'Dawgs on Tour: Season-ending Summary and Stats

First some news on our undergrads carrying the UGA banner on the links:

The UGA men's team placed fifth in the Dick's Sporting Goods Collegiate Challenge two weeks ago held in Tennessee. Some good programs were present, including Alabama who is recently a national title contender. Sophomore Zach Healy was the top Dawg in 16th place, followed by senior Lee McCoy (T23), junior Greyson Sigg (27), Senior Sepp Straka (T28), and junior Jaime Lopez Rivarola (T43). They are currently playing in Oregon for the Nike Invitational (I know, I know).  Coach Chris Haack's squad is currently ranked 17th in Division I, though the rankings are even more arbitrary than football polls in August.

The UGA women's oglf team is not currently ranked nationally, but there have been signs of progress and they've played well so far in this collegiate "off-season". Coach Josh Brewer's team is headed to Chicago for the Windy City Collegiate this week.

SMU has received a post-season ban and a reduction in scholarships for the next two years. But this isn't Larry Brown, this is the men's golf program. The one that competed in the NCAA's, and had it's bright star Bryson Dechambeau win both the NCAA's and the US Amateur in 2015. The coach was found to have committed improper contact, merchandise and equipment malfeasance, and contact by boosters.  Sounds vaguely familiar.

Now to those making money legally on the golf course. It was a tremendous year for golfers who formerly matriculated in the Classic City, as they won several high profile PGA golf tournaments and sure as heck took home their share of the purse. As a "team" for the 2014-15 wrap-around season started last October:

So we did pretty good, right? And remember that Texas was 94% Jordan Speith. Who happened to set a record high in money this season with 5 wins, 2 majors and $12,030,445 of his own. By contrast, we had 9 different Bulldogs pulling down these benjamins. And here's the season they had. Based on the chart below, the "average" UGA golfer on the PGA Tour played in 26 tournaments, making the cut 73% of the time (19/26). He would have 1 top 3 finish, and 4 top 10s, and would take home about $2.4 million during the season. That puts him around 35th on the money list for the year. To note: the "season" gets started in two weeks, and is in year two of a wrap-around season (previously was considered a season only in the same calendar year, but the PGA has decided the NBA/NHL route is the wave of the future).

*OWGR is Official World Golf Ranking

This week is The Presidents Cup. The USA versus an International Team made up of all countries outside Europe (because Europe plays the USA in an even-numbered year Ryder Cup event). There are 12 players per side, and we had two Bulldogs qualify for the team via points: Bubba Watson and Chris Kirk. Kirk was somewhat controversially left off last year's Ryder Cup when he was a) hot having won recently and b) next up on the list in terms of qualifying points and c) was respected by his peers. Nevertheless, he was not picked and the USA was crushed. This year they're playing in South Korea and it will involve 2-man teams in best ball, alternate shot, and eventually singles matches. Being held in Korea, they're about half a day ahead of us so the TV schedule is as such:

TV schedule

• Thursday, Oct. 8: 2-7 p.m.; 8:30 p.m.-3 a..m., Golf Channel

• Friday, Oct. 9: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; 6 p.m.-4 a.m., Golf Channel

• Saturday, Oct. 10: 12-3 p.m., NBC; 3:30-8:30 p.m., Golf Channel; 9:30 p.m.-3:30 a.m., Golf Channel

• Sunday, Oct. 10: Noon-6 p.m., NBC; 7 p.m.-1 a.m., Golf Channel

As an alternative to chewing your cuticles, you can always turn to the dulcet sounds and sights of the golf course. And if you like 'Murica, there will be more "USA USA" chants than 2013 Ole Miss fans chanting "SEC SEC" in the Music City Bowl. That should take your mind off of the chance to give Butch Jones a signature win, why Eason hasn't enrolled already, and that Charlie Strong has Greg McGarity's cell phone number in his Favorites.

GO 'DAWGS!!!