The PGA Tour 2025 season is only 3 tournaments old, but Sepp Straka thought that’s about enough. Enough of what? Enough tournaments without a winner who played collegiately in Athens under legendary Coach Chris Haack. Which is why we like to call it the UGA Tour.
Starting in 2010, the PGA Tour has had a least winner each season from lads with these qualifications, and Sunday the streak moved to 16 consecutive. I don’t think it is the longest, as Arnold Palmer was followed by a lot of great golfers from Wake Forest. Georgia Tech was turning our pros by the bunches back in the 90’s and 00’s. Texas had a lot of alums winning for a while and Arizona State fueled by Phil Mickelson and others was a good run from the early 90’s. This certainly isn’t an official PGA record, but I do think it’s the longest active streak and it’s a Bulldog Point of Pride.
Just last week we brought ‘Dawgs on Tour out of hibernation to mark the end of college football (excluding meteor games) and the start of golf season. I failed to give a preview of the American Express tournament, mostly because I thought we should spend time on the 11 current Tour members who played at UGA and that the AmEx isn’t necessarily a marquee event. Sepp Straka made me regret the omission.
After 3 days of bouncing around the Coachella Valley at the Nicklaus Tournament Course, La Quinta Country Club, and the Pete Dye Stadium Course at PGA West, plus lugging around an amateur for the 3 pro-am rounds, Straka went to bed Saturday night with a 4 stroke lead thanks to a 3rd round 64. Just below him on the leaderboard were wily veteran and part-time Seagull Charley Hoffman, Aussie and unfortunate clothing sponsored Jason Day, and Crimson Tide fan Justin Thomas.
Playing the final round in threesomes and on the tougher Stadium Course, Straka started the day with his first final round lead in his career. His previous 2 Tour wins were come-from-behind fashion, so no one knew if he had the nerves to sleep on the lead and perform with such pressure. The first hole birdie answered a lot of those questions.
Straka would go on to card 3 more birdies through 14 holes, then played smart but conservative golf down the final stretch; avoiding the many water hazards and avoiding big numbers on his scorecard. He finished at 70, and a 2 stroke victory over Thomas.
This is the 3rd Tour victory for Straka, but his first in about 18 months. He wins $1,584,000 in prize money. Normally a player’s first win in a while gets them an invite to the Masters and other prestigious events. Yet Sepp was already qualified for the majors and signature events due to making the Tour Championship last season (top 30 in FedEx Cup points). If anything, he’s pleased to move up the rankings and is about halfway home to making the fall playoffs.
There were 9 other former ‘Dawgs in the field (everyone except Henley). Here’s are their results:
Brendon Todd: missed cut (MC)
Will Chandler: MC
Kevin Kisner: MC
Brian Harman
Greyson Sigg
Davis Thompson: T51
Harris English: T43
Chris Kirk: T34
Keith Mitchell: T21
This week is the Farmer’s Open at Torrey Pines (San Diego). Bubba Watson claimed the title way back in 2011. But only Chandler, English, and Sigg are entered in this year’s tourney.
So that’s just a little good news for your day. Stay warm and safe out there folks. And as always…
GO ‘DAWGS!!!