The Open Championship has been the major in which First Coast and South Georgia players have found the most success.
Eleven residents of the First Coast or Georgia’s Golden Isles will try to match that history this week at Royal Portrush from July 17-20 in the 153rd Open.
Beginning with Jacksonville native David Duval’s victory at the 2001 Open at Royal Lytham and St. Annes, four area residents have won golf’s oldest major championship. Zach Johnson (2015) and Brian Harman (2023) of St. Simons Island, Ga., and Cameron Smith (2022) of Ponte Vedra Beach also have had their names etched onto the Claret Jug.
In addition, Billy Horschel of Ponte Vedra (2024), Matt Kuchar, then living in St. Simons Island (2017) and Vijay Singh of Ponte Vedra (2003) have finished second or tied for second over the same span. Jim Furyk of Jacksonville had three finishes of fifth or higher.
The PGA Tour is also holding the Barracuda Championship this week, at the Tahoe Mountain Club in Truckee, Calif., July 17-20. The tournament is being scored through a Modified Stableford format (8 points for a double-eagle, 5 for an eagle, 2 for a birdie, 0 for a par, -1 for a bogey and –3 for a double bogey or worse.
Who are the area players in the Open Championship field?
Ludvig Aberg
Qualification: Top 30, 2024 FedEx Cup.
Open starts: One.
Best finish: Missed cut in 2024.
Bud Cauley
Qualification: World Golf Ranking, July 14.
Open starts: One.
Best finish: Tied for 32nd in 2013.
Nico Echavarria
Qualification: World Golf Ranking, July 14.
Open starts: First Open.
Harris English
Qualification: Top 50, World Golf Ranking, May 25.
Open starts: Nine.
Best finish: Tied for 15th in 2013.
Ben Griffin
Qualification: Top 50, World Golf Ranking, May 25.
Open starts: Two
Best finish: Missed the cut twice.
Brian Harman
Qualification: Past champion.
Open starts: Nine.
Best finish: Won in 2023 at Royal Liverpool.
Zach Johnson
Qualification: Past champion.
Open starts: 19.
Best finish: Won in 2015 at St. Andrews.
Andrew Novak
Qualification: Top 50, World Golf Ranking, May 25.
Open starts: First Open.
J.T. Poston
Qualification: Top 50, World Golf Ranking, May 25.
Open starts: Three.
Best finish: Tied for 41st in 2023.
Cameron Smith
Qualification: Past champion.
Open starts: Seven.
Best finish: Won in 2022 at St. Andrews.
Davis Thompson
Qualification: World Golf Ranking, July 14.
Open starts: One.
Best finish: Tied for 46th in 2024.
Purse: To be announced.
Defending champion: Xander Schauffele.
Note: Horschel is eligible via his finish in the 2024 Open, but is injured.
TV: Peacock (July 17-18, 1:30-4 a.m.); USA (July 17-18, 4 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; July 19-20, 5-7 a.m.); NBC (July 19, 7 a.m.-3 p.m.; July 20, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.).
Who are the area players in PGA Tour Barracuda Championship?
First Coast: Ricky Castillo, Lanto Griffin, Ben Kohles, Sam Ryder, Alejandro Tosti, Danny Walker.
Golden Isles: Will Gordon, Paul Peterson, Greyson Sigg.
Purse: $4 million ($720,000 and 300 FedEx Cup points to the winner).
Defending champion: Nick Dunlap.
TV: Golf Channel (July 17-20, 6-9 p.m.).
What other pro tours are playing this week?
Korn Ferry Tour
Event: Price Cutter Charity Championship, July 17-20, Highland Springs Country Club, Springfield, Mo.
Purse: $1 million ($180,000 to the winner).
2024 champion: Matt McCarty.
Area players: Tyson Alexander, Samuel Anderson, Dawson Armstrong, Fred Biondi, Chandler Blanchet, Cody Blick, Sebastian Cappelen, Adrien Dumont de Chassart, Nick Gabrelcik, Luke Guthrie, Russell Knox, Rick Lamb, Raul Pereda, Marcus Plunkett, Doc Redman, Travis Trace, Thomas Walsh, Carl Yuan.
TV: None.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: First Coast, Golden Isles sending 11 PGA Tour players to British Open
