Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

More to play for than a trophy: Bubble boys look to stay in top 30 to advance

Written by 
Published in Golf
Saturday, 29 August 2020 12:30

OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. – There will be more to play for during the final round at the BMW Championship than a shiny trophy.

Only 30 tickets will be punched for next week’s lucrative season finale at East Lake, and while a vast majority of the Tour Championship field is already solidified, a few spots remain very much up for grabs with one round to go at Olympia Fields.

Although every participant in Atlanta will have a chance to compete for the $15 million top prize, the other perks of advancing are significant: spots in the 2021 Masters, U.S. Open and Open, plus a trip to the WGC-Mexico Championship. This year as added incentive stemming from COVID-19 tournament cancellations, every player that advances to East Lake will also receive a spot in the 2021 Sentry Tournament of Champions, regardless of if they won a PGA Tour event in the previous calendar year.

It’s an appetizing list of exemptions for a player like Mackenzie Hughes, whose lone Tour win came back in 2016. Hughes was a runner-up earlier this year in difficult conditions at the Honda Classic, and he’s again in the mix through three rounds outside Chicago, tied for third and one of only three players with multiple sub-par rounds. Hughes started the week at No. 36 in points, but he’s now projected to move to No. 22 and make his East Lake debut.

“Obviously in between shots your mind wanders sometimes, but this is kind of where you want to be,” Hughes said. “Obviously I would have loved to have locked it up by now, but I’m happy to have this opportunity and I’ll go embrace it tomorrow.”

Like Hughes, Joaquin Niemann is one round away from potentially earning his first Tour Championship berth. The Chilean won the season opener at The Greenbrier nearly 12 months ago, and he started the week just outside the bubble at No. 31. Niemann shot a third-round 68, will join Hughes in Sunday’s penultimate group and is projected to move to No. 18 in points if he maintains his T-3 position.

“I’ll just try to do the same I’ve been doing. I don’t care if I don’t make the Tour Championship or not,” Niemann said. “I just want to play 18 more holes, try to hit the ball great and hit good shots. And after 18, just see what happens.”

The third and final player projected to move into the top 30 based on the 54-hole leaderboard is Adam Scott. Scott has played sparingly this season but won at Riviera in February, and alongside Hughes and Niemann he rounds out the group at 1 over, two shots off the lead. The Aussie started the week at No. 38 but is projected to move to No. 23.

“It would be a great achievement to reach East Lake,” Scott said. “I’ve played very well this year. I had one really great week, but I’ve left myself a lot of work to kind of get in there. Better late than never.”

With three projected to move in, three are projected to move out. Cameron Champ started the week at No. 25, but he’s now the odd man out at No. 31 as he sits T-59 among the 69-player field. Adam Long (27th to 32nd) and Kevin Streelman (28th to 33rd) are also now projected to miss the Tour Championship after starting the week inside the top 30.

Read 361 times

Soccer

USWNT awaits update on Alyssa Naeher leg injury

USWNT awaits update on Alyssa Naeher leg injury

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsUnited States women's national team No. 1 and Chicago Red Stars sta...

Pep: 'Arsenal champions' if City don't beat Spurs

Pep: 'Arsenal champions' if City don't beat Spurs

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPep Guardiola has told his Manchester City players to take their ch...

Villa snatch Liverpool draw on late Durán double

Villa snatch Liverpool draw on late Durán double

Colombian super-sub Jhon Durán scored two late goals as Aston Villa battled back to salvage a 3-3 ho...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Knicks' Robinson has ankle surgery, sources say

Knicks' Robinson has ankle surgery, sources say

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Knicks center Mitchell Robinson had surgery on his left...

Sources: Lakers to start talking with candidates

Sources: Lakers to start talking with candidates

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCHICAGO -- The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to start contacting...

Baseball

Reliever Alzolay (forearm) joins Cubs' crowded IL

Reliever Alzolay (forearm) joins Cubs' crowded IL

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsATLANTA -- Right-hander Adbert Alzolay, who opened the season as th...

Orioles promote Stowers, option Kjerstad to AAA

Orioles promote Stowers, option Kjerstad to AAA

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsIn the midst of his power explosion since the start of spring train...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated