Is Austria's Sepp Straka the world's best golfer who's not a household name?
May 15 - By winning last week's Truist Championship, Austria's Sepp Straka earned a $3.6 million paycheck, jumped into the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time and all but clinched a spot on Team Europe for the upcoming Ryder Cup.
One thing Straka did not do? Maintain his preference for staying below the radar.
"I'm not very outgoing," Straka said Wednesday, one day before he tees off in the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow. "I'm not a big people person. I'm a little bit shy.
"It makes it maybe a little bit easier to prepare for tournaments because you don't have all the eyeballs on you."
But, little by little, the 32-year-old Straka continues to blow his cover. He won the 2022 Honda Classic and the 2023 John Deere Classic to help claim his spot on Team Europe's victorious 2023 roster. This year, Straka has doubled his PGA Tour wins to four as he also collected the American Express in January.
His $8,228,709 in PGA Tour winnings this season are exceeded only by Masters champion Rory McIlroy ($13.9 million) and Justin Thomas ($8.6 million). Oh, and Straka has jumped into fifth place in Ryder Cup points for the European side. The top six earn automatic bids to play for captain Luke Donald in September at Bethpage Black.
While it's too soon for anyone to be guaranteed a spot when Team Europe attempts to keep the Cup, Donald certainly sounded Wednesday like Straka should make some plans.
"Well, I think he was picked for a reason in '23," Donald said. "I think he's sort of proven that he deserves to be thought of as one of the best European players. Just a cool, calm, collected (golfer). Doesn't get too bothered by things, very consistent game, great putter.
"We saw that on Sunday (at Truist). He just sort of did what he knows he can do. Didn't seem to get too up, too down. Played extremely well. He's just a very, very consistent ball striker. He works hard on his game. There's not too many weaknesses in his game.
"I think he was great to be around, as well, in that team room (in Rome). He's just fun and joking and just an easy, easy guy to be around."
Straka doesn't want to assume anything.
"What a great week, great group of guys," he said. "The group chat (is) still going from the last one. Hoping to be in the group chat for the next one."
A good showing this week at Quail Hollow will go a long way toward ensuring that.
--Field Level Media
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Evening Standard
an hour ago
- Evening Standard
Crystal Palace transfer window guide: Marc Guehi's future and Oliver Glasner's plans for busy summer
As well as expanding the size of the squad to cope with a first-ever season in European competition, they must guard against selling all their prized assets following an excellent season in which they won the FA Cup and qualified for the Europa League.
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Jadon Sancho's transfer lifeline as three clubs lead race to end Man Utd misery
EXCLUSIVE: Jadon Sancho's likely destination this summer is Saudi Arabia, with Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad and Al Nassr are all interested - and the player has links to high-profile figures in Saudi which could help broker a deal Jadon Sancho could head to Saudi Arabia this summer after Chelsea snubbed the chance to sign the Manchester United outcast. The England international has been left in limbo again after the Blues refused to meet his contract demands. Chelsea opted to pay United £5million as a penalty fee for failing to trigger the obligation to buy him for £25m as part of the loan deal agreed last summer. Sancho, 25, had a mixed season at Stamford Bridge but did score in the Blues' Europa Conference League final win over Real Betis last week. Enzo Maresca was keen to keep the winger but Chelsea's top brass would not meet the player's demands for the Stamford Bridge club to match his £300,000-a-week wages. United were brought into the discussion about whether they would pay off some of the wages left on his deal which expires next summer. But they opted not to intervene and will instead pocket the £5m fine and hope to sell him elsewhere. United still owe Borussia Dortmund close to £17m in unpaid fees from the £75m deal to sign him in 2021. No top European clubs are going to consider signing the player on those wages and Sancho has shown by refusing to take a pay cut at Chelsea he still wants to earn what he gets at Old Trafford. That means his likely destination this summer is Saudi Arabia. Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad and Al Nassr are all interested. Sancho has links to high-profile figures in Saudi which could help broker a deal. That would be music to United's ears. Boss Ruben Amorim has no intention of reintegrating the player into his squad as they push ahead for a deal for Bryan Mbeumo after securing Matheus Cunha. United are looking to sell to raise further funds for their summer rebuild and are banking on getting some money from Sancho. They would hope a Saudi bid could at least match the £25m they were due from Chelsea. But the £5m penalty fee they have received gives them wiggle room on their budgeting. That could be used to supplement the players' wages at another club if they don't strike a deal with a Saudi big hitter. United don't want to have to loan Sancho out for the final year of his contract and see him walk away for nothing next summer - although the player is not against that idea as he would have the pick of his clubs next summer. Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Metro
2 hours ago
- Metro
Rio Ferdinand reacts to Liam Delap snubbing Man Utd move for Chelsea transfer
Rio Ferdinand has described Liam Delap as a 'wonderful young player' but believes his decision to join Chelsea could be a blessing in disguise for Manchester United. United expressed interest in signing Delap from relegated Premier League side Ipswich Town, with Ruben Amorim keen to bolster his attacking options this summer. Delap, who scored 12 goals in the Premier League last season, was interested in joining the Red Devils despite their alarming fall from grace but ultimately decided to join Chelsea instead. Chelsea qualifying for the Champions League on the final day of the season was reportedly a key factor in Delap's decision, with United finishing just 15th in the Premier League and failing to qualify for any European competition. Ferdinand says Delap has 'huge potential' but admits he is not too bothered that the striker, the son of ex-Stoke City defender Rory, will not be arriving at Old Trafford. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you. The Manchester United legend does want a new striker to arrive at the club this summer but wants that player to have more experience than Delap, who has made just 39 Premier League appearances. 'I think Liam Delap is a wonderful young player with huge potential,' Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel. 'But I felt him coming to United now would be the wrong fit for both him and the club. United need experience, not another young centre forward. 'I've always said, young centre forwards coming to big clubs like United need to learn from experienced players. We've seen it with someone like [Wayne] Rooney learning from more experienced players. 'That always needs to happen and United are in a position where we have Chido [Obi-Martin], a young forward, one of the best young strikers about at the moment. 'We've got [Rasmus] Hojlund who's been there for two years and what a vulnerable place that's been. He's had no one to lean on in that position or to look at for an example. 'He hasn't had that man and that's a big worry for me. If you invest £75m in a player you need to put the things around him to let him grow and he hasn't had that. 'This is no slight on Liam Delap, who looks like he's going Chelsea. But Manchester United need to go and get an experienced striker to help the current forwards they've got at the club.' More Trending After missing out on Delap, Manchester United could intensify their interest in Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyokeres or Napoli's Victor Osimhen. Gyokeres appears closer to joining Arsenal at this stage, however, while Osimhen is considering a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia. United have held talks to sell or loan out Hojlund but will only sanction his departure if and when they bring in a new goalscorer. The Manchester giants are open to offloading several other players, including Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Antony. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Chelsea told they still must fix 'biggest problem' after Liam Delap deal MORE: Timo Werner given shockingly low price tag with RB Leipzig desperate to sell MORE: How to watch Club World Cup 2025 in UK: TV channel and live stream
