Harris English: 2021 FedEx Cup Contender or Pretender?
By Tim Letcher
The 2020-21 PGA Tour season is off to a solid start for Harris English. Can he keep up the momentum and contend for the FedEx Cup?
With the 2020 portion of the PGA Tour schedule in the books, we at Pro Golf Now will be taking a look at the current top 50, and some selected others, in the current FedEx Cup standings and whether they are contenders or pretenders for the 2021 FedEx Cup. Our latest subject is the current No. 18, Harris English.
Best career FedEx Cup finish: English appeared to be a player on the rise early in his career. In just his second season on the PGA Tour, in 2013, he was 31st in the FedEx Cup standings. The following year, he was 32nd. And in 2015, he made his first trip to East Lake for the Tour Championship, finishing 28th. But he faltered after that, dropping to as low as 149th in 2019. He had a nice bounce back last season, recording his best finish ever in the FedEx Cup standings, a 12th place showing.
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So far this season: English has been really good so far this season. He opened the campaign at Winged Foot in the U.S. Open. There, he shot 68 on Thursday and 70 on Friday to put himself into contention. He slipped a bit on the weekend, shooting 72-73, but that was good enough to finish fourth, the best finish he has ever had in a major.
At the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, English could not carry the momentum from his season opener. He shot 68-69 and missed the cut.
The following week, English played the CJ Cup at Shadow Creek. He opened with a 75 but came back nicely in the final three rounds. He shot 66 on Friday, 69 on Saturday and 68 on Sunday to finish solo 10th.
At the Zozo Championship at Sherwood Country Club, English shot 66 on Thursday and 67 on Friday. But rounds of 72 on Saturday and 70 on Sunday left him in a tie for 28th place.
After taking a few weeks off, English had two events left on his 2020 schedule. And he made the most of them.
At the RSM Classic, he opened with rounds of 66 on both Thursday and Friday. He slipped to a 72 on Saturday but fired a 62 on Sunday to jump from 19th into a tie for sixth.
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He followed a similar pattern at the Mayakoba Golf Classic. English shot 69 on Thursday and 70 on Friday. A 66 on Saturday got him into the Top 20, but it was his 63 on Sunday that vaulted him into a tie for fifth, his fourth Top 10 finish of the season already.
The verdict: English has not won on tour since 2014. If he can get over that hump, he could surprise many in this year’s FedEx Cup. Consider him a contender for the 2021 postseason.