To get one of these robes, to be inside the Top 10,  you have to win or you have to be near the top on a number of occasions over the course of the season and you have to play consistently over the course of a season and that is really hard to do. These 10 individuals have done exactly that.â€� Among the dignitaries in the room was Wyndham Hotels and Resorts Non-Executive Chairman of the Board Stephen Holmes. “It’s been a great experience for us,â€� Holmes said of the Wyndham Rewards Top 10. “We couldn’t be more excited to be part of something that recognizes their incredible work through the full year, which is really remarkable. It is great to see a payoff before the Playoffs.â€� While the evening was a chance to celebrate and reflect on the regular season, the players were all aware they have a new focus ahead of them: the three-week sprint for the FedExCup. “To be the inaugural Wyndham Rewards winner is pretty cool,â€� Koepka said. “It’s always nice going in with a little bit of a lead because I’m going to need it, I’m sure. We all know these guys are going to play well these next few weeks. That’s what makes it fun, it was a tight race over the season and it will be a tight race in the Playoffs. I’m looking forward to it.â€� Here’s a snapshot of the regular season for the Wyndham Rewards Top 10. 1. Brooks Koepka – $2 million bonus Wins: 3 – THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES, PGA Championship, World Golf Championships – FedEx St. Jude Invitational FedExCup Points: 2,887 Top 10s: 8 Scoring Average: 69.265 (4th) Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee: +.499 (20th) Strokes Gained: Approach the Green: +.739 (10th) Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green: +.023 (104th) Strokes Gained: Putting: +.217 (49th) Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green: +1.261 (9th) Strokes Gained: Total +1.478 (9th) What he says: “It’s incredible. To look at what I’ve done this year, just show consistency and try to take my game to a new level and I’ve done that. To be up there in the FedExCup with a chance in Atlanta, that’s incredible. And to win the Wyndham Rewards is incredible. That’s what you shoot for. You want to be No. 1, when the season’s done and going into the Playoffs.â€� 2. Rory McIlroy – $1.5 million bonus Wins: 2 – The PLAYERS Championship, RBC Canadian Open FedExCup Points: 2,315 Top 10s: 12 Scoring Average: 69.090 (1st) Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee: +1.215 (1st) Strokes Gained: Approach the Green: +.709 (12th) Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green: +.350 (15th) Strokes Gained: Putting: +.396 (29th) Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green: +2.275 (1st) Strokes Gained: Total +2.670 (1st) What he says: “You want to be as high up as you can be going into the Playoffs. It’s a nice reward for showing a consistent basis of work. Now we need to refocus and try to win the FedExCup.â€� 3. Matt Kuchar – $1.2 million bonus Wins: 2 – Mayakoba Golf Classic, Sony Open in Hawaii FedExCup Points: 2,313 Top 10s: 8 Scoring Average: 69.610 (8th) Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee: +.235 (62nd) Strokes Gained: Approach the Green: +.747 (9th) Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green: +.117 (66th) Strokes Gained: Putting: +.342 (36th) Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green: +1.099 (15th) Strokes Gained: Total +1.441 (13th) What he says: “It’s rewarding season-long consistency and I’m happy with how my season went. It’s great to be part of the bonus and we are all really appreciative of Wyndham and the PGA TOUR for the effort to reward those who perform consistently throughout a season.   4. Xander Schauffele – $1.1 million bonus Wins: 2 – World Golf Championships – HSBC Champions, Sentry Tournament of Champions FedExCup Points: 1,858 Top 10s: 5 Scoring Average: 69.814 (14th) Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee: +.500 (19th) Strokes Gained: Approach the Green: +.355 (44th) Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green: +.239 (36th) Strokes Gained: Putting: +.382 (30th) Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green: +1.093 (16th) Strokes Gained: Total +1.475 (11th), What he says: “I was much happier early in the year and the latter part of the year has been sort of quiet so it doesn’t feel like I am in the Wyndham Rewards Top 10, but it was sure nice to be there. The highlight was the final round in Hawaii – I had a blackout moment there – and that was fun. I am now looking for some good golf to finish off and I know that is just around the corner. Everyone is trying to peak at the right time and I’m no different.â€� 5. Gary Woodland – $1 million bonus Wins: 1 – U.S. Open FedExCup Points: 1,795 Top 10s: 8 Scoring Average: 70.090 (21st) Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee: +.584 (12th) Strokes Gained: Approach the Green: +.568 (23rd) Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green: +.064 (90th) Strokes Gained: Putting: -.119 (133rd) Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green: +1.216 (12th) Strokes Gained: Total +1.097 (21st) What he says: “It’s exciting. Obviously being in the Wyndham Rewards Top 10 sets you up well going into the Playoffs, but it also puts a big emphasis on the year. I got off to a great start with a bunch of top-10s early and then was able to cap it off with a win at the U.S. Open. It’s been good. The win was a big highlight in my career, but hopefully I can settle down and perform in the Playoffs. We are still playing for a lot, we have three big weeks in a row, and I can’t wait.â€� 6. Patrick Cantlay – $850,000 bonus Wins: 1 – the Memorial Tournament Presented by Nationwide FedExCup Points: 1,730 Top 10s: 8 Scoring Average: 69.171 (3rd) Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee: +.586 (11th) Strokes Gained: Approach the Green: +.710 (11th) Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green: +.378 (9th) Strokes Gained: Putting: +.406 (27th) Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green: +1.675 (3rd) Strokes Gained: Total +2.081 (2nd) What he says: “I feel like I played well this year. Not as well as I would have liked, but really solid all year. It’s nice to be in the Wyndham Rewards Top 10 and now the focus shifts to the FedExCup and Playoff events. Winning Memorial was the highlight. Any time you win, it feels great and it is exactly what I am out here for. To win at Jack’s place was really special. I didn’t miss many cuts and had a lot of chances to win. I wasn’t out ahead enough – I would have liked to be in the pole position a bit more as opposed to always trying to fight back from a few behind on Sunday.