Detroit ‘Dawg City

If you’re getting tired of the golf coverage, I’ve started a crowdsourced fund that will cover the StarJets charter fees to follow the Kirby-copter around the country and lodging. Just don’t question my meal receipts - my doctor has prescribed bordeaux with dinner and Johnny Walker Blue bottle service. Until that particular kitty is full, bear with me.

Yet you have to be excited about the results for our golfing ‘Dawgs. Both the Men’s and Women’s teams made it to the NCAA Nationals and return a lot of their talent next year. There are UGA graduates in most of the pro tours and mini-tours. There’s a former Bulldog near the top of the Korn Ferry Tour (arguably the 2nd strongest Tour in the world), and there have been 2 PGA Tour victories this season by UGA golfers, plus more representation in all the majors than any other college. The 34 Tour victories by Bulldogs since 2010 are 50% more than any other college program as well.

We know it’s all about the money. Last week, the Travelers Championship had a total purse of $7,400,000. More than 30% of that went into the bank accounts of past Athenians:

• Harris English won and took $1,332,000;
• Kevin Kisner and Brian Harman tied for 5th and won $253,820 each;
• Sepp Straka tied for 10 and earned $186,850;
• Russell Henley and Bubba Watson tied for 19th which gave each of them $87,690;
• and Brendon Todd tied for 30th for $45,325.

That totals $2,247,195 from a single run-of-the-mill PGA tourney. Now let’s turn our attention to this week’s ‘Dawgs on Tour:

Tournament: Rocket Mortgage Classic, July 1-4, 2021

Course: Detroit Golf Club (North), par 72, 7,370 yards. The site is located in.... yeah, Detroit.

Purse: $7,500,000 with $1,350,000 to the winner.

Defending Champ: Bryson DeChambeau. The haberdashery lover was emerging from the quarantine and golf stoppage with 40 more lbs of muscle and incredible ball speeds off the tee. On this relatively benign and sometimes tree-bereft layout, he powered his way to a 3 shot win over fellow long hitter and knee-jerk swinger Matthew Wolff. Georgia’s own Kevin Kisner finished solo third.

Fun Fact: Bubba Watson organized a 9-hole charity event before last year’s Rocket Mortgage Classic. Once the tournament was confirmed, and Bubba saw the tournament charity addressing the digital divide to Detroit’s inner-city youth, he got an idea. Getting approval from the PGA Tour, Bubba called Harold Varner, Jason Day, and Wesley Bryan to join in the made-for-TV exhibition match. Between viewers calling in donations and corporations matching the funds, they raised over $1 million dollars for the local charity. DGD.

TV Times: Thursday-Friday, 3 p.m.-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel). Saturday-Sunday, 1 p.m.-3 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3 p.m.-6 p.m. (CBS).

‘Dawgs in the Field: 6. Kevin Kisner is 62nd in FedEx points; Brendon Todd is 91st; Bubba Watson is 68th; Sepp Straka is 89th; Chris Kirk is 47th; and Davis Thompson is playing on a sponsor’s exemption.

Though you might think this is a bomber’s paradise based on last season’s result, remember that the middle-of-the-road driver Kevin Kisner finished third. There’s more than one way to skin a cat, and 6 more ‘Dawgs will try. And as always...

GO ‘DAWGS!!!