Golf: Straka in a duel with the elite on the test bench

In Bay Hill, a suburb of Orlando, Straka tees off in a flight with 2018 tournament-winning Northern Irishman McIlroy on Thursday. The competition on the par 72 course is top-class: The Spanish world number one Rahm is also part of the game, as is FedExCup leader Hideki Matsuyama from Japan. However, defending champion Bryson DeChambeau is absent due to injury.

Straka’s record at the Palmers Invitational has been mixed so far, with two missed cuts in as many attempts. With the sense of achievement behind him, that should now change. The prize money is princely: 550 FedExCup points and a whopping 2.16 million dollars (1.94 million euros) await the winner at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge. For his premiere success at the Honda Classic, the native of Vienna received 1.44 million dollars (1.28 million euros) at the weekend.

Schwab in action in Puerto Rico

Straka’s compatriot Schwab, meanwhile, is traded as the number one favorite in a PGA Tour report in Puerto Rico. With seventh place, the 27-year-old Styrian recently offered an excellent performance, like Straka, who triumphed in Palm Beach Gardens as the first Austrian on the PGA Tour. The tournament at the Grand Reserve Country Club is endowed with 3.7 million dollars (3.30 million euros). The winner will receive a check for $666,000 (€594,695).

In addition, 300 FedExCup points are at stake. Straka is currently 14th in this season’s standings, while Schwab is in 116th place. The game is played on a par 72 course in Puerto Rico. The defending champion is South African Branden Grace. He continued a series in 2021, having won the tournament as the third debutant in a row. Martin Trainer (2019) and Viktor Hovland (2020) had previously done so. Schwab could continue the series, he has his premiere participation this week.

–

–