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RIDGELAND, S.C. – Fifteen of the top 20 players in the world have assembled here at the CJ Cup, and it’s easy to see why.
Limited field with no cut.
Elevated purse.
And guaranteed points.
That latter factor is often repeated by players. This is the final season of the PGA Tour’s wraparound schedule, and the fall slate (nine official events) comprises a fifth of the overall schedule. It might feel like a sleepy time of year, but it’s proven to be vitally important in reaching the Tour Championship. “I don’t want to start behind like I have the last two years,” Jordan Spieth said. And so if the top players are only going to play once or twice in the fall, they might as well have some guarantees for their time. Hence, their appearances here.
But with the Tour ending the wraparound era next fall, the elite player will soon be going into hibernation for … well … the first time in their golfing lives.
It’s quite the sea change.
Full-field tee times from The CJ Cup in South Carolina
Top players have been screaming for years that they want time off at the end of a long season, and it’s been one of the main talking points for the LIV defectors, even if it turned out to be a sham as they chased world ranking points and other opportunities all over the globe. Brooks Koepka – who once claimed that he doesn’t practice before regular-season events – said last week that it “kind of sucks” that the LIV schedule was winding down and players were set to have four months off. After two injury-plagued seasons, he had finally reclaimed his game.
“Every other sport has a pretty significant offseason,” Max Homa said, “and now everybody is wondering what the heck is going to happen.
“Well, we can do whatever we want.”
So what does fall 2023 look like?
Some will disappear from public view and reprioritize their personal lives.
“Taking three to four months off is not a big deal,” said Billy Horschel, noting how players took a lengthy break with the COVID…
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Source : yahoo
