By Tony Thai, SDA Communications Student Assistant
Arizona State men's golf alumni earned more money than any other school during the 2017-2018 PGA Tour. Seven former Sun Devils produced a total of $19,487,604 in earnings, almost $2 million more than second-place Georgia.
These seven golfers ranked all throughout the list of the most money earned for the season. Five of those players finished in the top 40 in the list.
SUN DEVIL PGA MONEY EARNED IN 2017-18
13. Phil Mickelson, $4,595,187
19. Jon Rahm, $3,992,678
24. Paul Casey, $3,641,771
31. Pat Perez, $2,962,641
37. Chez Reavie, $2,700,018
112. Grayson Murray, $1,056,628
153. Matt Jones, $538,681
The title of most earnings by a Sun Devil on the tour belongs to Phil Mickelson. His year was highlighted by a win at the WGC-Mexico Championship in early March for his PGA Tour first win since 2013. Mickelson has had a historic professional career since graduating from ASU in 1992. He has won 43 PGA Tour events, including three Masters titles, an Open Championship title and one PGA Championship title.
Six spots behind Mickelson is Spanish golfer, Jon Rahm. Rahm capped off a stellar season by defeating Tiger Woods in the Ryder Cup to earn his first ever point in the competition. Rahm earned his second PGA Tour win this season after beating Andrew Landry in a sudden-death playoff to win the CareerBuilder Challenge on January 21. He earned another victory, this time in international play at the Open de España on April 15, just days after placing fourth at the Masters Tournament. Rahm had a total of one win, five top 10 finishes and made nearly $4 million in this season's PGA Tour.
Paul Casey finished 24th on the list in a year that he got his second career win at the Valspar Championship. Casey had a total of five top 10 finishes this year on the PGA Tour. As of right now, Casey is ranked 20th in the world, according to the Official World Golf Ranking.
Pat Perez was unable to join the $3 million club this season, but he was not too far off. The Arizonan won the CIMB Classic early in the season, winning by four strokes to take home the trophy. Perez finished 10th or better three more times for the rest of the year, including placing second at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
Chez Reavie finished in second place twice this year, including on his return back to Arizona at the Waste Management Phoenix Open for his best finish on the PGA Tour since 2011. He also tied for second at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Reavie has risen back up the leader board in the last two seasons thanks to seven top-10 results in that time span while getting closer and closer to finding his second ever PGA Tour win.
The sixth Sun Devil on this list was Grayson Murray. Murray two top-10 finishes this year and seven top-25 finishes. His best result was at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, where he finished tied for eighth. Murray earned his first professional win by one stroke at the Barbasol Championship last year during the 2017 PGA Tour.
The final golfer to make it on here is Matt Jones, coming at no. 153, good enough to earn him half a million dollars during the tour. Jones' best finish this year was tying for 12th at the John Deere Classic in July. After graduating from ASU in 2001, Jones has had 21 top 10 finishes. His only PGA Tour victory so far was in 2014 at the Shell Houston Open.
Arizona State men's golf alumni have begun to work on defending their title with the 2018-2019 PGA Tour already underway.
Arizona State men's golf alumni earned more money than any other school during the 2017-2018 PGA Tour. Seven former Sun Devils produced a total of $19,487,604 in earnings, almost $2 million more than second-place Georgia.
These seven golfers ranked all throughout the list of the most money earned for the season. Five of those players finished in the top 40 in the list.
SUN DEVIL PGA MONEY EARNED IN 2017-18
13. Phil Mickelson, $4,595,187
19. Jon Rahm, $3,992,678
24. Paul Casey, $3,641,771
31. Pat Perez, $2,962,641
37. Chez Reavie, $2,700,018
112. Grayson Murray, $1,056,628
153. Matt Jones, $538,681
The title of most earnings by a Sun Devil on the tour belongs to Phil Mickelson. His year was highlighted by a win at the WGC-Mexico Championship in early March for his PGA Tour first win since 2013. Mickelson has had a historic professional career since graduating from ASU in 1992. He has won 43 PGA Tour events, including three Masters titles, an Open Championship title and one PGA Championship title.
Phil has done it! He wins the WGC-Mexico Championship in a playoff. It's lefty's first win since 2013 ?? pic.twitter.com/H4OYhZBmKk
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) March 4, 2018
Six spots behind Mickelson is Spanish golfer, Jon Rahm. Rahm capped off a stellar season by defeating Tiger Woods in the Ryder Cup to earn his first ever point in the competition. Rahm earned his second PGA Tour win this season after beating Andrew Landry in a sudden-death playoff to win the CareerBuilder Challenge on January 21. He earned another victory, this time in international play at the Open de España on April 15, just days after placing fourth at the Masters Tournament. Rahm had a total of one win, five top 10 finishes and made nearly $4 million in this season's PGA Tour.
With the sun setting and the pressure rising, @JonRahmpga responds with this putt for the win! #CBChallenge pic.twitter.com/aKDibWK365
— CareerBuilder Challenge (@cbgolfchallenge) January 22, 2018
Paul Casey finished 24th on the list in a year that he got his second career win at the Valspar Championship. Casey had a total of five top 10 finishes this year on the PGA Tour. As of right now, Casey is ranked 20th in the world, according to the Official World Golf Ranking.
A BIG congrats to @Paul_Casey on winning the 2018 Valspar Championship! #ValsparChampionship #WayToGo ?? ?? pic.twitter.com/GNIvnyLcmA
— Valspar Championship (@ValsparChamp) March 11, 2018
Pat Perez was unable to join the $3 million club this season, but he was not too far off. The Arizonan won the CIMB Classic early in the season, winning by four strokes to take home the trophy. Perez finished 10th or better three more times for the rest of the year, including placing second at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
Pat Perez wins his third career PGA Tour victory in a walk at the CIMB Classic: https://t.co/OhvZY2AUUp pic.twitter.com/8FlQLJ5bPr
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) October 15, 2017
Chez Reavie finished in second place twice this year, including on his return back to Arizona at the Waste Management Phoenix Open for his best finish on the PGA Tour since 2011. He also tied for second at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Reavie has risen back up the leader board in the last two seasons thanks to seven top-10 results in that time span while getting closer and closer to finding his second ever PGA Tour win.
The sixth Sun Devil on this list was Grayson Murray. Murray two top-10 finishes this year and seven top-25 finishes. His best result was at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, where he finished tied for eighth. Murray earned his first professional win by one stroke at the Barbasol Championship last year during the 2017 PGA Tour.
The final golfer to make it on here is Matt Jones, coming at no. 153, good enough to earn him half a million dollars during the tour. Jones' best finish this year was tying for 12th at the John Deere Classic in July. After graduating from ASU in 2001, Jones has had 21 top 10 finishes. His only PGA Tour victory so far was in 2014 at the Shell Houston Open.
Arizona State men's golf alumni have begun to work on defending their title with the 2018-2019 PGA Tour already underway.