Matthias

Schwab

Schwab was dialed in on Thursday with 13-of-14 fairways and 15 GIR but slipped in both categories today (8 fairways, 10 GIR). His decline in ball-striking stats led to just one birdie and four bogeys today, dropping 52 spots on the leaderboard. Schwab was a popular selection in weekly fantasy formats this week thanks to his third-place finish last time he visited Tahoe Mountain Club (2020). Other notable missed cuts include 6 points- Joe Highsmith, Niklas Norgaard Moller, Chase Hanna, Julien Brun, Camilo Villegas; 5 points - Justin Walters, Nick Watney; 4 points- Doug Ghim, Paul Barjon; 3 points- Ben Martin, Scott Brown, Johannes Veerman; Even- Wesley Bryan, Kiradech Aphibarnrat; -1 points- Doc Redman, Ryan Armour

The 27-year-old is a rookie on the PGA TOUR this season, but this is his 139th career event spread amongst several tours. He’s yet to win on any tour, including in 93 starts on the European (DP World) circuit, but has finished runner-up twice, most recently a T2 at the 2019 Turkish Airlines Open. The Austrian owns one podium in 29 events on the PGA TOUR, a T3 on debut at the 2020 opposite-field Barracuda as a non-member, sponsor invite, and this is his first time in the top 10 thru 54 holes since that same event 24 starts ago, where was solo 8th. At the three-quarter mark this week, he’s signed for rounds of 67-65-68, totaled one eagle and 16 birdies against five bogeys, and ranks 19th SG: Tee-to-Green (5.061), 4.764 of that coming in R1, and 17th SG: Putting (3.967), 4.103 of that coming in R2. The Vanderbilt product will be in the fifth-to-last twosome on Sunday with Cam Davis.

The Austrian opened and closed his round with birdie bombs from outside of 20 feet. He splashed home three other putts from outside of 11 feet, two to save par and keep his momentum rolling. Schwab walked off the course gaining 4.2 strokes putting today which would be the second-best measured round of his TOUR career. “I think I’ve had a pretty good season so far. The results haven’t shown it that much. Last few months were tough result-wise. I think the game is on the right track. The first two days here have shown that.” If this early lead holds then it would be his first time leading after any round on the PGA TOUR.

The Vanderbilt product owns five top 10s in 29 career events, three this season in 17 starts, most recently a backdoor T8 at the Valero Texas Open back in April (69-72-70-68). His career best, and lone podium, is a T3 on debut at the 2020 opposite-field Barracuda as a non-member, sponsor invite, and has yet to win anywhere on any tour, including in 93 career events on the European (DP World) Tour. Beginning on 10 tee, the Austrian penciled four birdies at holes 12, 17, 2 and 5 on 10 (of 14) fairways and 14 greens in regulation, posting a stout 4.764 SG: Tee-to-Green but a pedestrian -0.469 SG: Putting with 29 total putts, missing three birdie chances from inside of 10 feet. There were five error-free laps turned in today (of 156), three from the afternoon session, including Schwab, Michael Gligic (64), and past champ Dylan Frittelli (66).

The Austrian arrives with a 13-for-17 record on the season but six straight finishes outside of the top 50. However, he’s still well-positioned for a run at the FedExCup Playoffs, thanks to a number of members leaving in recent weeks. The result is Schwab finding himself at 116th in the FedExCup race. The PGA TOUR rookie ranks outside of the top 100 in strokes gained off-the-tee and approach but top 35 around-the-green and putting. The Vanderbilt product has reached as high as top 80 in the Official World Golf Ranking (back in 2020) but is still searching for his first worldwide win as a pro.

The 30-year-old Jacklin earned co-medalist honors after shooting 66-71 and finishing at 5-under 137 along with 22-year-old Ryan Gerard (66-71). Gerard, who recently finished his college career at North Carolina, will make his professional debut next week at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass. Also advancing are Keith Green (4-under 138) from Debary, Fla., and amateur Fred Biondi (3-under 139) from Brazil, who plays college golf at Florida. Rickie Fowler, a local Jupiter resident aiming for his 13th U.S. Open, fell one stroke short and is first alternate, with England’s Tom Lewis as second alternate. Also falling short were Austria’s Matthias Schwab, Kevin Tway and Matthew Wolff.

The winner of this week’s event will also receive a custom 1979 Schwab Firebird (see the car in link below) and Schwab was asked about the car -- that bears his name -- after R1: “I have noticed the car, yeah. It looks really cool. I have nothing but positive vibes out here. Obviously, the name of the tournament is great for me, also, and I’ve been out here before. I have a bunch of friends here from my college times. Nothing but positive vibes.” Beginning on 10 tee, the three-time All-American at Vanderbilt penciled four birdies at 10, 13, 18 and 7, two from between 28 and 39 feet, took some gloss off with squares at 17, 5 and 9, and lost strokes off-the-tee (-0.893) but gained 1.045 on approach and 1.477 with the flat stick.

The American took to the team event last season by pairing up with Justin Suh. The two signed for rounds of 65-73-63-72 to finish in a tie for 11th-place. Ghim will not have the luxury of Suh by his side as Schwab has stepped into the fold. This may be a good thing as the Austrian arrives to his first Zurich Classic in fantastic form. Enjoying a strong Florida Swing, Schwab captured top-10 finishes at the Honda Classic, Puerto Rico Open, and most recently at the Valero Texas Open. Consistently gaining strokes on approach, around-the-green, and putting, Schwab’s off-the-tee play may be the key factor for this team. Luckily it is an area where Ghim has been successful recently, especially on Pete Dye designs, as he has finishes of T-6 at The PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP and T-35 last week at the RBC Heritage.

The PGA TOUR rookie arrives with top 10s in three of his last five starts (The Honda Classic, Puerto Rico Open, and Valero Texas Open). Now he’ll get a chance to keep his foot on the gas in his RBC Heritage debut. Will Harbour Town Golf Links fit his style of play? Schwab doesn’t rely on distance (172nd on TOUR in driving distance) and is very strong from fairway to pin (39th in strokes gained approach, 16th around-the-green, and 18th putting). The putter is what historically has held him back at times so if he can keep the putter hot then he’ll be a name to keep targeting in weekly fantasy formats.

Munoz stumbled to the finish line with a final-round 77 at THE PLAYERS then withdrew ahead of the Valspar Championship the next day. He returned for the WGC-Match Play where he went 1-1-1 in Group 1, failing to advance onto the Round of 16. The Colombian has gained eight or more strokes tee-to-green in three of his last seven stroke-play events. Gamers should be willing to reinvest when he returns to action but remove him from all weekly lineups at the Heritage.