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The Byrd is the word – Johnathan Byrd wins in playoff at Kapalua

Written by: Tony Korologos | Monday, January 10th, 2011
Categories: PGA Tour
Tags: Graeme McDowell • Johnathan Byrd • PGA Tour • Robert Garrigus

Byrd wins at Kapalua

The Byrd is the word

Johnathan Byrd is on a roll. He has won the last two PGA Tour tournament he has started in, both in playoffs. That is quite a turnaround, since he wasn’t even sure he’d keep his tour card at the end of the 2010 season. He punched his ticket to Kapalua and the Hyundai Tournament of Champions with an unbelievable win in Las Vegas by making a hole in one in a playoff to win at the end of 2010.

“I can’t sit here and not think about where I was toward the end of the season last year, fighting for my card. I’m just thankful, I’m overwhelmed, I’m grateful. All of the above.” ~Johnathn Byrd

Byrd entered a playoff with the tour’s longest hitter, Robert Garrigus. Garrigus missed a par putt on the 2nd playoff hole which would have extended the playoff to a 3rd hole.

Robert Garrigus takes 2nd

Garrigus

The fact that Robert Garrigus was even in that position, given the story of his journey to that point in his life, is also amazing. Garrigus had overcome substance abuse problems and gone through rehabilitation. To be that low in one’s life, then bounce back to such a high level on the PGA Tour is an amazing feat.

McDowell

Graeme McDowell was one of those players who I mentioned yesterday would need to shoot a serious lights-out score to contend. He did just that, tying the course record of 62 and bringing himself into the mix. Graeme had a birdie putt on 18 which wasn’t terribly long, which would have put him into the playoff as well, but that one did not fall.

Stricker

Steve Stricker made bogey on the 1st hole, which when combined with the birdie Byrd made on the same hole, put him two shots back right out of the gate. He couldn’t quite shoot a low enough score to win or get into the playoff, a two under 71. Still, I love watching Stricker’s great short game and his simple and beautiful mechanics.

Sony Open

This coming week the Tour stays in Hawaii for the Sony Open. This will be the first “full field” event of the season. Even John Daly is on his way down there to tee it up. At the Sony there always seems to be some interesting story relating to a player who was invited like Tad Fujikawa or Michelle Wie. I wonder what this year’s story will be? It will be fun to watch.

Final Hyundai Tournament of Champions Leaderboard

		Round
Pos	Name	1	2	3	4	Playoff	Today	Total	Strokes	Purse
1	x-Jonathan Byrd	66	68	67	67	9	-6	-24	268	$1,120,000
2	Robert Garrigus	69	63	69	67	10	-6	-24	268	$635,000
3	Graeme McDowell	71	68	68	62	–	-11	-23	269	$412,000
T4	Carl Pettersson	66	67	71	68	–	-5	-20	272	$286,500
T4	Steve Stricker	69	67	65	71	–	-2	-20	272	$286,500
T6	Matt Kuchar	69	70	66	69	–	-4	-18	274	$201,500
T6	Ian Poulter	70	68	70	66	–	-7	-18	274	$201,500
8	Bill Haas	68	70	69	69	–	-4	-16	276	$182,000
T9	Jason Day	73	66	69	70	–	-3	-14	278	$162,000
T9	Jim Furyk	68	68	72	70	–	-3	-14	278	$162,000
T9	Dustin Johnson	71	66	73	68	–	-5	-14	278	$162,000
T12	Arjun Atwal	72	69	68	70	–	-3	-13	279	$132,000
T12	Bill Lunde	70	68	70	71	–	-2	-13	279	$132,000
T12	Justin Rose	75	67	69	68	–	-5	-13	279	$132,000
T15	Francesco Molinari	69	67	74	70	–	-3	-12	280	$10,700
T15	Ryan Palmer	70	72	68	70	–	-3	-12	280	$10,700
T17	Tim Clark	72	68	73	68	–	-5	-11	281	$87,000
T17	Ernie Els	72	64	74	71	–	-2	-11	281	$87,000
T19	Matt Bettencourt	73	70	70	69	–	-4	-10	282	$75,500
T19	Anthony Kim	69	71	74	68	–	-5	-10	282	$75,500
T21	Ben Crane	67	70	74	72	–	-1	-9	283	$71,000
T21	Adam Scott	73	67	70	73	–	E	-9	283	$71,000
T23	Cameron Beckman	72	71	70	71	–	-2	-8	284	$67,000
T23	Zach Johnson	71	73	69	71	–	-2	-8	284	$67,000
T25	Charley Hoffman	68	75	67	75	–	+2	-7	285	$62,000
T25	Hunter Mahan	70	70	78	67	–	-6	-7	285	$62,000
T25	Bubba Watson	70	70	73	72	–	-1	-7	285	$62,000
T28	Jason Bohn	72	72	72	70	–	-3	-6	286	$58,500
T28	Heath Slocum	70	74	72	70	–	-3	-6	286	$58,500
30	Stuart Appleby	69	75	73	72	–	-1	-3	289	$57,000
31	Rocco Mediate	79	70	75	71	–	-2	+3	295	$56,000
32	Derek Lamely	72	76	78	70	–	-3	+4	296	$55,000
DQ	Camilo Villegas	DQ	DQ	DQ	DQ	–	DQ	DQ	DQ	–
x- won playoff

3 responses to “The Byrd is the word – Johnathan Byrd wins in playoff at Kapalua”

Golf Practice says:

January 10, 2011 at 8:39 am

The Byrd is the word…I think it’s his 4th or 5th victory on tour, a number greater than many of the up and coming stars like Mahan, DJ, etc. Byrd was dealing with a few things that prevented him from playing like he can but it looks like its behind him now.
martin says:

January 10, 2011 at 3:45 pm

I will go with Graeme. Equipment change a week before this tournament and then puts up a 62 and comes in just one stroke back for the tourney. Awesome.
Richard Pope says:

January 10, 2011 at 6:28 pm

McDowell. Unbelievable final round. This guy is the real deal. Not just a 2010 blip.