Straka got that “Last minute ticket”

The best comes last: With a respectable round of 66 (four under par) on the final day of the BMW Championship in Illinois, Sepp Straka secured one of the coveted tickets for the FedEx final tournament of the PGA golf tour in Atlanta. With his strong finish on Sunday, the Austrian golf pro made up six positions – after all, 37th place meant one “Last minute ticket” for the $20 million Tour Championship starting Thursday in Georgia.

But he had to tremble for a long time before his participation in the final tournament, which he managed to do the same way as in the previous year, was certain. After hours of waiting and using the relevant mobile phone app, Straka was only sure shortly before checking in on his flight home at Chicago Airport. “I updated the tour app so many times throughout the afternoon that the battery died”Straka said about the anxious hours just before his cell phone battery was empty.

Last but not least, the qualification was a hair’s breadth. “It’s so incredibly hard to make it to Atlanta. You have to have a great year and then play well in the playoffs”said Straka. “This time I’ve needed a lot of help from others, and I’m happy to take it when I get it. Now I’m just happy to be back.”

As the FedEx leader, Scottie Scheffler enters the showdown at the East Lake Club, where the winner receives an $18 million bonus.

After an excellent year with a PGA tournament win and a sensational second place at the British Open, Straka can still hope to take part in the Ryder Cup in Rome at the end of September. He is one of the candidates for a personal nomination by Captain Luke Donald.