Derek

Ernst

Lindheim missed a pair of cuts in the fall before ending with a pair of pre-tourney WDs. He turned his attention toward the Korn Ferry Tour upon return with four finishes of T-8 or better in five starts this season, including a win last week at TPC Colorado.

Ernst isn’t a household name, but the recent UNLV grad competed in the Palmer Cup this summer and advanced to the finals of last year’s U.S. Publinx Final. He split only nine (of 14) fairways and hit 12 greens in regulation at CordeValle today, but he limited the damage to a lone bogey. After five birdies, the longest of which just 12'4" at the fifth hole, he holed out for eagle from 125 yards at the par-4 18th to finish three strokes off the overnight lead.

As the last man in the field, you’d expect the rookie to struggle in his debut at TPC Sawgrass. He split 10 (of 14) fairways and hit 14 greens, but suffered three bogeys and a double. His first bogey was of the three-putt variety from 48'5" at the par-5 second hole. He circled three biries, but all disappeared from inside five feet. Ernst is still raw, but he carries a confidence and swagger that belies his youth. He’ll turn 23 years of age one week from today.

Since his win, Ernst has two of four cuts, but nothing has amounted to anything more than a T46 at Colonial. His spike is reminiscent of what Ted Potter Jr. did in his rookie season of 2012, winning The Greenbrier without warning. There’s still time for him to differentiate himself, but it’s likely his week at Quail Hollow will be the only reason he has a 2013-14 TOUR card a year’s end.

Ernst found himself under par just twice in four rounds, but it was at least good enough to allow him a share of 67th with Kyle Stanley among others. Given his lack of seasoning, it shouldn’t be a surprise that he was unable to put four solid rounds together. The advice would be to continue to monitor how his season progresses before investing too heavily.

The rookie has cashed just once in four tries, and that T59 at the Sony Open seems like forever ago. Since he only has $12,096 to his name, he already finds himself mired deep in the reshuffle. That means he needs to make the most of every opportunity to better position himself to gain access in future tournaments.

Ernst was the sixth alternate when the field was released on Friday afternoon. He gained entry when Mark Wilson withdrew today. The rookie recorded a career-best T47 last week in New Orleans. He’s 196th in FedExCup and remains best left to your free agent pile.

The rookie from UNLV was an afterthought for much of the day, not seeing red figures until he rattled home his third birdie of the round on the par-5 15th from 7'10". He stepped on the 18th tee trailing by one, then after finding the fairway he threw his approach 4'8" from the bottom of the cup and poured it in for a share of the lead at 8-under 280. He went back to the tee at the par-4 18th for the first playoff hole, splitting the fairway while Lynn’s ball found the hazard. Lynn was able to play his ball, depositing it into a greenside bunker while Ernst found the green 13'3" from the hole. With Lynn continuing to make a mess of the hole, Ernst needed just two putts for his first win and managed his two-putt par. Not only is this Ernst’s first PGA TOUR victory, it’s the first time he’s secured a top 40. This win gets him into this week’s PLAYERS, the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and the PGA Championship, but he’s probably most excited about the two-year exemption.

Ernst opened things in fine fashion, with a 9'5" birdie on the par-4 first. Birdies at seven and 11 were immediately erased with bogeys and eight and 12, then he fell out of red figures for the first time at the par-3 17th. With a T47 last week in New Orleans as his best finish to date, he should be a lock to better that in Sunday’s finale.

He blended the good with the bad today. Ernst hit only 11 greens in regulation but he negotiated three birdies into the mix, including a conversion from 10'8" at the 10th hole. Flanking it, however, were whiffed par attempts from inside four feet at Nos. 9 and 13, both of which resulting in bogeys. He helped secure the red number with a par save from 10'6" at 3.