PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA | For a man who was not in the Players Championship field when the week began, Bud Cauley left TPC Sawgrass’ Stadium Course Sunday evening dealing with a swirl of emotions about what was and what could have been.
Ranked 251st in the world and nearing the end of a major medical extension that could determine his career path moving forward, Cauley’s T6 finish locked up his playing privileges for the remainder of the year and reconfirmed the 35-year-old’s self-belief seven years after a devastating auto accident.
Yet, after starting the final round one stroke off the lead, Cauley left with a bittersweet feeling, having closed with a disappointing 74 in Sunday’s rain-delayed final round.
“A little disappointed with how the day went but I did a lot of things well this week. To finish top 10 in a tournament this big is a great step forward for me, and I'll try to build on that the rest of the year,” said Cauley, who slipped into the field when Lee Hodges withdrew.
Having grown up attending the event at the Stadium Course, Cauley took advantage of his late opportunity. When he shot 66 in the gusty winds on Saturday, Cauley played his way into the final threesome on Sunday with a chance to further transform his career.
He played a scratchy opening nine holes then, after the four-hour weather delay, Cauley immediately bogeyed the par-5 11th hole to essentially take himself out of contention on his birthday.
“Just too many mistakes,” said Cauley, who was projected to jump 81 spots to 128th in the FedEx Cup points race.
In 2018, Cauley suffered six broken ribs and a collapsed lung in an auto accident at the Memorial Tournament. He recovered enough to return to competition later that year, however, the lingering effects of his injuries and surgeries forced him to step away from the game in late 2020.
“He definitely had some moments I would say where he was like, OK, what next? What now?”
Justin Thomas
It was nearly four years before Cauley could play competitively again, returning late last year.
“He definitely had some moments I would say where he was like, OK, what next? What now? He saw so many different doctors, so many different PTs, traveled anywhere and everywhere to get different opinions,” said Justin Thomas, Cauley’s former roommate and close friend.
“Man, it’s hard to stay patient and believe that it’s all going to work out in the end. But I think that’s such a cool, unique thing about golf is, other sports, at his age, his career’s done. But he realistically could play competitively for another five or 10 years, so I’m glad he stuck it out, for sure.”
With a Monday off to think about his Players Championship week, Cauley will get back to work Tuesday at the Valspar Championship, an event he played his way into at the Stadium Course, another happy change of plans.
“I have a lot more confidence, I think, leaving here today than what I showed up with, which I think will help me throughout the year. I'm really excited,” Cauley said.
Ron Green Jr.
