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FedEx St. Jude Championship 2022: J.J. Spaun Holds 1-Stroke Lead Entering Final Round

Aug 13, 2022
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - AUGUST 13: J.J. Spaun of the United States plays his shot from the seventh tee during the third round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind on August 13, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - AUGUST 13: J.J. Spaun of the United States plays his shot from the seventh tee during the third round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind on August 13, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

For the third straight day, J.J. Spaun maintained his lead in the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee.

Saturday's third round came down to the wire between Spaun and Sepp Straka. The pair were tied through 17 holes until Straka bogeyed on the 18th, allowing Spaun to maintain his one-shot lead.

Spaun finished Round 3 two under 68 and 13 under par total.

Here's a look at the leaderboard:

1. J.J. Spaun: -13

2. Sepp Straka: -12

T-3. Will Zalatoris: -11

T-3. Trey Mullinax: -11

T-3. Cameron Smith: -11

T-6. Tyler Duncan: -10

T-6. Troy Merritt: -10

T-8. Sungjae Im: -9

T-8. Hayden Buckley: -9

T-8. Sam Burns: -9

T-8. Matt Fitzpatrick: -9

T-8. Andrew Putnam: -9

T-8. Wyndham Clark: -9

T-8. Ryan Palmer: -9

T-8. Brian Harman: -9

T-8. Tony Finau: -9

Full leaderboard available at PGATour.com

Spaun got out to a decent start Saturday, shooting for par on each of the first nine holes. However, his performance on the back nine is what helped him maintain his lead.

The 31-year-old bogeyed on the 10th hole but bounced back with birdies on the 11th, 16th and 17th holes for a solid finish.

Spaun is hoping to record just his second PGA Tour victory since going full-time on the tour. His only win came at the Valero Texas Open in April, when he finished 13 under.

Sungjae Im had arguably the best performance in Round 3, finishing seven under 63 for a total of nine under. Through the front nine, the 24-year-old carded two birdies, a bogey and an eagle to move to three under.

Im carded four more birdies on the back nine, including one on the 18th green.

Will Zalatoris also had a solid third round, finishing five under 65 and 11 under total to move into a tie for third place with Trey Mullinax and Cameron Smith.

The 25-year-old carded two birdies and a bogey on the front nine before a scorching performance on the back nine that saw him card four more birdies to remain within striking distance of the lead.

Other notables included Tony Finau, who is tied for eighth; Collin Morikawa, who is tied for 17th; and Jon Rahm, who is tied for 25th.

Finau is aiming to become the first player since Dustin Johnson in 2017 to win three consecutive starts. He is just four shots off the lead, so he'll need a near-perfect performance Sunday to capture the victory.

Scottie Scheffler currently sits first in the FedEx Cup standings. Spaun, who enters Round 4 at TPC Southwind in the lead, sits 26th.

FedEx St. Jude Classic 2022: J.J. Spaun Takes 1-Shot Lead Behind 2nd-Round 67

Aug 13, 2022
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - AUGUST 12: J.J. Spaun of the United States plays his shot from the 12th tee during the second round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind on August 12, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - AUGUST 12: J.J. Spaun of the United States plays his shot from the 12th tee during the second round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind on August 12, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

J.J. Spaun maintained his lead at the FedEx St. Jude Championship after a solid second round Friday at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee.

Spaun entered the day tied with Si Woo Kim for the top spot after a scorching opening round that saw him finish at eight-under par. He followed that up with a three-under 67 and 11-under par total Friday.

Here's a look at the leaderboard:

1. J.J Spaun: -11

T-2. Sepp Straka: -10

T-2. Troy Merritt: -10

4. Denny McCarthy: -9

T-5. Brian Harman: -8

T-5. Tony Finau: -8

T-5. Cameron Smith: -8

T-5. Ryan Palmer: -8

T-9. Adam Scott: -7

T-9. Emiliano Grillo: -7

T-9. K.H. Lee:-7

T-9. Sahith Theegala: -7

T-9. Kevin Kisner: -7

T-9. Tyler Duncan: -7

T-9. Trey Mullinax: -7

T-9. Lucas Glover: -7

Full leaderboard available at PGATour.com.

