Taylor Montgomery is going to be just fine. The big-hitting PGA Tour rookie is already well on his way to a successful first campaign on tour. He’s projected to remain inside the top 20 of the FedEx Cup standings after this week, and at 56th in the Official World Golf Ranking, he still has an opportunity to play his way into the Masters over the next two weeks. He’s going places.

But man, his finish at the Players Championship on Sunday is going to sting for at least a little while.

Montgomery, 31, began the day at seven-under, well off the lead of Scottie Scheffler but in prime position to make a run at some serious coin. A top-10 finish at TPC Sawgrass this week earned players over $600,000. Top five? Over $1 million. Hell, Montgomery could have shot even par on Sunday and still made over half a million.

But the Las Vegas resident was clearly dreaming bigger in the middle portion of his round, when he began ascending up the leaderboard and increasing the size of his pay cheque with every birdie. After starting one over through five holes, Montgomery birdied Nos. 7, 9, 11 and 14 to climb to three-under on his round, 10 under for the tournament. If he simply parred in, he would have earned a share of third place with Viktor Hovland and Tom Hoge. That would have been a $1.325 million pay day, more than half of what he’s made this season already.

Even after making bogey at the par-4 15th, Montgomery could have still won over a million by parring in. With the gettable par-5 16th awaiting, that was a virtual certainty. Turns out, it was anything but. Montgomery made a double-bogey 7 at the 16th without hitting a ball in the water. At the 17th, he found the water twice. Watch if you dare:

Taylor Montgomery finds the water twice on 17. 

+7 in three holes moves Montgomery from T6 to T44. pic.twitter.com/F0qvrInG34

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 12, 2023

Welp, that’s about as gutting as it gets. Fortunately, Montgomery was able to par the 18th for a three-over 75, securing a T-44 finish. For his troubles, he made just over $75,000. That’s nothing to scoff at, as long as you ignore the fact that he spent a million-plus in three holes.

The post Tour rookie spends a quick million with shocking stretch at 15, 16 and 17 at Sawgrass appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The PGA Tour Policy Board and Korn Ferry Tour Player Advisory Council formally announced a policy change on Monday that will enable Korn Ferry Tour members who earn FedExCup points at the US Open to have those points count toward their total on the Korn Ferry Tour points list.

“We have immense pride in the talent level of our Korn Ferry Tour members, and it’s always thrilling to see them compete — and contend — in major championships,” said Korn Ferry Tour president Alex Baldwin. “This policy change is something we’ve been exploring with our membership and our Player Advisory Council for a few years, and we look forward to cheering on our members as they compete in the US Open this season and beyond.”

RELATED: Upcoming changes mean more PGA Tour spots for Korn Ferry players
US Open adds exemption for Korn Ferry Tour winner

Historically Korn Ferry members who qualified for the national championship had to weigh the issue of competing in a major which, outside a win, offered little chance for a player to improve their mini-tour standing in pursuit of a PGA Tour card while their colleagues could gain points at the circuit’s tour stop that week, the Wichita Open. No player epitomised this predicament than Montgomery, who made the cut at the 2021 US Open at Torrey Pines but received no Korn Ferry Tour points. Montgomery finished the year 26th on the KFT’s point list (the top 25 earn their cards). Had he played the Wichita Open instead and finished better than T-38 — and for what it’s worth, Montgomery finished T-16 at the event the previous year — he would have earned promotion.

Coincidentally, the year prior, Will Zalatoris, getting a berth in the US Open via a Korn Ferry Tour exemption, parlayed that opportunity into a full year on the PGA Tour after finishing T-6 at Winged Foot.

“I think it’s an awesome change,” said Montgomery, who ultimately earned his tour card this past season. “At a US Open, you want the best players in the world, and a lot of the best players in the world are on the Korn Ferry Tour. I think you’ve seen that the last couple years with guys like Zalatoris, Sahith (Theegala), guys like that, and there are only going to be more to come from that tour.”

This is the second big announcement between the Korn Ferry and USGA this season. In January, the USGA announced that the No. 1 player on the Korn Ferry Tour points list at the conclusion of each season will receive an exemption into the following year’s US Open. Justin Suh earned this honour, capturing the season-ending KFT Championship.

The post This small rules change to the US Open could have major implications on tour cards for 2023 appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Joel Beall
Four more players have tested COVID-19 positive at PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour tournament sites this week.

On Tuesday, the PGA Tour announced Chad Campbell has been withdrawn from the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit. Campbell, 46, was not yet in the field as he was listed as the tournament’s first alternate. Alex Cjeka now takes his place.

In a statement, Campbell said that while the positive test is “unnerving” he feels physically fine and is asymptomatic. “I support the tour’s protocol during this time and will be quarantining myself to protect others until I am well,” Campbell said.

Campbell is the third player attempting to play in the Rocket Mortgage Classic to test positive for COVID-19, joining Harris English and Dylan Frittelli. Seven players dropped out of last week’s Travelers Championship, although only two (Cameron Champ and Denny McCarthy) were the result of a player’s positive COVID-19 test. Campbell is the sixth PGA Tour player to be diagnosed with coronavirus in the past 12 days.

At the Korn Ferry Tour’s TPC Colorado Championship, Brandon Wu, Taylor Montgomery and Jonathan Hodge have withdrawn due to testing COVID-19 positive during the on-site screening process.

“These positive test results serve as a distinct reminder that we all need to continue to be vigilant in this ever-changing climate,” said Korn Ferry Tour president Alex Baldwin. “We will further reinforce the elements of our health and safety plan to all constituents, and deliver our full support to those who test positive for COVID-19.”

Wu, Montgomery, and Hodge are the only players to test positive through the Korn Ferry’s on-site testing protocol.

The post Four more players test COVID-19 positive at PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour events appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.