How SC’s pro golfers are doing in 2021-22 season as Masters arrives
Former champion Dustin Johnson joins 2020-21 PGA Tour tournament winners Kevin Kisner and Lucas Glover in forming South Carolina’s contingent in the 2022 Masters that begins Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club.
Johnson (Columbia/Coastal Carolina) earned a lifetime invitation into the year’s first men’s major with his victory in the 2020 Masters. His triumph came in November after the coronavirus outbreak forced a move from the traditional April date.
Kisner (Aiken) won last season’s Wyndham Championship and Glover (Greenville/Clemson) captured the John Deere Classic.
Kisner, 14th in the FedEx Cup standings, Johnson (84) and Glover (113) join No. 73 Matt NeSmith (Aiken/USC) in giving South Carolina four players who would qualify for the postseason playoffs should the season end now.
The top 125 advance to the playoffs and simultaneously earn full status for the following season.
Most of the remaining 12 state players have a low priority and will have a limited number of starts in the season’s second half.
Kisner’s four top-10s include strong performances in a pair of tournaments with the strongest fields. He finished fourth in the Players and second in the Match-Play, to vault to 27th in the world ranking.
Johnson is ranked eighth in the world and has a couple of top-10s in a season limited to six starts by injury.
SC players in the pros
Through March 20; Ranked by FedEx Cup Standings
Player . . . . . . . . FedEx . . Notes
Kevin Kisner (14), four Top-10s
Matt NeSmith (73), one Top-10
Dustin Johnson (84) two Top-10s
Lucas Glover (113) one1 Top-10
Jonathan Byrd (140) one Top-10
Ben Martin (142) one Top-10
Andrew Novak (145), no Top-10s
Doc Redman (151), no Top-10s
Bill Haas (170), no Top-10s
Tommy Gainey (175), one Top-10
Kyle Stanley (189), no Top-10s
Richy Werenski (193), no Top-10s
Wesley Bryan (197), no Top-10s
William McGirt (202), no Top-10s
Scott Brown (213), no Top-10s
DJ Trahan (232), no Top-10s
Top 125 in FedEx Points at season’s end qualify for playoffs and earn full status for the 2022-23 season.
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