A quick wrap up of the weekend’s pro tours. I’m calling it “Gag Central.”
PGA Tour
Justin Leonard came into Sunday with an 8 stroke lead at the St. Jude Classic. He pushed that lead to 9 strokes at one point. You could tell Justin was doing that old “playing not to lose” thing. He was playing very conservatively. He completely went away from the aggressive play that put him in the 8 stroke lead to begin with. That “prevent defense” only seems to prevent you from winning…
Meanwhile David Toms made a serious charge on the back 9 on route to a smokin’ 63. That smokin’ 63 included a water ball when he bounced his tee shot off the hard green at the par 3 11th.
Justin gagged his way into the finish line and came into the par 4 final hole with a 2 stroke lead. Trying to play safe he knocked his drive into the right fairway bunker. From there he flared his approach shot wide right of the green almost into the grandstands. After a free drop he chunked his pitch shot way short and barely two putted for the victory.
Justin narrowly avoided one of the worst nuclear meltdowns in PGA history. But it is a victory and now he’s got two this year.
Champions Tour
The 2nd gag job of the day was by Jerry Pate. All he had to do to secure the Senior PGA victory was make a 3 foot putt. Gag. He put a terrible stroke on that putt which forced a 3 way playoff between himself, Mike Reid and Dana Quigley.
Mike Reid made an amazing eagle on 18 to get himself into the playoff. He finished the job on the first playoff hole with birdie to secure the title. Jerry Pate had a similar putt on the first playoff hole to continue the playoff. Once again he put a gag stroke on it, missing terribly.
Teeing off 3 strokes behind on the 72nd hole, Mike Reid was shocked to eventually win the tournament. He’s probably not as shocked as Jerry Pate…
LPGA Tour
A person who didn’t gag Sunday was Jimin Kang. She started the final round of the LPGA Corning Classic 3 strokes behind, but fired a 66 to hold off Annika Sorenstam and Meena Lee by two strokes. Jimin Kang notched her first LPGA victory in style
European Tour
Since I seem to be covering all the major golf tours today I might as well mention that Angel Cabrera shot a 67 to take home the BMW Championship trophy. Paul McGinley was battling Cabrera down the stretch. He gagged on 16 & 17 allowing Cabrera a two shot victory.
Ernie Els tied for 39th, 15 strokes behind.
HOGWire – Golf Industry News
[…] he punditry I’ve read about it has agreed with Wadkins, that Leonard was employing a prevent defense, if you will. But this kind of hindsight is always 20/20, and if Leonard is going to play […]