– Tom Kim (+3) and Nicolai Hojgaard (+2) have found themselves in a bit of a mess on the first day of the Wyndham Championship, the last tournament of the regular season of the PGA Tour, which means it’s also the last chance to qualify for the Playoffs. Both the South Korean and the Dane are currently outside the top 70 of the FedEx Cup who will play the first tournament of that post-season. Therefore, they need to play well this week at the Sedgefield Country Club. Right now, they are teetering on the edge and with one foot already in a sandal. They can still make a comeback, but they are already seven and six shots respectively from the likely cut tomorrow.
Tom Kim missing the cut is a setback for a player whose upward trajectory has evidently slowed this year. The consequences are even worse for Nicolai. If he misses the Playoffs, he would lose the best possible stage to convince Luke Donald and his assistants that he can and should be at the Ryder Cup in Bethpage.
– The other side of the coin belongs this Thursday to the members of the clutch brigade. Those who are outside the Playoffs have a very tough task, but they have started well in this final test. This is the case for the leader Joel Dahmen (-9), beyond the 100th position in the FedEx Cup, who only benefits from a great result in Greensboro. He’s working on it.
We also include Alex Noren (-8) here, in second place. The Swede is even more in need because he only benefits from winning, something he has yet to achieve on the PGA Tour. A good start also for Adam Scott (-5). He has positioned himself seventh. He needs to finish this week at least tied for third with another. Between a rock and a hard place and a bit more. Matt Wallace (-5) is another in a similar situation. What can be said about Max Homa (-4), who only benefits from winning. A good start. At least, he keeps hope alive.
– Not as urgently in need, at least not immediately, is Jordan Spieth (-5). His place in the first Playoff is more than assured, however, his journey is on a different path. It’s the need to win again on the PGA Tour.
