Eckroat Adds to Oklahoma State Winner List

For the past two decades, The University of Georgia has been a staple for PGA Tour success. The group known as “Tour Dawgs”  has shown a high level of play on golfs highest stage. With names such as Bubba Watson, Kevin Kisner, Brian Harman along with several others.

College success alone hasn’t always been a true indicator of success on the Tour. But a few college programs would try to tell you otherwise. With Eckroat’s win this week at the Cognizant Classic, he adds another to the long list of Oklahoma State winners on the PGA. Joining players like Viktor Hovland, Matt Wolfe, Rickie Fowler, Scott Verplank, Hunter Mahan, Wyndham Clark, and many other Pokes.

We are seeing week after week that these young kids can play. Do the fields have something to say with this? Maybe. Is it still extremely impressive for a 24-year-old to win his first PGA tour event after only having full status for one year? Yes. College kids are here to play and that isn’t going anywhere soon. You can tell these college players come to the tour ready to win. Never did amateur golf have a pool this deep with this many talented kids with such high-level competition. Truly amazes me to see young guys jumpstart their careers like Eckroat, Dunlap, Hovland, Morikawa and several others have in the past years.

The real shoutout goes to the college teams and coaches that allow their players to grow on their own. I have heard from ex Ok State players that Coach Alan Bratton gives them free reign on their practice schedule. No scheduled practices but they know when qualifying is. UNHEARD of in many regions. I’m aware of Cal Berkley having a similar message, and I’m sure others have it in place too. But this shows not only who wants to be great, but who will put in the work and show up ready to compete. No wonder OK State has shown that they can produce stars at the next level. I wouldn’t be shocked if Eckroat produces another win this year during the summer. He has all the goods to be a top level player, and now has the winning pedigree to back it up. Congratulations to him on a great week!

  BUT NOW.. We have Bay Hill and the home of Arnold Palmer. A course that maybe isn’t the most picturesque on the television, but always brings the conditions of a Major. This event feels like a jumpstart in the calendar, and one that usually surrenders a winning score of -12 instead of a normal shootout. This is another designated event with no cut but should still be a great prep for players to see where there game is going into a crucial next 4 weeks.

I’m curious to see what we get from the top level players in this field as this year has been FULL of long shots. I do think the trend quits this week as we have Bay Hill, The Players, and the first major at Augusta all in the next month! Picks will be below and hope you have been riding the top 20 plays. Don’t let the boy get hot!

  Again, we just missed EVR last week with his T2. But still 2 of 5 plays sneaked in the top 10. My plays this week are simple and don’t over think it!

Correy Conners – Top 10/20 – Conners has an amazing track record here and is a ball striker to the core. Not often do you see the best putters contend at this event, but the ones that can fairway and green the place to death. Guess what, that’s the Canadian’s specialty.

Scottie Scheffler – Win +650 – After a win here 2 years ago, he returns looking to prove everyone wrong about his putting keeping him from winning. Like said before, this place doesn’t honor the best putter. Also, putting means more when the winning score is 21 under par. When it’s closer to 10.. now Scottie has a REALLY good shot. I think he gets it done and shows everyone he is still a top player in the world.

Harris English - Top 10 – I don’t see the odds in front of me, but I would imagine these are pretty juicy with +5000 to win. Another flusher of the golf ball and a guy who has had great success. He is a Florida native that plays well at this type of venue. One of the best drivers on tour, paired with a great iron game. I think he gets of to great start and sneaks into the top 10 by weeks end.

Mahalo,

Dingo