Playing close to home may be an advantage for Kyle
Stanley this week.
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By Chris Dunham, PGATOUR.COM Former FedExCup leader Kyle
Stanley may have come home again at the right time. Stanley, who
resides in Bluffton, about a 20-minute drive from Harbour Town Golf
Links, has been in a bit of a slump, but his return to South
Carolina may be just what the doctor ordered.
He enters this week’s RBC Heritage without a top-50
finish in his last four starts. Since winning in Phoenix the first
week of February, Stanley’s best finish is a tie for 17th at
the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship.
He’s slipped from No. 1 to No. 6 in the FedExCup ranks in
that span. “The past months have been a little bit of a
struggle,” Stanley said. “But I'm trying to
recommitment myself to my game and get refocused, and I feel like
I'm on the right track.” The Washington native played his
college golf at Clemson University where he won the 2009 Ben Hogan
Award and twice finished as a runner-up in the NCAA Championship.
He took up permanent residence in the state after turning pro.
“It’s a home game for me,” Stanley said.
“It’s nice to sleep in my own bed. I love the golf
course, too.” Stanley will look to avenge last year’s
missed cut and make a charge back toward the top of the FedExCup
standings this week.
THIS WEEK: Harbour Town will host 18 of the top 30 in the
latest FedExCup standings. Stanley (No. 6), Mark Wilson (No. 8),
Bill Haas (No. 10) and defending champion Brandt Snedeker (No. 11)
are the players who could become No. 1 with a victory this week.
Seven former champions, seven 2012 winners and 78 players with at
least one victory on their resume will be teeing it up Thursday.
Also making his way to Hilton Head Island is Masters 36-hole
co-leader Jason Dufner, who has eight top-10 finishes in his last
30 starts but is still in search of that elusive first win.