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Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
PGA Tour Pro Hits Rare Feat, on Verge of Changing Life at Rocket Classic
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Rocket Classic has been a fireworks show from the start. First came Min Woo Lee's sizzling 63, matched by two others to tie the early course record. Then, in a jaw-dropping eight-minute span, Kevin Roy and Aldrich Potgieter each carded 62s to reset the number. Jake Knapp followed with a blistering 61 to break it again. But perhaps the most remarkable moment of the week belonged to a lesser-known name, Philip Knowles, who pulled off a feat so rare, it's only happened a handful of times in PGA Tour history. RIO GRANDE, PUERTO RICO - MARCH 07: Philip Knowles of the United States plays his shot from the 14th tee during the second round of the Puerto Rico Open 2025 at Grand Reserve Golf Club... RIO GRANDE, PUERTO RICO - MARCH 07: Philip Knowles of the United States plays his shot from the 14th tee during the second round of the Puerto Rico Open 2025 at Grand Reserve Golf Club on March 07, 2025 in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. (Photo by) More Getty Images On Friday, Knowles holed out for eagle not once, not twice, but three times! All were from off the green, all on par-5s. He chipped in from 27 yards at the 17th, 37 yards at the 4th, and 40 yards at the 7th to shoot an 8-under. Currently, Knowles holds a share of the 14-under lead alongside Chris Kirk, who fired 9 birdies in Round 2, and Andrew Putnam, who added 4 birdies and an eagle to his card. "I got pretty lucky a couple times," Knowles said after the round. "I hit quality shots that ended up going in the hole, but I can't imagine chipping in three times for eagle ever again in my life." What makes this even more special is Knowles' story behind it. The 28-year-old is playing on a medical exemption after a brutal stretch of injuries and illness. Since 2022, he's battled a severed thumb nerve, shingles in his right eye, and a bout of mononucleosis. He's made just two cuts in 11 starts this season and earned $75,665, a far cry from the $1.728 million winner's check up for grabs this weekend. "I've got two little girls, I've got a wife who needs me to help," he expressed. "It's not like I can spend my days just 'woe is me'". 9 birdies any day is ridiculous but to do it in 30MPH steady winds and to qualify for your hometown event is amazing. Philip Knowles of @UNFGolf via Bradenton post 66 and leads by 2 with only a few groups left. Shoutout to his coach of 10 years @jimraglandgolf @acaseofthegolf1 — chris timmerman (@ctimmerman35) March 17, 2025 Knowles entered the week ranked 195th in FedExCup points and 519th in the world. To retain his PGA Tour card, he must finish inside the top 100 by season's end. A win in Detroit would all but seal it! Despite the pressure, Knowles looked composed. "Though I haven't been in this position, it doesn't feel unfamiliar," he said. "We've all been here at some level, college, junior golf, early pro golf." Going into Sunday's final round, Knowles will tee alongside co-leaders Chris Kirk and Andrew Putnam. With 18 holes to play and his career hanging in the balance, Knowles' aim is crystal clear. More Golf: Rocket Classic: Collin Morikawa Rips Reporter amid Stunning Caddie News
NBC Sports
12 hours ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Why Will Gordon's made cut on number in Detroit meant so much
Will Gordon arguably just made the biggest cut of his life. In the final start of his major medical extension, the 28-year-old Gordon birdied each of his final two holes Friday at the Rocket Classic to card a second straight 3-under 69 and eventually make the cut on the number. Gordon's last birdie, from just inside 6 feet, got him to 6 under, right on the projected cut line. Upon sinking the clutch putt, Gordon gave a few fist pumps before he was seen wiping away tears as he walked off the green, eventually squatting down and burying his face in both hands in an attempt to compose himself. He knew just how big that was. His emotions were still coming out in a post-round interview with Golf Channel's Amy Rogers. Gordon then waited over an hour to see if it was good enough to keep playing into the weekend – and keep his PGA Tour card for a few more months. 'It's not in the back of my mind, it's in the very front,' Gordon said afterward. 'But that's why you play is to put yourself in moments like this, hopefully win golf tournaments. But I'm really proud of myself for executing under that pressure… 'I was just proud of keeping my head in it, fighting to the end. That's what I do. It hadn't been the prettiest kind of last three, four years, but I always fight.' Once Gordon completes 72 holes, he'll earn the 0.644 points required to maintain conditional PGA Tour membership, which means he'll play the rest of this season, through the fall, out of the Nos. 126-150 category. Not great, but also better than the alternative. Missing the cut would've meant Gordon losing his card for the second time in his career. Gordon finished No. 159 in FedExCup points his rookie season in 2020-21, but he re-earned his card via the Korn Ferry Tour Finals the following year. He then finished No. 100 in points in 2022-23 before suffering a neck injury last season. Gordon missed five months after last year's WM Phoenix Open after three vertebrae in his cervicothoracic junction became so inflamed they weren't turning left, and the issue caused ulnar nerve tension down into his elbows. Though he returned in July, he wasn't symptom-free until October, and he would eventually finish No. 191 in points after a T-30 finish at the RSM Classic, where he briefly contended. So far this year, Gordon has missed nine of 13 cuts, though top-10s at the Farmers and Byron Nelson have him at a respectable No. 136 in points. The top 100 in points – down from the top 125 – after this year's RSM Classic keep full membership. 'This is a game that kind of get what you deserve, and unfortunately I haven't played well enough to, you know, give myself more breathing room,' Gordon said. 'It's kind of crazy it's kind of come down to this, but again, you get what you earn in this game and this is what I kind of earned myself. Just try to use it as motivation for whatever comes next.' Gordon can't fully satisfy his major medical without a victory Sunday at Detroit Golf Club. A win, of course, would solve more than that, coming with a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour, among other perks. Gordon is currently eight shots back of leaders Andrew Putnam, Philip Knowles and Chris Kirk. 'Hopefully, I can get a top-10 or something,' Gordon said. 'I'm just thankful for the people around me helping to support me and keep me going, and that's why we'll continue to wake up and do the same thing.'
USA Today
13 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Jason Day, Rickie Fowler, Max Homa headline the field for the 2025 John Deere Classic
Jason Day, Rickie Fowler, Max Homa, Sungjae Im and touranment defending champion Davis Thompson headline the field for the 2025 John Deere Classic. This will be the 30th of 36 regular-season events on the PGA Tour's 2025 FedEx Cup schedule. TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois, is the host venue once again. The golf course is a par 71 that will measure 7,289 yards. A year ago, Thompson won the event for his first PGA Tour victory. He was the 24th golfer to make the JDC his first PGA Tour win. He will return to TPC Deere Run to attempt to defend his title. 2025 John Deere Classic field Field for next week's John Deere Classic:
NBC Sports
3 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Rocket Classic 2025: First-round tee times, groupings at TPC Detroit
Rex Hoggard joins Golf Central to discuss the changes on the horizon for exempt status in the FedExCup, sharing why PGA Tour members are "more aware" of the benchmarks this year. This week's PGA Tour stop is at TPC Detroit for the Rocket Classic. Here's a look at first-round tee times and groupings in Detroit, Michigan (click here for second-round tee times). Golf Channel Staff, Adam Hadwin Victor Perez David Skinns Lanto Griffin Alex Noren Alex Smalley Aaron Baddeley Patrick Fishburn Ben Silverman Carson Young Will Gordon Thorbjørn Olesen Trey Mullinax Rico Hoey Chandler Phillips Andrew Putnam David Lipsky Danny Walker Nico Echavarria Patton Kizzire Peter Malnati Min Woo Lee Cam Davis Wyndham Clark Luke List Lee Hodges Seamus Power Keegan Bradley Collin Morikawa Patrick Cantlay Joe Highsmith Brice Garnett Francesco Molinari Akshay Bhatia Rickie Fowler Matt Fitzpatrick Webb Simpson Zach Johnson Byeong Hun An Nick Dunlap Kurt Kitayama Adam Schenk Karl Vilips Matt Wallace Taylor Moore Erik van Rooyen Matt Kuchar Brandt Snedeker Cameron Champ Michael Kim Jacob Bridgeman Ben Martin Rasmus Højgaard Jeremy Paul Sami Valimaki Max McGreevy Alejandro Tosti Trevor Cone Noah Goodwin Paul Waring Antoine Rozner Quade Cummins David Ford Jesper Svensson Steven Fisk Evan Brown Hayden Springer Kris Ventura Mason Andersen Will Chandler Matthew Riedel Otto Black Michael Thorbjornsen Norman Xiong Michael La Sasso (a) Taylor Dickson John Pak Dominic Clemons (a) Joel Dahmen Keith Mitchell Kevin Roy Justin Lower Mac Meissner Isaiah Salinda Nate Lashley Patrick Rodgers Vince Whaley Ryan Gerard Chan Kim Aldrich Potgieter Danny Willett Henrik Norlander Ryo Hisatsune Ryan Brehm Hayden Buckley Greyson Sigg Stephan Jaeger Jake Knapp Tom Kim Harry Hall Joseph Bramlett Aaron Wise Ben Griffin Hideki Matsuyama Max Homa Davis Thompson Chris Kirk Si Woo Kim Austin Eckroat Gary Woodland Cameron Young Matt McCarty Davis Riley Camilo Villegas Chris Gotterup Emiliano Grillo Adam Svensson Garrick Higgo Rafael Campos Nick Hardy Mark Hubbard Max Greyserman Nicolai Højgaard Chad Ramey Sam Ryder Harry Higgs Ryan Palmer Beau Hossler Ben Kohles Kevin Kisner Doug Ghim Ricky Castillo Kevin Velo Luke Clanton Brett White Harrison Endycott Takumi Kanaya William Mouw Frankie Capan III Braden Thornberry James Piot Paul Peterson Kaito Onishi Andi Xu Philip Knowles Thomas Rosenmueller Ben Cook Thriston Lawrence Jackson Suber Joe Hooks Anders Albertson Cristobal Del Solar Vince Covello Rikuya Hoshino Gordon Sargent Ashton McCulloch (a)
NBC Sports
3 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Who is safe, who is in trouble with FedExCup playoffs on the horizon
With the final signature event of the season in the books and just one major championship left on the calendar, the PGA Tour has reached its home stretch. Only six weeks – and eight tournaments – remain until the start of the FedExCup playoffs. Here's a quick playoff refresher: The top 70 players in points will qualify for the playoff opener, the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis, after which the top 50 will advance to the BMW Championship at Caves Valley in Maryland. There is no more staggered-start format for the Tour Championship, though the top 30 players through the BMW will still move on to East Lake, where it will be winner takes all after 72 holes of stroke play. So, what does the playoff picture currently look like? Thanks to some research by X's @Robopz, we have a clearer idea. Playoff and 2026 Projected Status Update As per these projections... 