RESULTS FORTINET CHAMPIONSHIP SEPTEMBER 14 TO 17, 2023

RESULTS FORTINET CHAMPIONSHIP SEPTEMBER 14 TO 17, 2023

FIRST ROUND

#1 Lucas Herbert-9 63. He was picked to finish 7th at 35/1.

#2 S.H. Kim-7 65 He was the 2022 Korn Ferry player of the year and earned his PGA Card.

#3 Jason Dufner-6 66 Turned pro in 2000 and won the PGA in 2013.  Would be a nice win.

#13 Sahith Theegala-4 68 Maybe its his time.

#13 Eric Cole-4 68 My #1 longshot.

#20 Justin Thomas-3 69 First tournament since August 6. 

#35 Max Homa-2 70 One DB and 1 bogie.

SECOND ROUND

#1 Sahith Theegala-12 64 Like I said maybe its his time to get his first win.

#2 Eric Cole-10 66 At 35/1 who knows.

#3 Justin Thomas-8 67 Two good RDS in, let’s make it 4.  Happy for him.

#3 Max Homa-8 Still has a chance for 3 in a row.

Cut-1 My boy Harry Higgs (250/1) missed cut at +2.  Nobody else matters.

THIRD ROUND

#1 S Theegala-17 67 Birdies 4 of final 7 holes to take the lead.

#2 S. H. Kim-15 This will be his best finish since joining the PGA.

#2 Justin Thomas-15 65 Eagles from bunker on 15 and 5 birdies.  Only 2 bogies in 3 RDs.

#2 Cameron Davis-15/ 28 year old Australian, has 1 PGA win Rocket Mortgage in 2021. 

#5 Matt Kucher-14 At 45 he is still playing well, has 9 PGA wins but no majors.

#5 Eric Cole-14 No doubt he will make top 5.

#11 Max Homa-10. Keeps playing well.

FINAL ROUND

#1 Sahith Theegala-21 68 Led the entire RD. And gets his first PGA win. $1.512M 

#2 S.H. Kim-19 68 Finished strong but Theegala would not fold. $915.6K

#3 Cameron Davis-17 70 His best finish in a long time. $579.6K

#4 Eric Cole-16 70  Another strong finish.  Shoe in for rookie of the year at 35. $411.6K

#5 Justin Thomas-15 72 Had 3 very good RDs, may be ok for Ryder Cup. $344.4K

#7 Max Homa-13 69 Played well but not well enough to win. $225.2K

#7 Matt Kucher-13 73 He falters in Rd 4 but was in it for first 3 RDs. $225.2K

The future and importance for these events in 2024 and beyond is questionable.  It is an excellent opportunity for players not part of top 50 or 70 to qualify for future events. 

Being in secondary markets and limited TV coverage and competes with college and NFL football, they attract a field more like the Korn Ferry, not the PGA Tour.  Like other major sports there must be some break, and with longer seasons and playoffs, the off season is shorter.

With the influx of PIF money, there will be greater opportunities to have high purse Fall events, and the top players may be able to pick and choose the ones they want to play in. However the new PGA/LIV agreement may set up lucrative events including Fall season and determine who plays.