Beau Hossler has to win the Wyndham Championship to advance to the PGA Tour post-season – and he did his chances a world of good in the opening round.
The final tournament of the regular season determines the top 70 in the FedEx Cup who advance to the post-season.
Hossler, who started the week in 122nd spot, shot a nine-under 61 to lead Sahith Theegala and Ben James by one stroke at Sedgefield Country Club.
If it remains like this at the end of the tournament he will move to 52nd spot and make the post-season.
Hossler is trying to keep it all in perspective.
“Obviously, every week that we play out here has implications for future years. I think if you let that consume you, it’s a dangerous thing,” Hossler said.
“I’m going to go try and play great golf and kind of see where the cards fall.”
Another trying to extend his season and go from college to the FedEx Cup is James, who made eagle on both the par 5s on Thursday. His soft finish with a pair of bogeys left him one behind Hossler.
James has to win to reach the top 70. He was tied for the lead until a bogey-birdie-bogey finish for a 62, both bogeys coming after he missed six-foot par putts.
No one had a more bizarre round than Theegala, whose post-season is safe at No.43. He didn’t make a par on the front nine – eight birdies and one bogey. And then all he could manage were pars on the back nine until stuffing his approach tight on the 18th for a birdie and a 62.
“Pretty wild,” Theegala said. “I’ve never had a round like that.”
Karl Vilips (65) is the leading Australian at five under. Vilips, who is tied 11th, started the week 128th and moved up eight spots.
He made seven birdies and two bogeys, including one on the ninth – his last hole.
Compatriots Jason Day (71) and Cam Davis (72) are in the lower end of the field.
Day, currently 82nd in the FedEx standings, dropped seven positions, while Davis is No.191.
Brooks Koepka, who returned to the PGA Tour this year after four years at LIV Golf, needs a high finish to reach the post-season.
Koepka, who started in 86th in the standings and dropped to 90, settled for a 67 which was closer to the cut line than the lead on a course that yielded 36 rounds of 66 or lower.
The focus is on those who risk finishing out of the top 70. That wouldn’t be the end of their seasons, but most would need to play in the FedEx Cup Fall to make sure they finish in the top 100 to simply keep a full card for 2027.
