Power Rankings: DICK'S Sporting Goods Open

While the FedExCup Playoffs heat up and the Korn Ferry Tour Finals begin, PGA TOUR Champions continues to glide through the late summer regular season. After back-to-back weeks in Calgary and Seattle, it's off to New York state and the DICK'S Sporting Goods Open at the En-Joie Golf Club in Endicott, New York.

The En-Joie Golf Club has been a fixture in professional golf since 1972. The PGA TOUR arrived in every season for the BC Open between 1972 and 2005 before a massive flood hit in the summer of 2006. The final scheduled BC Open wasn't able to take place but a new event on PGA TOUR Champions was born for summer of 2007.

Every year since (minus 2020) DICK'S Sporting Goods Open has continued the rich professional golf tradition in South Central New York.

Cameron Beckman returns to defend his title as he posted the highest winning score in tournament history last year at 12-under, defeating Ernie Els by a shot.

The field of 78 will play 54 holes (no cut) for a purse of $2.1 million with the winner taking home $315,000.

Power Rankings

Just Missed: Brett Quigley, Wes Short, Woody Austin, Kevin Sutherland, and Rob Labritz.

Designed in 1927 by Ernest Smith and renovated by Dr. Michael Hurdzan between 1998 and 1999, En-Joie GC plays to a Par-72 at 6,994 yards and has since 2018.

The pros better be ready to go this week! Of the four Par-5 holes, three greet the players on the outward nine (37-35).

Tight driving conditions on this classic parkland design are the first area of navigation. Finding short grass between the mature trees framing the fairways will avoid three inches plus of Bluegrass, Ryegrass and Fescue rough.

Other hazards include 50 bunkers and nine water penalty areas in play on half of the holes.

On approach, everyone should find the massive, perched (8,000 square feet on average) greens complexes. Upon arrival the Bent/Poa surfaces will be running hot, around 12.5 feet on the Stimpmeter. On top of the surfaces being slick undulations abound bringing in the next examination. Finding those who can properly match speed and line with the flat stick this week will be helpful.

Kevin Sutherland, course record holder last week in Seattle, is at it again this week after posting 59 in Round 2 in 2014.

Lonnie Nielsen (not entered) holds the tournament scoring record of 21-under set in 2009.

Only two of the fourteen winners have posted lower than 17-under over the 14 previous editions (Scott McCarron, -20, 2017).

Sadly the only multiple winner of this event, Bart Bryant (2013, 2018) was tragically killed in a car accident earlier this year. Our thoughts and prayers go to the Bryant family as he is remembered this week.

The only playoff necessary in the previous 14 editions was in 2012.

The winning margin of victory has been two shots or less since 2011.

Dick's Sporting Goods Open returns to its August calendar spot after moving to the chilly Fourth of July weekend in 2021. This will be the fourth time in five years the event has been played in August.

Storms earlier this year wiped out trees and drought conditions have affected the course throughout June and July.

This week Mother Nature has warmer than average temperatures for the three rounds of tournament play. Pleasant early week numbers push into the upper 80s for the weekend but there's just a slim chance of any weather slowing things down.

Last Time - Boeing Classic

Just Missed: Dean Wilson - T72, Woody Austin - T45, Rocco Mediate - 60, and Ken Tanigawa - T40.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out through Twitter or email me mikeglasscott@gmail.com.