Weekly Read Fore! Things: Time Running Out to Secure Playoff Berths

Lee Hodges punched his ticket with the 3M Open win, others will need a big finale at the Wyndham Championship.

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Fore! Things

1. Lee Hodges’s victory at the 3M Open was the 11th by a first-time winner this season on the PGA Tour.

2. The victory moved Hodges up 41 spots in the FedEx Cup standings, from outside of the top 70 into 33rd, meaning he is a lock for the playoffs and all but certain of making it to the BMW Championship, the second playoff event.

3. Beau Hossler made 10 birdies during a final-round 62 at TPC Twin Cities, including eight in a row, one off the Tour record of nine straight.

4. It was a wild final day at Royal Porthcawl in Wales for the Senior Open, where Alex Cejka prevailed in a playoff over Padraig Harrington, who shot a final-round 75 to tie the German at 5 over par. Harrington began his round in 4 over par through four holes but played the remaining 14 holes in a remarkable even par in gusty, windy, rainy conditions that saw just two players match par-71. Colin Montgomerie shot 88.

Fore! More Things

1. This week’s Wyndham Championship is the 44th and final regular-season event on the PGA Tour schedule and the final opportunity to qualify for the FedEx Cup playoffs, which for the first time will see just 70 players qualify for the first event, the FedEx St. Jude Invitational.

2. Among the players outside the top 70 who are competing at the Wyndham are Justin Thomas, Adam Scott and Gary Woodland. If they fail to qualify for the playoffs, their status for 2024 is secure, but their ability to play in designated events could be impacted. The top 50 in FedEx points automatically qualify for each of the designated events, including the season-opening Sentry Tournament of Champions.

3. The LIV Golf League resumes its schedule with the 10th of 14 events for 2023. The LIV Golf Greenbrier tournament will be followed next week by LIV Golf Bedminster. Following those events, there will be three remaining: Chicago, Jeddah, Miami.

4. There are 24 days until the first round of the PGA Tour’s season-ending Tour Championship. And it is 60 days until the first session of the Ryder Cup in Italy.