Spaun had a solid start to his afternoon at TPC Southwind, carding a birdie on hole No. 1 before draining another on the third.

He slipped up on No. 7 with a bogey but bounced back with another birdie on the eighth.

The 31-year-old was just as good on the back nine, carding two birdies and a bogey. One of his best shots came on the 17th, when he birdied to take a one-shot lead.

Spaun has just one PGA Tour victory, which came at the Valero Texas Open in April, when he finished 13-under par. He has been full-time on the tour since the 2016-17 season, and a victory at TPC Southwind would be huge for the San Diego State product.

Tony Finau is one of the players who remains within striking distance of the lead. The 32-year-old posted a two-under 68 on Friday for his 11th consecutive round in the 60s on the tour.

Finau is tied for fifth at eight under, though he is looking to become the first player since Dustin Johnson in 2017 to win three consecutive starts.

Sepp Straka and Troy Merritt, who are tied for second, finished Friday's round at four-under 66 and five-under 65, respectively. Straka held on to the lead for a while, carding five birdies on the day.

Kim, meanwhile, dropped all the way to a tie for 27th after finishing Round 2 at three-over 73 with three bogeys.

Other notables include Jon Rahm and Rickie Fowler, who are tied for 33rd. Rory McIlroy, Tom Hoge, Billy Horschel and Scottie Scheffler are among those who missed the two-under cut.

The third round is set for Saturday, and Spaun will look to hang on to his lead ahead of the final round and improve his positioning in the FedEx Cup standings.

FedEx St. Jude Classic 2022: Tony Finau's Opening-Round 64 Praised by Fans on Twitter

Aug 11, 2022
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - AUGUST 11: Tony Finau of the United States plays a second shot on the 13th hole during the first round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind on August 11, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - AUGUST 11: Tony Finau of the United States plays a second shot on the 13th hole during the first round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind on August 11, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Tony Finau isn't atop the leaderboard after the first round of Thursday's FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis. But the red-hot golfer is within striking distance, a concern for the rest of the field.

Finau shot a six-under 64, leaving him just two strokes behind leaders Si Woo Kim and J.J. Spaun and continuing what has been a torrid stretch for the 32-year-old.

Unsurprisingly, social media was singing his praises following Thursday's strong start:

He celebrated his strong start by...getting more practice in:

Finau is technically the defending champion after winning the Northern Trust at Liberty National Golf Club last season, which was replaced this year by the FedEx St. Jude Championship.

"Quite a different place," he told reporters Thursday before his opening round. "It's definitely strange defending on a golf course that I haven't won on."

That defense got off to a shaky start on Thursday, with a rough drive on No. 10, but he miraculously managed to salvage a birdie.

"It started with a lowlight, duck hooked my first tee shot," he told reporters. "But I got lucky, had a shot, put it on the front of the green and chipped in. It wasn't the ideal birdie start, but we're off and running."

In total, he finished with two bogeys and eight birdies, keeping himself in striking distance from the leaders. After winning his last two events, nobody is betting against him to make it three in a row.

Other notable finishers included Rickie Fowler (-5), Jason Day (-5), Cameron Smith (-3), Justin Thomas (-3), Jon Rahm (-3), Jordan Spieth (E), Rory McIlroy (E) and Scottie Scheffler (+1)

Rory McIlroy Says Ruling on LIV Allows FedEx Playoffs to Continue Without 'Sideshow'

Aug 10, 2022
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - AUGUST 10: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland talks with the media prior to the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind on August 10, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Tracy Wilcox/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - AUGUST 10: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland talks with the media prior to the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind on August 10, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Tracy Wilcox/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)

Rory McIlroy celebrated a court ruling that will prevent players who made the jump to LIV Golf from taking part in the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup Playoffs.

"From my vantage point, common sense prevailed, and I thought it was the right decision," McIlroy told reporters Wednesday. "Now that that has happened, I think it just lets us focus on the important stuff, which is golf. We can all move forward and not have that sideshow going on for the next few weeks, which is nice."

