Champ Hoists the Trophy
Cock-a-doodle-doo. While most of the big names were playing in China there was another tournament being played state side and it had its fair share of story lines. PGA rookie and driving distance sensation Cameron Champ took home the coveted Cock Trophy. Not like the one Danielle Kang kissed last week. This thing is a trophy shaped like a GD rooster or maybe it’s a chicken. It has to be a chicken there is no way Sanderson Farms has built their brand of quality chicken by selling rooster meat. Let’s get back on topic here.
Champ went wire to wire to get his first win on tour. He did it in style as well absolutely crushing the ball off the tee. Averaging 330+ on the measured holes and 308 on all holes. That stat is unheard of. In fact, only one other player has averaged over 330 on measured holes and won a tournament and that guy is Dustin Johnson. So, Cam is in pretty good company. But just when you think Cameron is this one trick pony he goes and one putts the last 6 holes of the tournament to wrap up his first win.
He also hit an early candidate for shot of the year on the 72nd hole. After driving his ball waaaayyyy left he had to hit 165 yard punch shot under and around a tree with what looked like a 6 iron. He kept it about 10 feet off the ground the whole way and it settled about 8 feet from the hole. He then calmly tapped that putt in to win by 4 shots.
The Field
In what was an extremely watered-down field there is a few bright spots to touch on. Canadian Corey Connors and his goofy swing finished 4 shots back and in solo 2nd place. I really wish I could say this is a jumping off point for his career but unless he does a swing overhaul I don’t think his swing is consistent enough to be a regular performer on the PGA tour (Feel free to screenshot and rub this in my face when he wins a major or something). Having said that Connors did have a chance on Sunday and was a putt made and a champ putt miss away from being tied going into the 72nd. But a good showing none the less for the Canadian.
Three other Canadians made the cut this week. Nick Taylor finished T26 and Adam Svensson and Ben Silverman finished T39. David Hearn and soon to be FOTP Roger Sloan both missed the cut. But all in all not a bad showing by the Canadians this week on the PGA tour.
Notables
Some other notable finishes include DJ Trahan wearing quite possibly the worst outfit in the history of the PGA tour. I will try to do this justice with my description. Picture a pair of baggy khakis right out Hal Sutton’s 90s closet, a greeny grey camo golf shirt, a blue hat, a belt that looked like he wore during his grade 9 goth days and a pair of 50 year old man Nike’s (you know the ones). Look good, feel good, play good. No wonder you shot the 18th worst score of the day Donald Jr. After all that DJ still finished T7. Lucas Glover finished T14 and took home 75K in earnings so that means he likely won’t show up to the next tournament with a black eye from “running into a door”.
Friend of the Pod Rory Sabbatini had me excited early starting off the week hot and looking like he could help me cross off one of my seasons bold predictions, but he cooled off the rest of the way and finished in a tie for 20th. Did anyone else think Carl Pettersson was dead? Or at least a contender for the “where are they now” articles? But turns out he is still on tour and missed the cut this week. Carl struggled this week no doubt, but worst place honors goes to the taco belt wearing trick shot artist Wesley Bryan. A smooth 78, 82 had him take home the Steven Bowditch award this week.
Pleasant Surprise
Another playing of the Sanderson Farms Championship is in the books and Cam Champ has a cock trophy on his mantle. I have to say for being the “other” tournament this week. The Sanderson Farms was the more entertaining of the two tournaments. You had a rookie sensation have his coming out party and a Canadian in the mix the entire tournament. Or maybe it was because the Sanderson had guys who have announced for a golf tournament before because the WGC team was a joke I don’t know which UK pub they dragged these guys out of and gave a microphone to but it made it tough to watch. Or maybe it was because I didn’t win the DTG picks again this week for the 2nd week in a row and my go to guys have been stinking up the course lately…I Don’t know. But whatever it was and whichever tournament you watched it was a pretty darn good weekend for golf.