Schwab Cup Sunday Showdown Set

Planet Golf — 14 November 2021 by Candace Oehler

PHOENIX – There’s rarely a commanding lead to be had at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship, and this year is no exception. While Jim Furyk tees off Sunday in the lead at -16, second round leader Kirk Triplett is nipping at his heels, just one shot behind.

A host of others are within striking distance, including pre-tournament Schwab Cup points leader Berhnard Langer, whose 8-under 63 on Saturday was not only the best round of the day, but the first time the World Golf Hall of Famer shot below his age. Even more remarkable, he accomplished the feat still suffering from a back injury that was painfully evident every time he teed up or marked his ball, having to rely on his caddy to take the ball out of the cup every time he putted out.

At -10, Langer still has a chance, albeit remote, of passing Furyk to win the Cup. He and his son worked the numbers and, according to Dad, if he finishes top 18 and Furyk falters, the Cup could be his for the sixth time.

He talked about his round, his back, and his chances:

Meanwhile Furyk, paired with Phil Mickelson on Saturday, carded a bogey-free 6-under 65 that gave him sole possession of the lead. A win on Sunday would be his fourth victory on PGA TOUR Champions this season, the most of any player. He’s currently tied for the most wins (3), with Darren Clark and Mickelson. He’s certainly not claiming victory yet, but feels good about his chances:

Triplett started the day with a two-shot lead, but a couple bogeys led to a final 2-under 69. The eight-time PGA TOUR Champions winner has gone 777 days without a victory. A diehard Cougar (he went to high school in Pullman, and both parents graduated from WSU), he was looking forward to getting to his Scottsdale home and watching the WSU-Oregon game tonight. And he’s looking forward to being paired with Furyk on Sunday.

It’s important to remember that there is more to play for than the Charles Schwab Cup. The tournament itself features a $2,500,000 purse (winner’s share $440,000), so those with no chance at the Cup annuities can still leave Phoenix and end the season on a very happy financial note. All hope, however that Sunday will not be a repeat of 2020, when a playoff between Kevin Sutherland and Paul Broadhurst had to be called after six holes because of darkness and restarted on Monday. Sutherland was the eventual winner of the nine-hole playoff, for his second Schwab Cup Championship.

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About Author

Candace Oehler

Candace Oehler’s deep dive into sports media began several decades ago when she won a trip from Seattle to Mariners spring training in Arizona. Noting that non-English-speaking Latino ball players received little, if any, media coverage, she fluently/en español became a pioneer in Spanish sports media, and eventually became known affectionately throughout the Latino MLB community as “La Veterana.” Candace has written for team publications and MLB.com; hosted her own radio show on several Spanish-language stations; served as producer/reporter/engineer for the Mariners’ inaugural season of Spanish radio broadcasts; and has been a reporter for MLB Network Radio the past 10 years. She was invited to Venezuela by future Hall-of-Fame shortstop Omar Vizquel to cover rebuilding efforts and accomplishments of his charitable foundation following the devastating 1999 mudslides; worked in Puerto Rico for former Major Leaguers Joey Cora and Carlos Baerga managing fundraising events; and was the only female in the raucous locker room when the hometown favorite Licey Tigers won the 2004 Caribbean World Series in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Candace was introduced to the game of golf in 1992 by members of Seattle’s historic Fir State Golf Club, who had approached her to manage their (then) little fundraising tournament hosted by a shy, gangly 15-year old Tiger Woods. Candace co-managed the annual event for nearly 20 years, working with hosts that included Ken Griffey, Sr., Birdie Griffey, Mike Cameron, Nate McMillan, Warren Moon, and Dale Ellis. She became secretary of the club and the Fir State Junior Golf Foundation, and got totally, completely hooked on golf, learning to play on a set of Redbirds given to her by the club (apparently they considered her mother’s Patty Bergs a bit antiquated). She has since traded up to another set of Redbirds and a much more user-friendly golf environment in Arizona. And, once a prolonged stint on the DL is over, she can’t wait to get back on the course and continue lowering her current 21-handicap to ….?