The SAS Championship at Prestonwood Country Club in Cary, North Carolina is the first tournament on the PGA Tour Champions since Sept. 20, and no one is more anxious to get on the golf course than Jim Furyk. The senior rookie has dominated the PGA Tour Champions, winning both events he’s played in, the Ally Challenge and the Pure Insurance Championship. He has the chance to be the first golfer on the PGA Tour Champions to win three straight tournaments.
- Jim Furyk is playing to win his third consecutive PGA Tour Champions events
- Ernie Els finished in the top 10 in six of the eight tournaments he’s played in this season, including a third in his last event
- Mark Calcavecchia returns to the tour for the first time since his lengthy battle with COVID-19
Furyk isn’t predicting he can win his third consecutive event at the SAS Championship, but the 50-year-old did tell reporters on Thursday he’s playing good golf.
“I’ve been on a nice roll for the last two events that I played out here,†Furyk said. “When you say undefeated season, it’s only been two tournaments. When you get on a good roll like that, when you’re playing well and you’ve got some momentum, it’s a lot of fun. Now the goal’s to try to keep that going.â€
Odds to Win SAS Championship
| Jim Furyk | 11/4 |
| Ernie Els | 15/2 |
| Bernhard Langer | 8/1 |
| Jerry Kelly | 11/1 |
| Retief Goosen | 14/1 |
| Kevin Sutherland | 22/1 |
| Robert Karlsson | 22/1 |
| Scott Parel | 22/1 |
| Woody Austin | 22/1 |
| David Toms | 33/1 |
| Rod Pampling | 33/1 |
| Kenny Perry | 40/1 |
| Mike Weir | 40/1 |
| Vijay Singh | 40/1 |
| Brandt Jobe | 50/1 |
| Paul Broadhurst | 50/1 |
| Steve Flesch | 50/1 |
| Colin Montgomerie | 66/1 |
Source: Bovada
Furyk is, understandably, the overwhelming favorite at 11/4, but is downplaying the possible achievement of three wins in a row.
“Coming in here and reading about no one ever winning three in a row, it’s real easy to get kind of caught up and think about trying to win, but I didn’t get to this position doing that,†Furyk said. “I got in this position really just worrying about my game and going out there and playing the best I could.â€
Els Could Topple Furyk at SAS Championship
Ernie Els is the second pick at 15/2, and the South African has been playing equally as consistent golf as Furyk. Els has one victory in March, and missed out on a playoff at the last tournament, the Pure Insurance Open, by missing a 3-foot putt on the final hole.
Els still has six top-10 finishes in eight tournaments this year and told reporters that, after the break, he has to get his game back in shape.
“You know, two weeks off, I didn’t play too much golf my first week off,†Els said. “I played a little bit more last week, but down in Florida we had so much rain every single day, so a little bit rusty.â€
Calcavecchia Putting COVID-19 Scare Behind Him
One golfer who’s just happy to be out on the golf course again is Mark Calcavecchia. The 60-year-old has been battling COVID-19 for the past month, and is excited about making his return at the SAS Championship.
“I was playing well out there and feeling good,†Calcavecchia said. “I was really looking forward to getting something going. And then I get the virus, I miss a couple of tournaments and there’s two weeks off. And now I’m gone a month and it’s pick it back up and start over again, and see what I’ve got.â€
