Ex-bulldog Straka gets to enjoy a perk of first win: extra sleep

Some of the perks from winning for the first time on the PGA Tour are obvious, whether it’s a seven-figure check or a two-year exemption. For tournaments offering full Fedex Cup points, there’s always that invitation to the Masters.

One other perk isn’t as obvious until the next tournament.

Instead of having among the first tee times, winners move into the group of other PGA Tour winners in the middle of the draw.

Sepp Straka is a good example. The former Bulldog was in the second group off Thursday morning last week at the Honda Classic with two other players who have not won on tour. He birdied two of his last three holes for a one-shot victory, and now he’s headed to the Masters.

The first stop is the Arnold Palmer Invitational, where Straka is playing the opening two rounds with Rory Mcilroy and Adam Scott, both major champions, former world No. 1 players who have combined for 57 worldwide wins between them.

Max Homa won his first PGA Tour event at the Wells Fargo Championship in 2019. In his next PGA Tour event,

he played alongside Rickie Fowler and Bryson Dechambeau.

“It’s a big deal,” Homa said. “It’s fun. We play as kids and we picture playing with Tiger and Phil, so it is cool.”

Scottie Scheffler was thinking more about the timing. He was in a different situation from Homa and Straka because he played in the

Masters and even the Sentry Tournament of Championship before winning for the first time at the Phoenix Open.

The next stop was Riviera, where the first tee time was 6:40 a.m. and the range had to be illuminated for the early starters. The clubhouse usually doesn’t open until 5 a.m. A year ago, Scheffler was in the second group off at 6:51

a.m. He was in the middle of the draw this year alongside Jordan Spieth and Jon Rahm.

“My trainer and I were pretty excited about not being in that little ‘firstoff’ group, which is nice. Get a few more minutes of sleep,” Scheffler said. “Those tee times are tough. You’re warming up literally in the dark basically until you tee off.”

MARTA LAVANDIER/ASSOCIATED PRESS Sepp Straka (left) and his caddie celebrate after winning the Honda Classic during a downpour on the 18th green Sunday in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. His first PGA Tour victory means he will start tournaments later.