With both the FedEx Cup and the Ryder Cup decided the 2013-14 PGA Tour season has come to an end. Not to fear, however, the 2014-15 season is beginning this week at Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa, California.
Here is a listing of five players to watch this week as everyone in the field will be looking to put their name on the $1.08 million first-place check on Sunday evening.
Lee Westwood will try to put last year’s poor performance on tour out of his mind and concentrate on getting off to a fast start this season.
He missed six cuts in 18 starts and only posted two top-10 finishes in 2014. He finished at No. 107 in the FedEx Cup and has fallen to No. 44 in the world.
Brandt Snedeker struggled all season with injury. Normally one of the most consistent players on tour, he missed five cuts and only posted three top-10 finishes. He ended the year at No. 86 in the FedEx Cup and failed to make the Ryder Cup team.
Chesson Hadley was named the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year last year and cashed in at the Puerto Rico Open for his first tour title. He added four top-10 finishes and earned over $1.7 million.
He will be looking to continue his good play and finish higher up the FedEx Cup points list this season.
Matt Kuchar had a solid year last season, but would rather forget the Ryder Cup.
In addition to winning the RBC Heritage, he finished runner-up at the Shell Houston Open and added nine other top-10 finishes. He earned over $4.8 million was No. 8 in the FedEx Cup and is ranked No. 9 in the world.
Kuchar was one of the veterans on the losing Ryder Cup squad and finished with a 1-3-0 record.
Jimmy Walker is the defending champion this week at the Frys.com Open. He won twice more after his maiden win here last year and led the FedEx Cup points list for most of the season.
He finished inside the top-10 on seven other occasions and earned $5.7 million finishing at No. 7 in the FedEx Cup race.
Walker has secured his place as one of the best players on tour and teamed well with Rickie Fowler in the Ryder Cup.
Tour players understand how important it is to get off to a strong start in these six events on the wrap-around schedule.
Young players will be trying to finish high to improve their status to secure more access to tournaments after the first of the year.
A new season of PGA Tour golf is starting this week at the Frys.com Open.