By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports
(June 29, 2023 4:14 PM ET) Napoleon High School graduate Brian Stuard can’t deny he has enjoyed being at home more this golf season.
But with six weeks until the PGA playoffs, it is go time for the longtime professional golfer.
Stuard is currently 191st on the PGA’s FedEx Cup Series points list. The top 125 at the end of the season earn playing privileges for the 2023-2024 PGA season. Last year Stuard finished outside the top 125 but was high enough in the standings to be able to enter a number of tournaments this season.
He has missed the cut in his last nine attempts on the PGA Tour.
“There are stretches where I can’t seem to do anything right … but I am working at it,” Stuard said Wednesday. “I am very close to playing well.”
Stuard expects to play in the next six events leading up to the FedEx Cup Series playoffs starting with the St. Jude Championship beginning Aug. 10. He started that Thursday during the first round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit.
“It hasn’t been a lot of fun, but I look forward to getting on the other side,” Stuard said.
The longtime PGA Tour player has earned more than $12.5 million since 2010. He got off to a good start to the 2022-2023 season with a 12th place finish in the first tournament of the season. Stuard made the cut in three of the next four tournaments but has missed the cut in 11-of-12 of the next tournaments dating back to The American Express Tournament in January.
Stuard said he has gotten “out of whack” on his swing, saying he is “too steep” on his backswing.
“I am making good progress on my swing,” Stuard said. “I just need to make a cut and put together four solid rounds.
“The tournaments coming up are some of my favorites.”
He has always been one of the top putters on the PGA Tour. He is currently No. 1 on the Tour with 326 holes without a three-putt heading into the Rocket Mortgage Classic.
Stuard started solidly in his round at the Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club on Thursday. He was 1-under-par through 14 holes Thursday but bogeyed three of the four final holes to shoot 74.
Stuard may need to shoot 5 or 6 under par Friday to make the cut.
If the veteran pro does not make the top 125 in 2023, he does expect to earn playing spots during the fall portion of the 2023-2024 season.
“I hope to have good tournament runs in the fall,” Stuard said.