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| Technically, he’s number 3 in the world; but for our purposes, McIlroy is the front runner. Others have written about how he remains a winner at St. Andrews, and I certainly wasn’t in that camp because the birdie’s lack of aggression and inability to convert chances brought him down in the final round at the Old Course. However, despite having to taste the bitter fruit, it is impossible to underestimate what he has done this season. The only person to break into the top 10 in all four major championships, the Northern Ireland international’s statistical record far exceeds his memorable season in 2014. The two wins seem light on the style of play. his own, but McIlroy rose to his chance in the post-season period earlier. A five-time FedEx Cup Playoffs and two-time FedEx Cup winner, one wouldn’t be surprised if he lifted that trophy a third time. Previous Rating: 4 |
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| Today, the term “big game hunter” is willingly dropped, but it may best describe Smith. Win The Open at St. Andrews, the Australian tennis player, has added to his career season with wins at The Players Championship and Tournament of Champions. His aggressiveness – along with his swing – is one of his strongest points, but it can be a double-edged sword at times when he refuses to lay down no matter the shot. That’s what makes him so interesting to watch, and if the payoffs work his way through the next three weeks, he could practically be your PGA Tour Player of the Year. Before: 3 |
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| The defending FedEx Cup champion doesn’t have the same wins as last summer, but make no mistake, Cantlay is playing some great golf. With 10 top 10 finishes in just 17 games this season, his only title came along with his good friend Schauffele at the Zurich Classic. His early-season championship woes are now a thing of the past as he performed so well in the two finals of the season. Since the missed opportunity at the PGA Championship, Cantlay has made six starts, including two podiums, two additional top 10 results and several top 15 attempts for a good measure. . The gear to achieve this consistency has been the highlight as it is starting to resemble the gear after last season. Front: 5 |
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| Cognitive humor can change in just two weeks. Known as a player that languished in the heat of battle, Schauffele won the Tour Championship and the Scottish Open in a heart-stopping fashion. Three times won this season, the 28-year-old’s stability is ultimately paying dividends in the form of titles. Statistically, he has no flaws, and if the mental game continues, he will be a problem in the post-season. Front: 16 |
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| The world No. 1 has had all of the spring months off and it looks like they’ve dried up in the summer heat. Having lost a playoff at the Charles Schwab Challenge, the Texan then came painfully close to tying a player to Matt Fitzpatrick at the US Open. By no means so, he has since struggled with putt in hand, losing shots on the green for three straight games. From tee to green, he’s been on a regular basis, but he’ll need a flat club to cooperate if he is to retain the FedEx Cup number one spot through the Tour Championship. Before: 1 |
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| Doubling his total career wins over a two-week period is impressive. What wasn’t impressive was the opponent he was up against. Split ends, now it’s time for Finau to take back the magic from last season’s post-season when he won his first playoff event at Liberty National in Monday’s finisher against Smith. As usual with the American, he will go as far as he can and as you can imagine, that has been fantastic since turning his season around at the Mexico Open. Since the beginning of May, Finau has had a total of two wins, two runners-up and just one slip in 10 starts. Before: NR |
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| The English player has finally broken through on American soil and in a major way. Winning the US Open at his US Amateur winning venue, he joined the illustrious company of Jack Nicklaus and Juli Inkster as players to win both championships at the same golf course. The win is long overdue as Fitzpatrick remains steady as they arrive this season with a total of 12 top 20 finishes in 18 leagues. Before: 11 |
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| If he plays after The Open, chances are Thomas will put his name on this list. However, the PGA Championship winner looked nothing like his usual self after falling to McIlroy at the Canada Open, where he ended up finishing third. Having taken a forgettable trip to Scotland, the post-winner couldn’t have arrived at a better time and on a better golf course. TPC Southwind rewards elite snooker players, and that’s Thomas’ bread and butter, as shown by his win there in 2020 over Brooks Koepka. Before: 2 |
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| Spieth abroad is another monster as he has collected top 10 finishes in both the Scottish Open and The Open. While he was never really threatening on the Old Course, he did at The Renaissance Club after the third inning with the arrival of two eagles. Leaving defense nine on Sunday, chipped decisions and poor placement were his drop points. The good news for Spieth is that TPC Southwind has treated his pitcher well in the past. Front: 9 |
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| Victory at the Mexico Open was supposed to propel Rahm into a memorable summer, but we’re still waiting for the Spaniard to find his stride. He disappointed in the final round of the US Open, where he was a member of the penultimate group that hadn’t finished T12. His floor is still one of the tallest in the game, but the ceiling hasn’t been of the arched type as of 2022. Front: 6 |
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| Appreciated for Rookie of the Year on the PGA Tour, Young advanced to ninth in the FedEx Cup rankings despite failing to lift a single title. He’s had five runner-ups in his rookie campaign, including twice in his two most recent tournaments, Rocket Mortgage Classic and The Open. Combine this with a pair of third place results and Young finished in the top five with a 32% margin this season. Things will eventually go his way and maybe it will start in Memphis. Before: NR |
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| There is some discomfort in the Zalatoris camp at the moment as he boxed his caddie in the middle of the Wyndham Championship in place of a new companion. It was a surprise, but maybe this is just what the PGA Tour rookie incumbent needs as he prepares to embark on his first round of FedEx Cup Playoffs. The hit was superb, and although it was sometimes aesthetically frustrating, the hitter was competent in the key moments. Front: 10 |
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| It’s been a fantastic season for Burns, who reached the knockout stages with three wins. With the most recent past world No. 1 at Colonial, the Louisianan was unable to match this quality in June and July. Don’t be surprised if he returns to his winning ways in the latter stages. season when he lost in the playoffs to Abraham Ancer in the St. Jude last season. Front: 8 |
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| It was a strange season for the Korean as he won the title early in the fall at the Shriners Children Open but hasn’t won since. Having won consecutive runner-ups at the 3M Open and Wyndham Championship, Im’s trip to Greensboro wasn’t a total loss as he sneaked into the Comcast Business TOUR Top 10 with a regular-season finale. rate. Before: NR |
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| The Irishman was my pick to win the first FedEx Cup Playoff event because he went through a strong season without results. Lowry probably won both the Honda Classic and the RBC Heritage, but the last mistake in the last round got him undone. He arrived in Memphis after a tough performance at the Wyndham Championship, but Lowry looked as good as ever from tee to green. Front: 13 |
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| It’s easy to forget that Hovland has three wins around the world to name him this season when he hit world number three in February. The young Norwegian struggled after the PGA Tour’s Florida Swing but found his form at The Open, where he shared a 54-hole lead with McIlroy. Finally finishing T4, he marked the best end of his career in a major championship and could act as a catalyst for a post-season push. Before: 17 |
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| Since winning the Wells Fargo Championship, Homa has competed at the PGA Championship, the Memorial and the Scottish Open. At tee-off he was excellent and the improvements he made to his short game were noticeable, but the iron play is slowing down a bit. Historically, this has been an area where he excelled, so expect to see a rebound in his near future. Before: 7 |
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| He’s raised the bar at the Masters and US Open, but make no mistake, it’s been a disappointing season for Morikawa. Beating 77 in the third round at The Country Club, he squandered a 36-hole lead before finishing in fifth place. Missing the cut in both Scottish events, the big two-time winner is looking for a spark. At this point last season, he was battling a back injury and battling it out after last season before recovering and winning the DP World Tour in Europe. Front: 18 |
