There may not be a ton of buzz about this week’s Tech World Championship on the PGA Tour, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter. There are Signature Events to qualify for, world ranking points to collect (with year-end invites to Augusta National at the top) and just a chance to make it, especially for those who haven’t done it … or haven’t done it in a long time.
Below we’ve listed eight players and their specific interest for Sunday’s final round. It’s time to choose your fighter.
Garrick Higgo: 22 under, leader
Rooting interest: The International Presidents Cup team needs Higgo to take another step on the road to stardom. It is now, technically, a Presidents Cup year with the biennial event coming up in just 10 months. Internationals, destroyed by LIFE Golfcould use it.
Carson Young: 21 under, one shot against
Interest in rooting: If you like first time winners, or just people who literally need to make a name for themselves, this is your man. Young is the rare Tour pro who has yet to gain enough notoriety for a Wikipedia page. That could change on Sunday.
Ben Griffin: 20 under, two shots back
Interest in rooting: Benny Booms has been one of the stories of the year. He is rag (mortgage loan officer) to fortune (PGA Tour winner) the story has been a lot of fun to watch. It can get even better with another win.
Nick Dunlap, 17 under, five shots back
Interest in rooting: Anyone who has ever had a driver crunch should take solace in the fact that it grips the minds of even PGA Tour players. Dunlap had one of his worst days as a golfer earlier this year in Mastersbut it has grown a lot in the months since then.
;)
Golf pro Nick Dunlap has hit. But he never lost what he needed
Josh Schrock
Francesco Molinari, 15 under, seven shots against
Interest in rooting: The 2018 Open champion has been in the wilderness since the 2019 Masters. He hasn’t finished in the top 20 of a tournament since this time last year. It will take about 61 to put him in contention for the win, but I’m sure he’ll happily take a top 10.
Patrick Rodgers, 17 under, five shots back
Interest in rooting: If you’re a college golf fan, you want to see Rodgers break through. He won as much as anyone during his time at Stanford and arrived on the PGA Tour alongside the crew of Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele … only to never cross the line for a win yet. He is very late.
Sami Valimaki, 19 under, three shots back
Interest in rooting: Most weeks of the year there is plenty of interest in Nordic roots, in the form of Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Aberg or even Alex Noren. This week, it’s Finland’s Sami Valimaki. The 27-year-old has never won on the PGA Tour and has struggled through an up-and-down season. He could change all that with a 65-year-old Sunday.
Matti Schmid, 18 under, four shots back
