FedEx Cup rankings through Zurich Classic: May 3, 2017
10: Brendan Steele
14 events – 964 points, 1 win, 3 top 10’s. (avg. points/event – 68.857)
Last start: MC, Zurich Classic of New Orleans (0 FedEx Cup points)
Steele benefitted in a big way from his win at the season-opening Safeway Open, and the full 500 points that came with it. Over the last two months, however, the tournaments have gotten bigger, the fields have gotten tougher, and Steele has struggled to really break through. Since the Honda Classic, where he finished tied for 14th place and earned 51 points, his best result is a T27 at the Masters, good for just 33 points. Paired with Keegan Bradley in New Orleans, a missed cut was a major setback.
Steele has worked through some soreness in his right elbow that popped up during Masters week, but says he’s now 100%. The 56th ranked player in the world, Steele isn’t playing in this week’s Wells Fargo Championship. He’ll be returning to action next week at TPC Sawgrass for The PLAYERS Championship. Steele has made the cut at Sawgrass just twice in his six-year career, with a T-26 in 2014 his best finish. He did play the weekend there last year on his way to a T57 finish.
There is some good stuff on the horizon for Steele if he can find his form, however.
While Steele isn’t playing the Wells Fargo Championship, being held at Eagle Point this year, he will get his shot at Quail Hollow this August in the PGA Championship. Steele finished tied for 14th at Quail Hollow in 2016, and T9 in 2015.
Next: 9: Justin Rose