Talor Gooch, Matt Jones and Hudson Swafford sought a temporary restraining order against the PGA Tour's ban on LIV players to make them eligible for the playoffs. A U.S. District Court in California denied that request Tuesday.

McIlroy has been an outspoken critic of players trying to accept the lucrative guaranteed contracts from LIV without relinquishing their right to play on the PGA Tour.

The four-time major champion reiterated that stance ahead of the playoffs:

Guys are going to make their own decisions that they feel is best for them, and that's totally fine. Again, I don't begrudge anyone for going over to play LIV or taking guaranteed money. If that's your prerogative and what you want to do, totally fine. I think where the resentment comes from, from the membership of this tour, is the fact that they want to try to get their way back in here with no consequences, and anyone that's read the PGA Tour handbook or abided by the rules and regulations, that would feel very unfair to them.

Justin Thomas, another one of the Tour's top players, expressed a similar sentiment:

It was personal to me from the beginning. It's kind of like I said from the start. Those guys were given an opportunity to go play and just go play. You can have your cake, but you don't need to eat it, too. And they got their fair share of a large, large amount of cake, and go eat it on your own means. You don't need to bring it onto our tour.

Although Tuesday's court ruling upheld the Tour's decision for the first playoff event, the court battle between the sides is far from over.

Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau headlined a group of 11 LIV players who filed an antitrust lawsuit against the Tour last week, per ESPN's Mark Schlabach.

"The Tour's conduct serves no purpose other than to cause harm to players and foreclose the entry of the first meaningful competitive threat the Tour has faced in decades," the lawsuit states.

In addition, the U.S. Justice Department opened an investigation last month into whether the Tour violated any antitrust regulations with its actions toward LIV players.

While McIlroy was pleased with the initial ruling, he understands it's not a final ruling.

"It's like there's such a long way to go," he said. "It's like you birdied the first hole, but you've still got 17 holes to go."

The PGA Tour playoffs get underway Thursday with the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in Tennessee.

2022 British Open Champion Cameron Smith's LIV Golf Contract Reportedly Worth $100M

Aug 9, 2022
Cameron Smith, of Australia, holds the claret jug trophy as he poses for photographers on the 18th green after winning the British Open golf Championship on the Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland, Sunday July 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Cameron Smith, of Australia, holds the claret jug trophy as he poses for photographers on the 18th green after winning the British Open golf Championship on the Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland, Sunday July 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Cameron Smith is reportedly the latest to join LIV Golf after signing a $100 million deal with the organization, according to Tom Morgan of the Telegraph.

The 28-year-old is coming off a win at The Open, finishing 20 strokes under par to outduel Cameron Young and Rory McIlroy.

After winning his first major title, TMZ Sports reported Smith was "nearing a deal" with LIV Golf. There was still uncertainty after the golfer dodged questioning about the move in July.

"I just won the British Open, and you're asking about that?" Smith told reporters. "I think that's pretty not that good. ... I don't know, mate. My team around me worries about all that stuff. I’m here to win golf tournaments."

Smith issued another statement when asked about the deal Tuesday, per Jason Sobel of The Action Network:

It's now clear he will follow in the path of other high-profile golfers to join the Saudi Arabia-backed league, including Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson.

The major difference for Smith is he was in the midst of a breakout season, currently ranked No. 2 in the world behind Scottie Scheffler. Other big names had fallen out of the top 10, or in the case of Mickelson, out of the top 100.

Smith, meanwhile, had three victories this season and was second in the FedEx Cup standings heading into the start of the playoffs at the FedEx St. Jude Championship.

The PGA Tour already filed a motion to keep out the other three LIV Golf players who qualified for the FedEx Cup playoffs: Talor Gooch, Matt Jones and Hudson Swafford. Smith's status for the upcoming tournament that begins Thursday could also be in question.

The money from LIV Golf is still likely difficult to turn down. In addition to the nine-figure reported sum for Smith up front, the circuit will have $405 million in total prizes in 2023.

Smith has earned about $26.8 million through the PGA Tour, while the winner of the Tour Championship this year will take home $18 million.

