Each week on GolfChannel.com, we’ll examine which players’ stocks and trends are rising and falling in the world of golf.
RISING
Keegan (+8%): How satisfying it must feel, to get his first victory since the anchor ban while pacing the field in putting for much of the BMW. Like Webb Simpson before him, Bradley’s drought-busting title is a testament to his tireless work on the practice green.
Tony Finau (+6%): The big bopper removed any suspense by putting together another strong week at Aronimink. He’s a feel-good story who definitely won’t play like the 12th man at the Ryder Cup.
Justin Rose (+4%): Though disappointed, in the moment, by his playoff loss, it didn’t take long for Rose to see the bigger picture: Twenty years after turning pro, he finally reaches the mountaintop, at age 38. What a career achievement.
Tiger (+2%): It’s the sixth time in his career that he’s shot 263 or lower in a tournament – and the first time that he didn’t win. He’s shooting the scores good enough to get a W. He might just need a little help from his ridiculously talented peers.
Ryder Cup (+1%): Can we fast-forward a few weeks? This cup is going to be an all-timer – 18 of the top 21 players in the world are competing!
FALLING
Paul Casey (-1%): Hopefully his WD from the BMW was merely precautionary, because he didn’t want to slog through a slow round on a soft course with an achy back. The Europeans are counting on this former Ryder Cup dynamo.
Rory’s putting (-2%): He may have been frustrated with his ball-striking after the PGA, but he clearly has figured out his swing changes – he was No. 1 in almost every statistical category at the BMW. He probably would have won, going away, if not for two dreadful putting rounds. The story of his season.
Phil (-3%): With the emergence of Xander Schauffele, Mickelson – once again – figures to be the American with the most pressure on him to perform in Paris. His T-58 at the BMW did little to quiet his chorus of detractors.
FedExCup scenarios (-4%): Finau is third in the standings without a victory this season, which means that there’s a chance (however slight) that he could capture the season-long title without a win this year. To truly blow up the system, we must root for this.
Jordan (-5%): Though it was far from a “lost” year – he nearly won two majors and finished just shy of the top 30 – Spieth’s worst season as a pro is over, one event early. This has the makings of a significant offseason for him, with needed improvements in his driving and putting. Bet on a bounce back.
Source: Internet
