With all the talk about the new guns on tour, it’s easy to have missed the 28 year old, Harold Varner III.
Varner III came into this past week’s Northern Trust Open needing to move from 102 to 70 if he wanted to advance to the next step of the Fed Ex Cup. He did just that. Varner III stayed in contention until the back man settling for a T3 finish. He will enter this week’s BMW Championship in 29th place with a real chance to advance to East Lake for the Tour finale.
The East Carolina alum was handpicked by Michael Jordan to wear Jordan Brand gear on Tour.
Thank you to everyone for all the support at @thentgolf. I enjoyed grinding it out at @libertynationalgc. One day I’ll put one in the W column but as for now I gotta keep grinding. CHICAGOOOOO, we comin’ baby. #WeHere pic.twitter.com/Z2FtDFCvxa
— Harold Varner III (@HV3_Golf) August 11, 2019
Like many his age, Varner III grew up admiring Tiger Woods but not for his color but because he won. As pointed out by the Jerry Bembry of The Undefeated, Varner III is one of two African-Americans on Tour. Woods’ influence on golf was more on a global level not a race level.
This season, Varner III has a career high in prize money ($1,534,279) and a career best nine top 25 finishes.
Patrick Reed Wins Northern Trust Open
Reed won his first PGA Tournament since the 2018 Masters. Reed moved to second place of the Fed Ex Cup standings behind Brooks Koepka.
It also moved Reed into the President’s Cup conversation. Though he would need a miracle to jump into the top 8 (currently 12th), he has finished in the top 14 in four of his last six tournaments.
