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Carlos Ortiz: 2021 FedEx Cup Contender or Pretender?

By Tim Letcher

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO - DECEMBER 04: Carlos Ortiz of Mexico plays his shot from the fourth tee during the second round of the Mayakoba Golf Classic at El Camaleón Golf Club on December 04, 2020 in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO - DECEMBER 04: Carlos Ortiz of Mexico plays his shot from the fourth tee during the second round of the Mayakoba Golf Classic at El Camaleón Golf Club on December 04, 2020 in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images) /
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Carlos Ortiz is another player who earned his first PGA Tour win earlier this season. Can he ride that momentum into FedEx Cup contention?

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. 6, Carlos Ortiz.

Best career FedEx Cup finish: Ortiz has played four full seasons on the PGA Tour. He has made the postseason in three of those seasons. He was 93rd in his rookie season in 2015. He missed the playoffs in his second year in 2016, when he finished 172nd. In 2019, he was 113th but his best finish came last season when he ended the season in 51st.

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So far this season: Ortiz opened his season at the Safeway Open. He had a 67 to start the event and followed that with a 70. After a 68 on Saturday, he was in 29th place. But a 74 on Sunday dropped him into a tie for 46th place.

Ortiz then went through two tough weeks. At the Sanderson Farms Championship, he shot 73-70 to miss the cut. The following week, at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, he shot 69-67 to miss a second straight cut.

The next week was slightly better for Ortiz. He was consistent at the CJ Cup at Shadow Creek, shooting 72-71-72-72. That left him in a tie for 48th place.

Ortiz played the next week, at the Zozo Championship at Sherwood Country Club. He opened the week with a 72. However, he shot a 65 on Friday and a 68 on Saturday. He was within shouting distance before a 71 on Sunday left him in a tie for 35th place.

The following week is one that Ortiz will never forget.

At the Houston Open, he opened play with a 67 on Thursday. He followed that with a 68 on Friday and a 67 on Saturday. He trailed Sam Burns by one shot with 18 holes to play.

Ortiz played nearly flawless golf on Sunday. He had three birdies on the front nine and two on the back, including at the 18th hole, to claim his first career PGA Tour win.

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After taking a few weeks off, Ortiz returned at the Mayakoba Golf Classic. He shot four rounds in the 60s on his way to a tie for eighth, his second straight Top 10 finish.

The verdict: While Ortiz ended 2020 playing very well, it would be a large step for him to compete for the FedEx Cup. Consider him a pretender for the 2021 FedEx Cup.

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