48 of the 70 playoff spots are already set with another 10 within 100 of the projected 700 points needed to make Memphis Only 10 players have reached the projected threshold to make the Tour Championship so… Who's clinched what? Entering this week's Rocket Classic in Detroit, 10 players have already clinched spots in the Tour Championship: Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Sepp Straka, Russell Henley, Justin Thomas, Ben Griffin, J.J. Spaun, Keegan Bradley, Harris English and Tommy Fleetwood. Another 16, including Ludvig Åberg, Collin Morikawa, Patrick Cantlay and Viktor Hovland, already have BMW berths locked up. And a grand total of 48 players have earned enough points to likely qualify for the playoffs, including the current No. 48 in points, Stephan Jaeger. Mac Hughes, at No. 49 in points, is the first player still with work to do, per @Robopz, though Hughes and eight others right behind him are guaranteed to finish in the top 100, which starting this year serves as the post-fall cutoff to maintain fully exempt status on the PGA Tour. Most of this group, including No. 51 Tony Finau and No. 53 Xander Schauffele, already have their cards guaranteed through at least next season, but Hughes and Patrick Rodgers need to stay inside the top 100 to avoid losing their full cards. On and around the bubble Karl Vilips is the current playoff bubble boy, right at No. 70, and just four points ahead of current first man out, Erik van Rooyen. Other notables just outside the playoff cutoff include No. 74 Matt Fitzpatrick, No. 75 Wyndham Clark, No. 78 Billy Horschel (out for season after hip surgery), No. 80 Adam Scott, No. 84 Tom Kim, No. 87 Nicolai Hojgaard, No. 88 Joel Dahmen and No. 98 Zach Johnson. No. 116 Max Homa and No. 126 Sahith Theegala (currently on the shelf with a neck issue) are among the bigger names outside the top 100. 65. Gary Woodland, +36 66. Nico Echavarria, +31 67. Ryo Hisatsune, +18 68. Davis Thompson, +15 69. Rickie Fowler, +14 70. Karl Vilips, 471 points — 71. Erik van Rooyen, -4 72. Christiaan Bezuidenhout, -19 73. Aldrich Potgieter, -30 74. Matt Fitzpatrick, -32 75. Wyndham Clark, -48 A tall (re)order Vilips is one of just three reorder-category players inside the top 70 right now, along with No. 37 Ryan Gerard and No. 56 Brian Campbell – and he's one of just nine reorder guys inside the top 100. Kevin Roy is right on the bubble at No. 100. Last year, the reorder players – specifically the group that includes DP World Tour, Korn Ferry Tour and Q-School grads, and minus the medical extensions – kept their cards at a 48% clip (21 of 44). That number was helped by the DPWT guys, who went 6 for 9. And, of course, that was with the top 125 in FedExCup points maintaining full status. This year, the current percentage is right at 20%. Churn, baby, churn As for this year's signature crop of players, 29 of them are currently inside this year's top 50 in points. Another five of them (34 total) are inside the top 70. Eight are sitting outside the top 100, though five of those players, including Homa, Theegala and Nick Dunlap, are exempt through at least next season. Will Zalatoris is No. 111 and out for the season after back surgery, though he will certainly have a good-sized major medical extension. As will No. 151 Alex Noren, who missed the first several months of this season with multiple injuries. No. 112 Adam Hadwin is the third signature player outside the top 100 and with no status to fall back on. Beyond 100 Here is the full list of players outside the top 100 who have status through at least next season: 101. Chris Kirk 102. Emiliano Grillo 116. Max Homa 126. Sahith Theegala 129. Nick Dunlap 130. Brice Garnett 132. Kurt Kitayama 152. Matthieu Pavon 169. Webb Simpson 180. Rafa Campos 181. Patton Kizzire 192. Peter Malnati NR. Tiger Woods And here are some names outside the top 100 who don't (aside from a potential career-money exemption being activated): 104. Brandt Snedeker 110. Michael Thorbjornsen 113. Matt Wallace 119. Charley Hoffman 131. Doug Ghim 132. Matt Kuchar 138. Danny Willett 172. Nick Hardy 174. K.H. Lee 175. Taylor Montgomery 178. Vincent Norrman 187. Zac Blair
