Finishes to Watch Mother’s Day

While today is the day to honor all our mothers on their special day, there are also some great stories to watch on a number of tours this Sunday. The PGA Tour has both the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow and an alternate field event, the inaugural Myrtle Beach Classic. Nelly Korda is attempting to become the first female golfer to win her sixth consecutive start at the Cognizant Legends. Finally, in what is becoming a weekly theme, there’s a teenage amateur making a name for himself at a professional event.

But first, this is a special Mother’s Day for the Scheffler family. Congratulations to Meridith and Scottie on the birth of their first child. Bob Harig of Sports Illustrated reported yesterday that the couple has given birth and that Scottie will be at Valhalla this coming week for the second major of the year, the PGA Championship.

The Wells Fargo

Going into Sunday’s final round, two familiar names top the leaderboard in the latest PGA Tour Signature event. Xander Schauffele holds a one stroke lead at 12 under over 3 time champion Rory McIlroy. McIlroy was the only player in the field to record a bogey free round during Saturday’s difficult third round. Neither member of the final pairing has won an individual PGA Tour event since 2022, although McIlroy won the Zurich Classic (alongside Shane Lowery) and on the DP World Tour in January. Should both falter, Sungjae Im (-8) and Sepp Straka (-7) are lurking. Having selected Schauffele in my “one and done” this week, you know who I’m rooting for .

The Myrtle Beach Classic

This first ever competition, an alternate field event, has a couple of compelling stories to watch. Tour rookie Chris Gotterup is looking for his first Tour victory and the perks that come with it. Despite it being an alternate event, a win would give the former Rutgers and Oklahoma standout winner’s status on tour through 2026, entry into the remaining 2024 Majors, entry into the remaining 2024 Signature events and an invitation to the 2025 Masters. He currently sits atop the leaderboard at 18 under, 4 clear of his nearest competitors Erik van Rooyen, Jorge Campillo and first round leader Robert MacIntyre.

The other story to watch in Myrtle is beginning to sound like a broken record. This week’s teen phenom is 16 year old Blades Brown. Brown shot 3 under during Friday’s second round to make the cut. He followed that up Saturday with a 4 under 67 and is T-22 at 8 under. While amateurs are ineligible for the “top 10” exemption into the next full field event, I fully expect that he will likely find himself receiving future Sponsor’s Exemptions as the PGA Tour season continues.

Cognizant Founders Cup

Nelly Korda entered this week’s LPGA event looking to become the first woman to win six consecutive tournaments. Korda made the cut just 3 back of 36 hole leaders Rose Zheng and Madelene Sagstrom. She faltered Saturday and finds herself T-3 at -8, 11 strokes behind leader Sagstrom (-19) and Zheng (-18). A win by either member of the final pairing will be the second in each’s LPGA career. For Sagstrom it will be the second in her 8 year career. Should Zheng hoist the trophy Sunday afternoon, she will have earned victories in each of her first two seasons on tour.