FedEx Cup Update: Jordan Spieth leads after The Open Championship

If there’s one word you could use to describe Brian Harman’s 2017 PGA TOUR season, to me it would have to be “grit”. Not only has he played the most tournaments of anybody in the top ten this week, with 24 starts, but he’s also found all this success with seven missed cuts. That may not sound like a formula for success, but dig a little deeper and you’ll see where this goes.

In the 17 events where Harman has made the cut, he’s got 12 top-25 finishes, seven in the top ten, and three where the real points are, inside the top three. His win at the Wells Fargo Championship, holding off Dustin Johnson, will likely be the highlight of his year, but it’s also given him a legitimate shot at the FedEx Cup heading into the Playoffs.

Harman’s point average of 62.17/start isn’t huge by any means. I liken it to a power hitter in baseball – he won’t always get on base, but when he does, it’s driving in runs. Harman’s ability to almost will himself into contention is a strong attribute to have as elimination weeks begin soon.

Last year, Harman finished inside the top-25 in each of the three playoff starts he had before getting eliminated himself. If he keeps that kind of production going, there’s no reason he can’t make a run at East Lake, where everybody has a chance at the big prize.