Stephen

Gangluff

Gangluff was the fourth alternate when the field was released on Friday afternoon. He gained entry when Davis Love III withdrew today. Gangluff is 3-for-9 this year with zero top 70s.

Gangluff has cashed in just five of his 18 starts and has yet to crack a top 70. Currently owning just 3 FedEx Cup points, to say he needs to make a big move this week to avoid missing the playoffs is an understatement. He enters the week 191 out of 195 in all-around ranking.

Gangluff wrapped up his second round on the front side of TPC Four Seasons Resort. He played it in bogey-free 3-under with birdies at the fifth, sixth and seventh holes, but needed a par save from five and a half feet at the ninth to secure just his fourth payday in 11 starts this year. That he snuck into the weekend is nothing short of remarkable given he’s split only 11 (of 28) fairways and ranks last in the remaining field of 79 with a mere 16 greens in regulation. Because more than 78 golfers advanced, a second cut of top 70 and ties will occur after 54 holes are complete.

While Gangluff’s made five (of 13) cuts, he has yet to finish inside the top 70 in an event. While he’s 89th in driving distance, he comes in at 185th in driving accuracy and 182nd in GIR. He’s coming off a T76 (MDF) at the Travelers.

The veteran was the last man in the field at the commitment deadline on Friday afternoon, but he was bumped by late entry, Davis Love III.

The 37-year-old has made virtually no noise in his return to the PGA TOUR this season. He’s 5-for-20 with no top 70s and ranks 222nd on the money list. He earned just three FedExCup points prior to the Playoffs. However, the season is over yet. In today’s loop of CordeValle, he hit 16 greens in regulation and poured in six birdies, five of which on his inward nine. A four-hole stretch included conversions from 35'9", 12'2" and 38'7" at the 11th, 13th and 14th holes, all for birdies. His 67 matches a season low (carded twice previously).

After getting bumped due to Davis Love III’s late entry, Gangluff had to wait until Kyle Stanley withdrew today to slide back in. He’ll assume Stanley’s tee time on the first hole at 12:03 p.m. PT on Thursday. The journeyman has missed his last six cuts and ranked 222nd on the money list.

Gangluff buried an eagle and five birdies to offset one bogey to secure his first start on the PGA TOUR since losing his card at the end of the 2012 season. Zack Fischer, Jason Schultz and Bobby Massa shared runner-up honors, all signing for a 5-under 33-34=67 with six birdies and one bogey. It’s the third time Fischer has four-spotted this season; he missed the cut in his previous two starts (Valero Texas Open; Zurich Classic of New Orleans). Schultz had status on TOUR in 2006 and 2007 but made just one start since (T63, 2010 Byron Nelson). And in his only career TOUR-sanctioned start, Massa missed the cut at the WNB Golf Classic on the Web.com Tour a month ago. The 25-year-old University of Texas-Arlington product is a native of Irving. The field for the HPBNC is now complete at 156.

The two-time PGA TOUR member was granted a sponsor exemption into the field. He ranks third in earnings on the PGA TOUR Canada money list on the strength of a victory in early June. Gangluff has cashed twice in three starts at the RBC, but hasn’t been tested in competition at Glen Abbey.

Gangluff has 60 career PGA TOUR starts under his belt, but this will be his first since the 2013 RBC Canadian Open (missed cut). Overall, he is 22-for-60, with three top 25s. The 41-year-old journeyman is a long shot to contend this week, but it’s nice to see him on the big stage again. Brett Drewitt was the other survivor of the 5-for-2 playoff that took place this morning at Mayacoo Lakes Country Club. The Web.com Tour grad will be making his seventh start of the season and currently ranks 165th in the FedExCup race. The three golfers that got eliminated in this morning’s playoff include: Nicholas Lindheim, Jonathan Randolph, and Julian Etulain.