Ted Purdy News & More

GOLF Golfer

3yIt’s been a minute since Smylie Kaufman has been in action on the PGA Tour, but he’s set to tee it up this week as a sponsor exemption at the Puerto Rico Open.

The 30-year-old Kaufman got the start during some field reshuffling after Jonathan Byrd withdrew from Puerto Rico to play in the concurrent Arnold Palmer Invitational. Also getting into the field now is Ted Purdy, who’s in on his number. Kaufman, an LSU product who lives in Birmingham, Ala., made just three PGA Tour starts last season and missed the cut in all three – including the 2021 Puerto Rico Open. He was also an MC at the 2021 Palmetto and Barbasol Championships. Kaufman’s last made start came at the 2019 Rocket Mortgage Classic (he’s missed 10 since). The last few seasons have been a stark contrast to how Kaufman’s professional season began: On the Korn Ferry Tour in 2015, he had two T-4 finishes, a solo second and win to earn PGA Tour card the following season. He earned his first PGA Tour win in just his second start of the 2015-16 season, at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, and later that spring he also found himself in the final pairing on Sunday at the Masters. Kaufman notched two other top 10s and six other top 25s that season, but he’s made just 16 cuts in 44 starts over five seasons since. He’s missed the cut in two previous starts in Puerto Rico.

Ted Purdy

GOLF Golfer

4yTed Purdy tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of this week’s Barbasol Championship and removed his name from the field as a result. The next alternate, Eric Axley, took his spot.

Purdy was prepped to play his fifth event of the season, still searching for his first cut made. He has just one cut made on the PGA TOUR since the start of the 2017 season (17 starts). Playing on Past Champion status, starts will continue to be scarce for 47-year-old.

Ted Purdy

GOLF Golfer

7yIn today’s open qualifier for the FedEx St. Jude Classic, Ted Purdy carded a 5-under-par 35-32=67 on the East Course at Windyke Country Club in Memphis to earn a tee time at TPC Southwind on Thursday.

With U.S. Open sectional qualifiers booked across the country on Monday, today’s four-spotter is the only of its kind scheduled for a Sunday. Purdy buried seven birdies against two bogeys to share runner-up honors with John Peterson, who turned in a bogey-free 33-34=67 on the strength of five birdies. Austin Gutgsell was the medalist at 6-under 34-32=66, circling an eagle and five birdies to overcome a lone bogey. The final berth went to Dustin Morris, who survived a 4-for-1 playoff. Morris shot 3-under 34-35=69 with six birdies and three bogeys, and then outlasted Alex Hamilton (35-34), David McKendrick (36-33) and David Robinson (33-36). The field for the St. Jude is now completed at 156.

Ted Purdy

GOLF Golfer

7yTed Purdy will tee it up in his ninth HP Byron Nelson Championship this week.

Purdy’s starts are limited, playing with only Past Champion status. Because of that, there is little way to capture his current form ahead of his trip to TPC Four Seasons. As the winner of the 2005 edition of this event, it’s possible there will be enough good memories to catapult him to success.

Ted Purdy

GOLF Golfer

7yTed Purdy has gained entry into this week’s Puerto Rico Open.

Purdy was the fifth alternate when the field was released on Friday afternoon. He climbed in with three withdrawals midday today. The 41-year-old is 1-for-2 on the Web.com Tour in 2015, but he hasn’t cashed on the PGA TOUR (where he has Past Champion status) since a T73 at the Byron Nelson in 2013.

Ted Purdy

GOLF Golfer

7yTed Purdy has been added to the published field of this week’s Barracuda Championship.

Purdy was the 18th alternate at the start of the week. He was the last of three to gain entry following the latest wave of withdrawals. In his only start of 2014, he missed the cut in Houston. He also missed the cut in last year’s edition of the Barracuda. The one-time PGA TOUR winner is 40 years of age.

Ted Purdy

GOLF Golfer

7yTed Purdy is the latest to be handed a tee time at this week’s Barracuda Championship.

He started the week no higher than 14th alternate, but found his way into the field of 132 when 13th alternate Chris DiMarco declined. Purdy missed the cut in the last two editions of the tournament where he’s 5-for-11 lifetime with no top 25s. He’s missed his last six cuts on the PGA TOUR dating back to the 2013 season.

Ted Purdy

GOLF Golfer

7yTed Purdy has joined the field at this week’s Sanderson Farms Championship.

The 42-year-old was first alternate when the field was released on Friday, but he gained entry on a sponsor exemption that Billy Mayfair didn’t need when Zac Blair elected not to play. Purdy hasn’t played the PGA TOUR full-time since 2010. He’s just six cuts made from touching 150 for his career, but he’s cashed exactly six times in the last five seasons combined.

Ted Purdy

GOLF Golfer

7yTed Purdy withdrew after his first round at the Stanford St. Jude Championship.

Purdy had very rough opening round of 17-over-par 87 before he withdrew. We will update if a reason is given for his withdrawal.

Ted Purdy

GOLF Golfer

7yTed Purdy has been added to the field of the Sony Open.

Purdy has been added to the field via the Tee Times sheet and he has a 7:30 AM tee time at the first Tee on Thursday. He had his best career finish at the Sony last year when he tied for 20th place. The Tee Times sheet also shows that Mitsuhiro Tateyama has been added to the field. You might recall that Tateyama made headlines in September of 2006 when he set a Japanese Tour record with a 19 on a Par-3 hole at Ishioka Golf Club in the Acom Invitational.