The ride may have ended one stop too soon, but what a great run it was for both Graham DeLaet and David Hearn in the FedEx Cup playoffs.
Both Canadians started outside the top 100 but both made it to the third stage of the playoffs, a tremendous achievement. Both had moments of great play where they led events and seriously contended, if only in the early going.
While it might be tough to get so close to the Tour Championship, where a spot in the field would have given them a shot at $10 million and entry into all of next year's majors, this has to be viewed as a big step forward for both players. DeLaet crossed the $1 million mark in earnings, with Hearn just a little under that mark. But more importantly, both showed they belong on the PGA Tour and in the upper half of it. And both showed they are close to winning.
Hearn only missed the cut in two of his final 15 starts, DeLaet two in his last 14. That's consistent golf. That's confident golf. While both may play more events in the Fall Series, they've accomplished a lot in the last three weeks and next year could be exciting for the Canadian duo.