â€� 7. Dustin Johnson – $700,000 bonus Wins: 1 – World Golf Championships – Mexico Championship FedExCup Points: 1,686 Top 10s: 7 Scoring Average: 69.428 (5th) Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee: +.800 (2nd) Strokes Gained: Approach the Green: +.593 (21st) Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green: +.264 (30th) Strokes Gained: Putting: +.337 (37th) Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green: +1.658 (4th) Strokes Gained: Total +1.995 (3rd) What he says: “I’m pretty happy with my season and it’s nice to be rewarded for playing well over a longer time span. There’s still more to do, but it’s certainly nice recognition.â€� 8. Paul Casey – $600,000 bonus Wins: 1 – Valspar Championship FedExCup Points: 1,629 Top 10s: 6 Scoring Average: 69.812 (13th) Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee: +.642 (9th) Strokes Gained: Approach the Green: +.755 (8th) Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green: +.188 (49th) Strokes Gained: Putting: -.180 (147th) Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green: +1.585 (5th) Strokes Gained: Total +1.405 (14th) What he says: “Wyndham should be proud of what they’ve achieved in the first year and it’s only going to grow. The ultimate prize, we’re trying to win the FedExCup, and guys are doing whatever is necessary to get themselves in the perfect position for that.â€� 9. Webb Simpson – $550,000 bonus Wins: 0 FedExCup Points: 1,619 Top 10s: Scoring Average: 69.161 (2nd) Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee: +.106 (88th) Strokes Gained: Approach the Green: +.705 (13th) Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green: +.322 (19th) Strokes Gained: Putting: +.600 (11th) Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green: +1.134 (14th) Strokes Gained: Total +1.733 (5th) What he says: “It’s a great bonus to w,hat was a long season of good consistent play for me. Going into WGC-(FedEx St. Jude Invitational) Memphis I was an outsider looking in and that was still the same going into the Wyndham Championship, so being part of this is more of a bonus for me than anyone. It took two seconds at the end of the year to sneak in, and to do it at the Wyndham Championship was even more of a thrill.â€� 10. Jon Rahm – $500,000 bonus Wins: 1 – Zurich Classic of New Orleans FedExCup Points: 1,447 Top 10s: 10 Scoring Average: 69.665 (10th) Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee: +.774 (4th) Strokes Gained: Approach the Green: +.303 (52nd) Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green: +.103 (70th) Strokes Gained: Putting: +.297 (40th) Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green: +1.180 (13th) Strokes Gained: Total +1.478 (9th) What he says: “It’s nice to be inside the Top 10, as it shows I had some consistency in performance this year. The Wyndham Rewards Top 10 is incredible and we are very thankful to Wyndham for their partnership with the PGA TOUR. We are very lucky to play the game we love and to have our good play rewarded. I like that there is a reward for a job well done over a full regular season, but also that we still have plenty to play for over the coming weeks.â€�

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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Justin Thomas was already No. 1 in the FedExCup when he got to TPC Sawgrass for THE PLAYERS Championship. Now he’s No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking, too. “I don’t care how I get it, if I get it,â€� Thomas said, “but I would much rather shoot 10 under on the weekend and earn it as opposed to missing the cut and have D.J. not play well.â€� After making the cut on the number at 1-under and rebounding with a third-round 68, Thomas shot a final-round 66 at overcast TPC Sawgrass to finish 11-under (T11). It was out of his hands at that point, and Johnson spun his wheels during a final-round 72 to finish T17, opening the door for the change at the top. “It means a lot,â€� Thomas said, “but it’s something I want to have for a long time, it’s not something I just want to have once.â€� Thomas has won seven times on the PGA TOUR, including twice this season, since the start of the 2017 season. He also won the FedExCup last year. He came into this PLAYERS on the heels of a T21 at the Wells Fargo Championship and a missed cut with partner Bud Cauley at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Although he admitted he got sidetracked earlier this season by the prospect of potentially reaching No. 1, Thomas was able to put it out of his mind at TPC Sawgrass on Sunday. He made six birdies, an eagle and a double-bogey, missing birdie chances from close range on 17 and 18. He said he was headed home with his family to relax and play pool, part of a much-needed rest after three straight weeks on the road. “I love this golf course,â€� he said. “I always have; I’ve always said that. There’s something about it. It’s so exciting to go play because I truly feel like you can shoot 9-, 10-, 11-under, you really can, just because of the length of the golf course and if you’re driving it well and how good the greens are.â€� Tom Lehman, who was at THE PLAYERS in a social capacity before driving to the Regions Tradition, next week’s stop on the PGA TOUR Champions in Birmingham, Alabama, was No. 1 for one week in 1997. “It’s something that’s always next to your name,â€� Lehman said. “No one can take it away, and there aren’t many people who have gotten there.â€� Thomas, who was the college Player of the Year in his freshman year in Alabama, is the 21st person to reach No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking. He wouldn’t say whether or not the achievement appeared on his goals list, which he keeps on his phone. “It’s important,â€� he said, “but like I said, it’s not something where it’s like I just want to do it once. I want to do it for a really, really long time.â€�

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