The PGA Tour closed the book on the 2022 season last weekend at the RSM Classic, with competitive golf off for the holiday season. The fall slate was full of drama and gave many players a headstart in the FedEx Cup Standings, while many of golf’s elite used the fall to wind down after a grueling late summer schedule.
With nine events already completed for the 2022-23 season, let’s take a look at the three hottest golfers heading into the new year.
Sahith Theegala
Theegala capped his rookie season on the PGA Tour with a trip to East Lake to compete in the TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP. The 24-year-old finished 27th in the FedEx Cup Standings at the end of last season. His solid play has continued into the new year, and Theegala will enter 2023, sitting 13th in the current standings.
While the former Pepperdine star searches for his first career professional victory, Theegala has been cashing in on a handful of top finishes. In six events played this fall, he made the weekend in all but one, placing in the top-10 three times. His best finish came last week in the final event of the calendar year, finishing T2 at the RSM Classic.
Theegala’s other finishes include a T6 to open the new season in Napa, California at the Fortinet Championship and a T5 at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP in October. He will enter 2023 as one of the names to watch to earn that first victory.
Taylor Montgomery
The 27-year-old played on the Korn Ferry Tour the last three seasons before earning his PGA Tour card after finishing 8th on the Korn Ferry Tour points list. The Las Vegas, Nevada native and product of UNLV has made the most of his opportunity since earning status for the first time.
Montgomery played in seven events during the Fall Swing, cashing in on six of seven starts and sitting in 11th place in the FedEx Cup Standings heading into the holidays. He got there thanks to finishing in the top 25 in all six events where he made the weekend, highlighted by a solo third at the Fortinet Championship.
After closing out the year with a T15 at the RSM Classic, Montgomery heads into 2023 well in position to keep his card and now sits 65th in the Official World Golf Rankings.
Seamus Power
What a 16-month period it has been for the Irish professional golfer. Power notched his first PGA Tour victory at the Barbasol Championship in 2021 and has steadily risen in the world rankings since, sitting 28th heading into 2023. In addition to his rise in the world rankings, the 35-year-old is ranked no. 1 in the FedEx Cup Standings.
Power closed out the season with his second PGA win at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship and followed that up with a T3 at the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba and a T5 last at the RSM Classic. His jump up the world rankings now has Power fully in the conversation for the European Ryder Cup.
