OB SPORTS GOLF & LEISURE
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FALL 2017
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obsports.com
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TOUR REPORT
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weight of expectations that Sam
Saunders faced in his life, being the
grandson of Arnold Palmer.
Yes, he undoubtedly got his share
of breaks, exemptions and good for-
tune along the way.
However, we can appreciate a
hard-working guy who never wore
his celebrity affiliation on his sleeve.
It took his wife-to-be one month
into their relationship before she
Googled "Sam Saunders" – and
found out only then he was Arnie's
grandkid. That's low-key.
Saunders has earned full PGA
Tour status via his runner-up finish
at the 2017 Web.com Tour Champi-
onship, placing him 7th on the year-
long money list, well within the top
25 who earn playing privileges for
the 2017-18 season.
As it is, he came close to qualifying
through the regular tour, finishing
129th on the money list – just outside
the top 125 that grants status. He's
had a modicum of success on the
PGA Tour, including a T2 playoff loss
in Puerto Rico in 2015.
Saunders is here in 2017 because
he's earned it. I'd love for him to grab
the title at his grandad's annual mid-
March shindig at Orlando's Bay Hill.
Genie, get busy.
• • •
CANTLAY CAN DO
They called him "Can't-miss Cant-
lay." Or at least I called him that. In
truth, Patrick Cantlay was simply an-
other one of those terrifically talented
collegiate players with professional
glory right around the corner.
In 2011-12, he spent 55 weeks
ranked as the top amateur in the
world. He was runner-up in the 2011
U.S. Amateur and college player of
the year at UCLA, as well as low am-
ateur at the U.S. Open, where he fin-
ished tied for 21st.
A week later, he shot a 60 in the
first round of the PGA Tour's Travel-
ers Championship, the lowest round
ever recorded by an amateur.
He posted a ninth-place finish at
the RBC Canadian Open. In 2012, he
took low amateur honors at the Mas-
ters.
He turned pro soon thereafter.
Sometimes, however, fate kicks you