No. 1-Ranked Scottie Scheffler Says LIV Golfers Suing PGA Tour Is 'Frustrating'

Aug 9, 2022
US golfer Scottie Scheffler watches his drive from the 3rd tee during his final round on day 4 of The 150th British Open Golf Championship on The Old Course at St Andrews in Scotland on July 17, 2022. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
US golfer Scottie Scheffler watches his drive from the 3rd tee during his final round on day 4 of The 150th British Open Golf Championship on The Old Course at St Andrews in Scotland on July 17, 2022. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

The top-ranked golfer in the world, Scottie Scheffler, isn't thrilled with the 11 LIV Golf players who have filed an antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour, including Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford and Matt Jones, who are seeking a temporary restraining order that would allow them to play in the upcoming FedEx Cup playoffs.

"I'm definitely curious to see what's going to happen," Scheffler told ESPN's Mark Schlabach. "It's one of those deals where those guys kind of made their decision to go join another tour and they broke the rules and regulations of our tour and now they're trying to sue us, which is definitely a bit frustrating. I heard that was going to happen and I know some guys aren't surprised to see it, but I definitely am surprised to see some guys now suing us."

The PGA Tour has banned any player who defected to LIV Golf from participating in its events.

Scheffler added that whatever the courts decide in regards to Gooch, Jones and Swafford, it won't have any impact on his preparations.

"If they win, come out here and play, I mean, that's something that's up to the courts," he said. "I can't control what's going to happen in a court case. Definitely interested, but at the end of the day it has no effect on my preparation for the week."

Scheffler, who has four PGA Tour wins under his belt this season, is the main attraction at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, though the LIV Golf defectors remain a hot topic in the world of golf.

The Saudi-backed series is incredibly controversial given the accusations that it is another endeavor by the Saudi Arabian government to sportswash its human rights violations.

LIV Golf has reportedly thrown huge sums of money at the golfers who made the switch, with reports that Dustin Johnson received a $125 million payout just for joining on top of any potential winnings from events themselves.

Other reports have suggested that Phil Mickelson received up to $200 million to join LIV Golf, while Bryson DeChambeau reportedly took in $100 million. And Tiger Woods reportedly turned down an offer in the ballpark of $700-800 million to make the switch.

The downside for those players, outside of the accusations that they are complicit in a sportswashing endeavor, is that the PGA Tour has banned them from its events, though the legality of such a move is currently being challenged.

Regardless, Scheffler said he's happy being a part of the PGA Tour.

"For me, I feel like the PGA Tour is the best place to play," he said. "My dream was to play on the PGA Tour. My dream was never to maximize my financial benefits. I feel very blessed and fortunate to play golf and get paid for it, so for me, I'm not looking to go out and do anything else."

Ex-PGA Tour Commish Deane Beman Doesn't Think LIV Funders 'Give a Damn About' Golf

Aug 9, 2022
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL - MAY 10: Former PGA Tour commissioner Deane Beman looks on during the first round of THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on May 10, 2018 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL - MAY 10: Former PGA Tour commissioner Deane Beman looks on during the first round of THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on May 10, 2018 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Deane Beman, who spent 20 years as the PGA Tour commissioner beginning in 1974, questioned whether the founders of LIV Golf actually care about the sport.

LIV is financially backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which has allowed the new series to hand out lucrative guaranteed contracts to get players to make the jump from the PGA Tour.

The 84-year-old told Adam Schupak of Golfweek on Monday he doesn't believe it's "good for the game of golf:"

Overall, I don't think the people putting up the money give a damn about the game of golf. They are trying to use what we built over decades, what I think is the most courageous and responsible sport that there is and that has integrity and respect for the rules and respect for the game and respect for competition, I don't think the people putting up the money give a damn about any of that. They are putting up money for their own personal benefit.

As for the players who've accepted the offers, Beman named Sergio Garcia as an example of an older golfer who's "grabbing the money and going" because they're on the back nine of their career, and he's somewhat understanding of that approach.

