Visiting West Virginia

Last week at the RBC Canadian Open Jim Furyk, Ernie Els, Matt Kuchar, Anthony Kim and Luke Donald made the quick turn around from Royal St. George’s to Shaughnessy outside of Vancouver.

Now Phil Mickelson, Anthony Kim, Sergio Garcia and Tom Watson are making the trip to Greenbrier, yes Greenbrier in West Virginia. Now the question is why. The answer is very simple, money!

The PGA Tour doesn’t allow appearances fees as the European Tour does, so agents and players have to be more creative, an endorsement deal, a dinner speech or a clinic during the week.

So if you’re wondering why players, like Mickelson, Kim and Watson, show up to events that have issues getting top-notch players, that’s why.

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Not Ready Yet

Patrick Cantlay is going to be a sophomore at UCLA. But as opposed to last year at this time, when he was making the transition from high school to college, Cantlay is one of the hottest amateur golfers in the country.

Receiving both the Nicklaus (best player in the country) and Mickelson (best freshman), Cantlay was just getting started. He qualified for the U.S. Open finishing T21 at Congressional. The following week he was tied for the lead after 36 holes at the Travelers Championship, but faltered and finished T24. Next was AT&T National, finishing T20, and then last week at RBC Canadian Open, posting 68-69 to finish T9 on a very difficult golf course.

Cantlay will now get ready for the top amateur event, the U.S. Amateur in a month at Erin Hills, and then the Walker Cup at Royal Aberdeen. And then it’s off to college, but this may be the last year as a Bruin.

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FedEx Cup

There are only four events left to gain points for this year’s FedEx Cup playoffs. With the cutoff—only the top 125 play in the first event—it is interesting to see who is on the bubble currently.

From 120 to 130 are David Hearn, Matt Jones, James Driscoll, Heath Slocum, Alex Cejka, Padraig Harrington, Michael Putnam, Tim Clark, Steve Bowditch, Josh Teater and Zack Miller.

Believe it or not, Ernie Els is at 131 and Tiger Woods is at 133. Els is playing and has control of his own destiny. Woods is still up in the air. But one thing is clear, if he comes back, he better be ready to play or he will not have a place to play for over a month, even if healthy.