Colonial Set Up For A Wild Finish: 13 Within Three Of Schauffele's Lead
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We know it’s golf and someone might runaway, hide and without fans it could be a snoozfest at Colonial. But as Rex Hoggard notes for GolfChannel.com, this is an unlikely scenario for Sunday’s Charles Schwab Challenge final round.
A whopping 13 players are within three strokes of Xander Schauffele’s lead.
The scenes of pro golf without fans are admittedly odd on TV—more East Lake Cup than Ryder Cup—and as Darren Carroll’s photo essay for GolfDigest.com shows, producing some odd scenes.
Mike McAllister at PGATour.com highlights some of the other oddities to expect in the first COVID-19 era final round, but there is also the unknown element of who will feed off the quiet atmosphere.
The determining factor might very well be how players handle the unusual circumstances of a high-pressure environment without being able to feed off fans.
Some may like it.
Some may find it difficult to play their best.
“I'm into it, and it's a little bit more competitive honestly than I thought it would be,” said Justin Thomas, who joins Grace, Jordan Spieth, Gary Woodland and Collin Morikawa as the closest pursuers to Schauffele. “I thought it was going to be very odd. I was hoping that I'd be in this position to where I'd have a good chance to win the tournament and see how I feel, but it is going to be different, especially come those last couple of holes if you have a lead or if you're trying to chase someone down or if you're tied for the lead.
“It'll be interesting to see how that adrenaline plays a role.”
The obvious rooting interest for many is Harold Varner, who has knocked on the door several times. Kevin Robbins files a terrific GolfDigest.com piece on Varner and his 79-year-old coach who is watching from North Carolina.
“He’s streaky, OK?” his 79-year-old coach said Saturday afternoon on the telephone. He wanted people to know that Varner won the North Carolina State Amateur [and was the first male African American to do so]. He wanted people to know that Varner was the Conference USA player of the year as a senior at East Carolina University. He wanted people to know how diligent and disciplined Varner is. (A story, told by the coach: Varner was 16 and working in the bag room at Gastonia when he asked Sudderth, “Would you help me get better?” Sudderth sized him up. He saw a hint of potential. “The next day, at 10 o’clock in the morning, we started.” End of story.)
“When he comes home,” Sudderth said, “he always wants me to watch him.”
And Sudderth will Sunday when CBS goes live with the telecast. He’ll be watching for any sign of nerves. He doubts he’ll see any.
Varner is a former First Tee Open contestant at Pebble Beach and the PGA Tour Champions account posted this of him playing the 17th hole thirteen years ago:
