Wyndham Championship report: What happened at Sedgefield Country Club?
JT Poston grabbed his first PGA Tour victory in impressive fashion as he played the whole week without dropping a shot – a feat which has only previously been completed in victory by Lee Trevino in 1974.
Eagle for @JT_ThePostman.
He's solo 2nd.
If he wins, he'd be the first player since 1974 to win an individual, 72-hole TOUR event without making a bogey.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/edYpSvamAx
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 4, 2019
The American was by far the best player on Sunday and carded a final round of 8-under-par which included six birdies and an eagle at the par-5 5th.
This what locked-in looks like. 🔒🔒@JT_ThePostman is delivering. ✉️📬#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/7pK0naBo7A
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 4, 2019
Poston reeled in 54-hole leader Byeong Hun An who also was bogey-free at the beginning of the fourth round, but the South Korean did not make it easy.
Back-to-back birdies for @ByeongHunAn.
He holds the solo lead @WyndhamChamp.
An is seeking his first win in his 94th start on TOUR.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/P2JfpRMRTE
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 4, 2019
An was never more than a shot or two from Poston but required a birdie at the final hole to force a play-off. When his tee shot found the trees, it was a tough task and a bogey dropped him into 3rd.
His playing partner, Webb Simpson, secured 2nd place all for himself with a closing 65, carding birdies on four of his final five holes.
They're going in from everywhere.
📺: https://t.co/xTqyfA0N7Y pic.twitter.com/sAhaX21WdK
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 4, 2019
Wyndham Championship report: Talking points
In the final week before the FedEx Cup Play-offs, it was do or die for many players.
For those finishing outside the top 125 in the FedEx Cup standings, it would mean no tour card for next season unless already exempt through another avenue.
If a player is outside the 125 but has won a PGA Tour event, a major, the FedEx Cup, the Players Championship, a WGC event, Memorial or the Arnold Palmer Invitational then they will still be exempt for the following season.
Alternatively, if you sit within the top 50 of the all-time PGA money list you will also be exempt. But, this can only be once to keep hold of a card.
So who missed out? Well, there are a couple of surprises.
The biggest name is Martin Kaymer. The two-time major champion has had a poor few seasons and despite some signs of form recently, it’s not been enough.
The German isn’t able to lean on any of the conditional exemptions as he has only teed it up in 14 PGA Tour events this season, with 15 being the required amount.
Beau Hossler is another name who we have become used to seeing on tour but he is yet to secure a victory. The American has a disappointing week at the Wyndham and missed the cut, losing his exemption.
Lost my tour card today. Two things: I’m lucky to be where I’m at, with the support of a great team and family. And success is going to taste much sweeter after this setback.
— Beau Hossler (@beauhossler) August 2, 2019
Former World No. 1 Luke Donald and Hunter Mahan are two other casualties who will be heading to the Korn Ferry Finals.
Any player who is inside the top 200 of the FedEx Cup standings but missed out on a card will be entered for the three event competition where there are 25 cards available.
On the other side of the fence there are the players who have secured their cards this week. There were only two players who did so – Patton Kizzire and Andrew Landry.
**
There was yet another interesting breach of the Rules of Golf this week thanks to Brendan Steele and his caddie.
While playing his second round, the American who was already battling to keep his card broke rule 4-3. The rule states that a player cannot use a training aid, or non-conforming stick to help prepare for a stroke.
Steele asked his caddie to check his alignment and that’s when the breach occurred. His caddie used an alignment stick to check the line and this is classed as a training aid, which meant he would incur a two-shot penalty.
Alignment sticks are commonly used by players when practising but are not permitted for use on during a tournament.
Steele did call in a rules official while out on the course, suspected that this might have been an issue and he was correct. This is when the penalty was confirmed.
The player said that the official stated: “an umbrella and a club was fine to use, but a stick’s not.”
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