Fred Funk, on Friday, became just the fourth player since 1970 age 64 and older to make a PGA Tour cut. He was tied for 37th after the second round of the Bermuda Championship. Which was better than 83 players. He finished tied for 59th. Which was better than seven players who made the cut.
And he averaged 243.3 yards off the tee.
Which was better than no one.
In this age of distance, Funk was diminutive.
And he won $9,000.
“This guy is pretty damn good for an old guy,” said Funk’s son, Taylor, who played with him for the first two rounds.
For the first round, Funk averaged 243.5 yards on his two measured drives (247 yards on the 553-yard, par-5 2nd hole at Port Royal Golf Course, and 240 yards on the 383-yard, par-4 12th). It was better than just John Oda, who averaged 227 yards. For the second round, Funk averaged 226 yards (240 on 2, and 212 on 12). It was last. By 10 yards. For the third round, Funk averaged 248.5 yards (230 on 2, and 267 on 12). It was last. By 17.5 yards. For the fourth round, Funk averaged 255.5 yards (261 on 2, and 250 on 12). It was last. By 25 yards.
Cumulatively, he averaged the 243.3 yards. It was last. By 22.7 yards. It was 71 yards behind the leader, Luke List, who averaged 314.4 yards. And 101.1 yards behind the Tour-leading season average of Bryson DeChambeau, who averages 344.4 yards. (DeChambeau did not play the Bermuda.)
List also finished just three strokes ahead of Funk.
A 64-year-old is leading well more than half the field on the PGA Tour
Of course, Port Royal was short, too. Short in distance. It’s 6,828 yards. Funk didn’t need to hit it far. And short on players ranked in the world top 50. Just one played, defending champion Brendon Todd, at No. 41. Funk didn’t need to beat the best.
Still, he was better than the 83 players after two rounds. And better than the seven players who made the cut.
And won the $9,000.
“It feels good to know you can do it,” Funk said. “Not many guys even have an opportunity to play this late into their career on a regular Tour event. It’s not like that many guys have done it because not many guys have even had a chance to do it. It means a lot.”