Big guns go quite after failing to qualify for third round of the FedExCup Playoffs: Part 1
South African golfer, Ernie Els was among the few contenders in the Deutsche Bank Championship at the second leg of the FedExCup Playoffs Championship who barely managed to reserve a berth in the top-70 and proceed to the third leg of the event.
The event was won by young American, Webb Simpson, who pulled in a second victory on the tour in the current season and is now at the top of the FedExCup Money List, closely followed by Dustin Johnson on the second spot.
This was the second time in continuation that Els was on the brim of falling off the lucrative FedExCup Playoffs after his lacklustre performance in the opening event, The Barclays. Els, who is one of the most successful South African player in recent times
and also boosts of a World Golf Hall of Famer badge under his belt, stood up to the challenge to stay on course.
Els needed a birdie on the 18th hole on Monday, September 5, at TPC Boston to climb up the top-70. The burly South African went up and down the green and pulled in a spectacular birdie to settle for 68, on the Money List, staying on course for
the BMW Championship this week.
“The last three weeks I've been really under the gun,” Els said. “I really tried to stick in there this time. As I say, the emotions and the stuff that I've been going through are very similar to trying to win a golf tournament. It's good to be on the bottom
of the pile, also. I think adversity makes you stronger so I'll be fine.”
Likewise, Chris Stroud also pulled in an amazing round on the final day of the event to settle at 70, the last man qualifying for the next event. Hoping to capitalise on his earlier gains, Shroud crashed for a nightmarish final round where he fell for consecutive
bogeys and double-bogeys to fall behind. Not giving up hope, Shroud carded a blistering eagle on the last hole, par-five, 18th, to head back to the clubhouse fairly satisfied.
“I knew I blew myself out there,” Stroud acknowledged. “It's nice, you've got to have some breaks in this game. Today was just a rough day all the way around.” Stroud has made 14 cuts in his 24 appearances for the season and has missed nine of them, amassing
a total of $950,554 to settle for the number 70 spot.
Geoff Ogilvy, who has kept a low profile all throughout the year, also barely managed to stay in contention for the third leg of the event, settling for a dangerous number 69 position on the Money List.
Continued in Part 2
Tags: