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Northern Trust: winners and losers from first playoff event

By Tim Letcher

NORTON, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 23: Russell Henley of the United States plays his shot from the ninth tee during the final round of The Northern Trust at TPC Boston on August 23, 2020 in Norton, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
NORTON, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 23: Russell Henley of the United States plays his shot from the ninth tee during the final round of The Northern Trust at TPC Boston on August 23, 2020 in Norton, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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Find out who the winners and losers were at this week’s Northern Trust, including Harry Higgs, Jason Kokrak and Robby Shelton.

Each week on the PGA Tour, there are winners and losers in each tournament. This week, and continuing throughout the season, we will look at those who achieved and those who underachieved at each event. Here’s a look at the winners and losers from the Northern Trust.

Winners

Dustin Johnson – DJ cruised to his second win of the restart and into the lead in the race for the FedEx Cup. And he did it in dominating fashion, overpowering the course, and the field, at TPC Boston this week. Johnson’s 30-under par score and 11-shot win over Harris English made it look easy this week.

Jason Kokrak – He entered the week in 90th place in the FedEx Cup standings and needed to do something big this week to advance to the next round of the playoffs. In fact, coming to the 72nd hole, Kokrak was still outside the top 70. But on the par-5 18th hole, he stuck his second shot just a couple of feet from the hole, then made the eagle which allowed him to advance to the BMW Championship next week.

Robby Shelton – He entered the week in 81st place in the FedEx Cup standings. As Sunday began, Shelton needed to make something happen to keep his postseason alive. And he did just that with an 8-under par 63, which moved him to 62nd place and on to next week’s BMW Championship in Chicago.

Harry Higgs – Another player who needed to do something big this week, Higgs entered the Northern Trust in 72nd in the FedEx Cup standings. He proceeded to finish T11, moving up 24 spots in the standings and easily advancing to the BMW Championship next week.

Russell Henley – The former Georgia Bulldog entered the week at 101st in the FedEx Cup standings, but his T8th-place showing moved him to 61st in the standings, allowing him to just make it to next week’s BMW Championship. In what hasn’t been a great year for Henley, advancing was a huge accomplishment.

Alex Noren – He entered the week at 78th in the playoff standings, needing to do something to make a run at the BMW Championship. And he was able to do just that, with a top 10 finish and a 30-spot jump in the playoff standings. A big week for Noren earns him a trip to Chicago next week.

Losers

Phil Mickelson – Lefty entered the week in 67th position in the FedEx Cup playoff standings. A made cut at the Northern Trust probably would have gotten him to next week. But after a Thursday round of 74, he was unable to bounce back and missed the cut, and his chance at advancing in the playoffs. His PGA Tour Champions career begins this week.

Henrik Norlander – Quietly, the Swede has had a big year on tour. He entered this week in 68th place, inside the needed Top 70 to advance to next week. But after a pair of 71s, Norlander missed the cut in Boston and missed his chance at advancing in the playoffs.

Denny McCarthy – He entered the week in 65th in the FedEx Cup playoff standings, and made the cut this week at the Northern Trust, holding his playoff destiny in his hands. But an even-par round of 71 on Sunday left McCarthy in 72nd place and ended his postseason early.

Xinjun Zhang – He was the player who held the 70th spot heading into this week, but after shooting 71-72 and missing the cut, Zhang fell out of the top 70. He would finish 78th and would miss the opportunity to play in the BMW Championship next week.

Sung Kang – He entered the week at 61st in the FedEx Cup standings, but shot 70-75 this week at the Northern Trust and missed the cut this week. Kang was the second player out, finishing in 72nd place in the standings following this week’s play.

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