In “Hot & Cold,” we’ll be focusing each week on what specific areas of the game players excelled and disappointed in throughout the previous tournament. On Sunday, Brooks Koepka dominated Rory McIlroy to win his first WGC Championship, and here’s a look at where some of the most notable players gained and lost strokes over the four days of action at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational.
Hot
Brooks Koepka won his first WGC last week, and the 29-year-old did so due to a red-hot putter. Koepka gained almost ten strokes over the field on the greens last week in Memphis, leading the field in this area. Check out the clubs Koepka used on his way to victory last week in our WITB piece here.
Justin Thomas’ iron play has been superb as of late, and at last week’s WGC the 26-year-old gained 5.2 strokes over the field for his approach play. Also a major positive for Thomas last week was his return to form on the greens. Thomas gained strokes with the flat-stick at an event for the first time since February.
Rory McIlroy will have been disappointed not to get the job done on Sunday, but the Ulsterman’s impressive performance with his short game should give him good vibes heading into the playoffs. McIlroy gained a combined 7.9 strokes on and around the greens in Memphis for the four days of action. The 30-year old was, however, the only player to finish in the top-10 who lost strokes for his approach play.
Cold
For the third straight event, Jason Day lost strokes on the greens, and the Australian also struggled once again with his irons. Day lost over two strokes for his approach play last week in Memphis as he continues to strive for form.
Fellow Australian Adam Scott’s revival with the flat-stick has hit a brick wall in recent times, and after a dismal display with the putter at Royal Portrush, Scott dropped a further 3.7 strokes to the field on the greens at last week’s WGC.
Bryson DeChambeau’s T2 finish at the 3M Open looked to set the 25-year-old up for a big summer, but in the last two events, DeChambeau’s form has regressed. The American lost strokes with his irons at Royal Portrush, and last week lost a whopping 5.4 strokes in the same department.
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