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There was a time when it looked as if Harris English might be the next big thing, winning twice in 2013 – his second full year as a PGA Tour member.
It didn’t work out that way and two seasons ago English needed to shoot 64 in the final round of the Wyndham Championship just to maintain conditional status on the PGA Tour, jumping from 151st to 149th in points on the deciding day.
It was part of a decline that saw him finish 118th and 125th in FedEx Cup points in 2017 and ’18. Last year, English finished 12th.
Now the 31-year old University of Georgia product looks as familiar on leaderboards as the PGA Tour logo, having finished inside the top 20 in 12 of his past 15 starts, including his victory at the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua.
What changed?
In the virus-interrupted 2019-20 season, English was the only player to finish in the top 20 in Strokes Gained Putting and Strokes Gained Tee To Green, a recipe for success. Finishing T4 in the U.S. Open was like gold in the confidence department.
“It was nice playing well in the U.S. Open,” English said. “That was a big confidence boost for me. Really the first major I ever contended in and played really well.
“It’s just little steps on tour that help build your confidence to where you know you can do it day in and day out, because it’s tough to do it for four days out here and I feel like I’ve done it a lot (recently) and just keep pressing on.”
Based in Sea Island, Georgia, English has built a team he trusts and he has committed to sticking with the plan they have created. It may not be as exotic as Bryson DeChambeau’s team concept but it’s working for English.
When English teamed with Matt Kuchar to win the year-ending QBE Shootout before Christmas, he was ready to roll into January.
Ron Green Jr.