He's less sure in regards to those still in a position to consistently compete for titles:

There are certain players that have gone over there that I think have made a mistake for their career but maybe they don't care as much as I thought they did about what it stands for and what it means to be a champion golfer. A lot of them are just thinking about the money. If you're just worried about money, there are a helluva lot of easier ways to get a lot of money than to play golf, I can tell you that. They should've thought about that a long time ago.

As a whole, Beman described LIV Golf as a "money grab" and said the only positive of the rival tour is "demasking the integrity of some individuals."

"Their real stripes are showing," he said. "Some of the people who have benefited enormously from what the Tour has put together are fully disclosing their integrity."

A series of lawsuits have been filed against the PGA Tour's decision to ban players who compete in LIV from their events.

Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau headlined a group of 11 LIV players who filed an antitrust lawsuit last week.

In addition, three golfers—Talor Gooch, Matt Jones and Hudson Swafford—are seeking a temporary restraining order that would make them eligible for the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoffs, which are in their second round this weekend at the St. Jude Championship in Memphis, Tennessee.

Beman described those efforts as "trying to have their cake and eat it too."

PGA Tour Files Federal Court Motion to Keep 3 LIV Golfers out of FedEx Cup Playoffs

Aug 8, 2022
BEDMINSTER, NJ - JULY 31: Talor Gooch at the first tee during the 3rd round of the LIV Golf Invitational Series Bedminster on July 31, 2022 at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BEDMINSTER, NJ - JULY 31: Talor Gooch at the first tee during the 3rd round of the LIV Golf Invitational Series Bedminster on July 31, 2022 at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Talor Gooch, Matt Jones and Hudson Swafford accumulated enough points during the season to qualify for the FedEx Cup playoffs, but the PGA Tour then suspended them for competing on the rival LIV Golf Invitational Series.

While that left them unable to participate in the playoffs, which start with this week's FedEx St. Jude Championship, the trio is seeking relief from a federal judge to compete.

In response, the PGA Tour filed a motion in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on Monday, saying the injunction request is "legally baseless" and asking a federal judge to deny a temporary restraining order that could let them play, per Mark Schlabach of ESPN.

The motion argued the players knew the consequences of their decision to join LIV Golf and are now trying to "have their cake and eat it too" with this effort:

"Despite knowing full well that they would breach TOUR Regulations and be suspended for doing so, Plaintiffs have joined competing golf league LIV Golf, which has paid them tens and hundreds of millions of dollars in guaranteed money supplied by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund to procure their breaches. [Temporary restraining order] Plaintiffs now run into Court seeking a mandatory injunction to force their way into the TOUR's season-ending FedExCup Playoffs, an action that would harm all TOUR members that follow the rules. The antitrust laws do not allow Plaintiffs to have their cake and eat it too."

On the other side, attorneys for the three golfers said in a lawsuit, "The punishment that would accrue to these players from not being able to play in the FedEx Cup Playoffs is substantial and irreparable, and a temporary restraining order is needed to prevent the irreparable harm that would ensue were they not to be able to participate."

The hearing to consider the request for a temporary restraining order is Tuesday.

The FedEx Cup Playoffs feature the top 125 golfers in that season's standings who then participate in three events that progressively cut the fields from 125 to 70 and then to 30. The finale is the TOUR Championship, and the players compete for a total bonus pool of $75 million and an $18 million prize that goes to the FedExCup Champion.

Gooch, Jones and Swafford were among the 11 golfers who filed an antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour. The lawsuit challenged suspensions from the PGA Tour that were handed down for competing in the LIV circuit, and the trio's attempt to land the temporary restraining order to compete in the playoffs was part of the overall effort.

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan responded to the lawsuit with a memo to players saying the LIV golfers attempted to "use the TOUR platform to promote themselves and to freeride on your benefits and efforts."

LIV Golf is financially backed by the Saudi Arabian government in an arrangement that has drawn plenty of criticism. Included in that criticism are claims the Saudi Arabian government is attempting to sportswash its human rights violations.

