This Bud's on Top

I just couldn't bypass that up. We've simplest seen 3 learners win this 12 months at the PGA Tour -- John Huh, Ted Potter Jr., and Jonas Blixt -- so Bud Cauley probably adding to that total is news.

The reality is, Cauley's been a bit flat for the remaining month or so. A T57, T56, and T55 in his remaining three activities (severely, I'm no longer making that up and they're in order like that) is a drop-off from his play in advance within the season. He's made round seventy five% of his cuts, but he had a horrific string of the misses in the course of the summer season.

You would not understand any of that by means of the way he played Thursday at the McGladrey. He published a number of his quality stats this yr at the same time as grabbing a percentage of the lead at -8. He's in the Top four in the field in maximum stats except Driving Distance and GIR, although he is driving it his everyday distance and hitting about 12% greater greens than normal. Granted, he does have a few experience at the course; he says he is played it perhaps 20 instances or so -- sincerely an advantage for a rookie who's commonly seeing guides for the primary time every week.

Some people think Cauley has a chance at Rookie of the Year. Personally my cash's on John Huh, who I suppose performed extra -- specifically being the best rookie to make the FedExCup Playoffs. But as it stands, Cauley's 6 pictures beforehand of Potter, 10 beforehand of Blixt (who's likely nonetheless celebrating), and Huh is not playing. If he can win this weekend, he'll definitely get his call into the controversy.

His bogey-loose first spherical became surely a great start.