Patrick

Cantlay

Cantlay had a close call last week in Memphis, losing to Lucas Glover in a playoff. He’s not content with that strong finish, as he can sniff the finish line, “Happy to put myself in a good spot and hopefully improve on that spot this week.” He’s done a fine job of improving his position ahead of East Lake in recent years. He won the 2021 and 2022 BMW Championship events, both played on different courses. Cantlay will attempt to make it a three-peat this week at Olympia Fields, “I like the golf course up here. I like all the bentgrass golf courses, very traditional back-to-front greens. I think this golf course this week is excellent. I don’t worry too much about being the defending champion or anything like that, just go out and do my best, fortunately this week on a golf course I really enjoy.”

Cantlay arrived off a missed cut in Scotland and a T-33 finish at The Open. He got back into contention during the first event of the FedExCup Playoffs. His Sunday 64 was the low round of the day, gaining 4.1 strokes tee-to-green en route to his six-birdie effort. With this finish, Cantlay jumps from 13th to 5th in the FedExCup race. He’ll now attempt a three-peat at the BMW Championship, all on different host venues. While he hasn’t won at Olympia Field CC, he does have some good history there. “I’m obviously playing really well, and next week is a golf course that I enjoy, so looking forward to it.” Cantlay shared the 36-hole lead at the 2020 BMW Championship at Olympia Fields, settling for a T-12 finish at week’s end.

Cantlay entered the week with five straight top 15s on his Travelers Championship resume. He kept with tradition by putting himself right back in the mix today. “Off to a good start. You know, I played really solid today. I don’t think I got the most out of my round, but I got enough to put myself in good position, and off to a good start this week.” Cantlay missed a trio of putts from inside of nine feet but also splashed home notable putts from 17 feet and 25 feet along the way. The result was a putting performance right around field average (0.21 SG:Putting). Cantlay has now been T27 or better after 17 of his last 18 rounds at TPC River Highlands.

Cantlay arrived on a run of good form, posting top 20s in his last five stroke-play events with strong showings at the WGC-Match Play and Zurich Classic team event also thrown into that mix. Despite the good results, he made a big switch ahead of this week’s event, adding Joe LaCava (Tiger Woods’s old caddie) to his team. “He filled in a week for me a couple years ago. We’ve known each other a few years now and he’s a pro and I’ve been doing it a little while now, so it’s pretty easy transition.” Cantlay was proud of his scrambling today but he also ranked 4th in strokes gained approach to keep himself in good position to score throughout the round. His previous appearances at Quail Hollow Club include a T33 at the 2017 PGA Championship and missed cut at the 2021 Wells Fargo Championship. Cantlay also went 3-1-0 at the 2022 Presidents Cup, which was hosted by Quail Hollow Club.

Cantlay cut ties with Matt Minister after the Zurich Classic. With Tiger Woods shutting it down for surgery, LaCava was a free agent and Woods gave the blessing for him to join forces with Cantlay. “On the bag for @patrick_cantlay this week at the @WellsFargoGolf and for the foreseeable future is Joe Lacava who got the blessing from friend and former boss @TigerWoods to make the move to Cantlay. This is not a one off but a full time move for Lacava.” Cantlay has played alongside LaCava in the past on a fill-in basis but this will likely be a permanent agreement if they mesh well over the next few months.

Cantlay didn’t have his best stuff from tee-to-green today but still salvaged a reasonable round. He split just 8-of-14 fairways and found 11 GIR. For the week, he gained 4-plus strokes in three of the four categories (off-the-tee, approach, putting). “It’s a golf course that I really like, and I’ve played well at a lot. I’ve been close a lot, so hopefully someday I’ll be able to close the deal here.” Cantlay now has five finishes of 7th or better in six tries at Harbour Town Golf Links.

Cantlay missed the cut at the 2021 RBC Heritage but has nothing but good vibes other than that. “This golf course really rewards patient, solid golf, which I think is one of my strengths, so it’s a golf course I really like.” He’s finished T3 or better in three of his five visits with a T7 to go along with the beforementioned missed cut. Cantlay faded on Sunday last week at the Masters but has a good chance to rebound this week on a course that he really likes.

Cantlay and his opponent traded some bogeys early in the match but Cantlay caught fire with six birdies and an eagle on his final 11 holes. “Today conditions were a little tougher, so a little more difficult to make birdies. But I played really well and played the back nine great.” Cantlay entered the week with a 6-4-2 record at the WGC-Match Play and will now have a rematch with Brian Harman tomorrow. The duo faced off in the 2021 edition where Cantlay won their match but Harman won a tiebreaker to advance out of group play.

Cantlay found top 25s in his first two tries at TPC Sawgrass but has hit a wall since the event moved to March, missing three cuts in three tries. “I seem to play better here when it was in May. So I think it’s really important to drive the golf ball well here. I think in years past I’ve played a little more on the West Coast and I’ve come to Florida a little tired. So I feel good this year and I’m excited about it.” Course history fans will want to look elsewhere but on paper he should be in line for a much better finish than his last three visits.

Cantlay was playing Bay Hill for the first time since Junior Golf but had no trouble learning the layout. He gained 9.9 strokes tee-to-green for the week, third in the field. His only weakness was the flat stick as he lost half a stroke to the field (50th). This will go in the books as his third podium of the season, in just six starts. He’ll turn his attention toward TPC Sawgrass now where he’s missed the cut in three straight visits.