Here at DOT HQ the last several weeks, we’ve been watching the bubble for which former Bulldogs will qualify for the FedEx Cup Playoffs – the PGA Tour’s postseason. Last week in Detroit was fairly kind to some of our boys on the wrong side of the 70th position, so let’s take a look at who did what.
Brendon Todd started the week in 217th place, and only a win would’ve given him hope. Since he missed the cut, he is mathematically eliminated. Harris English was already top 50 and used the Rocket Classic
to work on his game. It looked decent for the first two rounds and he made the weekend, but over par on Saturday and Sunday gave him a 71st place finish and he dropped to #49 on the playoff points list. No need to worry – he’s assured of a playoff berth. Russell Henley was likewise a lock for extended play at #14. He still shot all four rounds under par and tied for 20th. But that actually dropped him 1 spot to #15 in FedEx Cup points – still a lock.
Chris Kirk began last week at #147 and really needed a win to get close to the magic 70th position. His Saturday 66 gave him a realistic shot, and he spent a good chunk of Sunday within 1 or 2 shots of the lead. But a honest-to-God shank early on his final 9 holes really shook him, and his final round 70 meant a tie for 8th and he only moved up to 127th place in the playoff race.
Similarly Davis Thompson began in 93rd spot, and to leapfrog the logjam in front of him required a top 3 finish. He was 2nd page leaderboard material until a Sunday 66 jumped him into a tie with Kirk for 8th, which means he only moved up to 81st. But still within shouting distance and a realistic chance to advance if he gets top 3 or better this week. He finished 11th at Wyndham last year, and Kirk finished 5th, so there’s a chance.
After 34-odd weeks, the PGA Tour’s final regular season event is upon us. 4 majors, 8 signature events, the Players Championship, 20 other regular tournaments and a smattering of opposite-field events are in the books and it all comes down to this week. Sorta (there’s a Fall season that is only kinda official, but can be used to better your status going into 2027).
Tournament: Wyndham Championship, August 6-9, 2026
Course: Sedgefield Country Club par 70, 7,131 yards. It will likely play closer to 6,800 or 6,900 yards each day as they move tee boxes up and back. After a brutal June, the hot and wet July means the small undulating greens are protected by pretty thick rough, so be prepared to find fairways.
Purse: $8.5 million in total, and $1,530,000 to the winner.
Defending Champ: Cameron Young. The Wake Forest Demon Deacon famous for runner-up finishes finally broke through for his first Tour win. And it wasn’t particularly close – he lapped the field and was up 6 or more shots pretty much the entire final round.
Fun Fact: It’s an old-school Donald Ross design in Greensboro, NC which is famous for shuttered textile mills and birthplace of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Literally the ACC was formally brought into existence at the Sedgefield clubhouse. Do you think the ACC founding fathers envisioned Cal as a future member, and having Belichick and Dabo as the flag bearers?
TV Times: Just like last week, Golf Channel has broadcast coverage 3-6 pm ET Thursday and Friday and 1-3 pm ET Saturday and Sunday. CBS will have its last golf broadcast of the year Saturday and Sunday starting at 3 pm ET.
‘Dawgs in the Field: 6. In addition to Thompson, English, and Kirk mentioned above, Keith Mitchell (#47 in FedEx), Brian Harman (#63), and Sepp Straka (#37) are teeing it up this week in Greensboro.
So there’s who to watch and root for. When the only football is NFL preseason, this might be a good alternative. Check out the pressure as millionaires and hundred-thousandaires fight to keep their cushy jobs for next year. And as always…
GO ‘DAWGS!!!