Wyndham Championship 2022: Joohyung Kim Gets 1st Tour Win; Advances to FedEx Playoffs

Aug 7, 2022
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 07: Joohyung Kim of Korea reacts to his birdie on the sixth hole during the final round of the Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club on August 07, 2022 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 07: Joohyung Kim of Korea reacts to his birdie on the sixth hole during the final round of the Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club on August 07, 2022 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

Joohyung Kim rode a scintillating final round to victory in the Wyndham Championship on Sunday at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Kim shot a nine-under 61, including an eight-under 27 on the front nine, to finish at 20 under for the tournament. He tied the tour record for the second-lowest nine-hole score.

Sungjae Im and John Huh tied for second at 15 under.

Wyndham Championship Leaderboard

1. Joohyung Kim (-20)

T-2. Sungjae Im (-15)

T-2. John Huh (-15)

4. Ben Griffin (-14)

T-5. Max McGreevy (-13)

T-5. Russell Henley (-13)

T-5. Taylor Moore (-13)

T-8. Tyrrell Hatton (-11)

T-8. Chesson Hadley (-11)

T-8. Cameron Percy (-11)

T-8. Anirban Lahiri (-11)

T-8. Brandon Wu (-11)

Full leaderboard available via PGATour.com

If recent history is any indicator, golf fans are about to become very familiar with the South Korean.

Sunday's outcome also carried significant ramifications for his short-term future:

Kim caught fire in the second round, putting together a six-under 64 and claiming a share of the lead. Although his performance fell off slightly in the third round, which was split across Saturday and Sunday because of weather delays, he remained only two shots back of Im in first place.

It didn't take long for the 20-year-old to not only climb to the top of the leaderboard but also open some distance on the rest of the field.

Starting with the second hole, he earned three straight birdies before an eagle on No. 5. His approach hit the back edge of the green and rolled into the cup.

The stars were aligned for Kim. On No. 6, his birdie putt clipped the coin marking Kiradech Aphibarnrat's ball placement on its way to the hole.

Kim cooled a bit on the back nine, bogeying No. 10 and posting four straight pars. Then he birdied Nos. 15 and 16 to widen his lead on Huh and dash any hopes of a dramatic finish.

It's difficult to imagine a larger contrast between how Kim started and finished the Wyndham Championship. He had a quadruple bogey on No. 1 in the first round and sank a tournament-clinching putt on No. 18 in the final round.

The FedEx St. Jude Championship is the next stop on the PGA Tour schedule. The event will tee off Thursday at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee. Only two more events remain before the season culminates in the Tour Championship on Aug. 25 at Atlanta's East Lake Golf Club.

Thanks to his efforts at Sedgefield, a berth in the season finale is now on the table for Kim.

Will Zalatoris Explains Firing Caddie, 'Best Friend' Ryan Goble Mid-Round on PGA Tour

Aug 7, 2022
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 06: Will Zalatoris of the United States putts on the sixth green during the third round of the Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club on August 06, 2022 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 06: Will Zalatoris of the United States putts on the sixth green during the third round of the Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club on August 06, 2022 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

Will Zalatoris explained he fired his caddie and "best friend" Ryan Goble to save their relationship off the golf course.

"We've kind of had a rough month together and it was starting to affect our relationship," he said, per Adam Smith of the Times-News (h/t USA Today). "I know guys say that when they split, but it really was. We were guys that we would love to have dinner together and hang out and what was happening on the course was starting to bleed off the course and that's not what you want."

He fired Goble on Friday following the second round of the Wyndham Championship. Coach Josh Gregory was the emergency fill-in for Saturday's third round.

"He's basically been my best friend for the last three years," Zalatoris said of Goble. "It was just getting a little unhealthy for both of us and obviously it hurts."

Zalatoris has been one of the best golfers in the world this year with second-place finishes at the U.S. Open and PGA Championship among top-10 placements in the Masters, Memorial Tournament, QBE Shootout, The American Express, the Farmers Insurance Open, the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play and the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

Yet things will look different next week during the FedEx Cup playoffs when Joel Stock will be on his bag instead of Goble.

Zalatoris is six strokes back of leader Sungjae Im as he heads into Sunday's final round of the Wyndham Championship.

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