Golf Talk With Greg Holman – #22

Click play to listen to Greg’s Podcast, or read below.

Well it’s almost as much fun to see a veteran golfer win a tournament when he hasn’t won a PGA event in seven years as it is to see a young first time winner on the tour. It just proves how deep the PGA Tour is these days. 40 year old Matt Jones who’s better known in his home country of Australia was a wire to wire winner, and he did it convincingly by five shots over one of the toughest fields in golf, on one of the toughest courses on tour. PGA National at Palm Gardens Florida. A Jack Nicklaus design.

It always helps when you start the tournament with a 61. He followed that up with a mediocre even par 70 in round 2 making spectators believe that the first round was a fluke, but he closed with a 69-68 in the weekend to cruise to a 5 shot victory.

The reigning Australian Open champ 61 was regarded by Lee Westwood is possibly the round of the year. For the win Jones not only picked up a check for $1.26 million, but also an invitation to the Masters April 8th. Another perk is the FEDEX Cup points he earned, he’s now 11th in the standings. The top 30 will compete in a 3 tournament tournament for the FEDEX Cup at seasons end.

We got to see a lot of Wesley Bryan in this tournament. Maybe more than we wanted, as he stripped down to his boxers to play a shot from the mud to avoid staining his pink pants.

Other highlights included Brendan Steele who hold a long greenside bunker shot on the 6th hole for a birdie, and not to be outdone, Harry Higgs hold a bunker shot for an eagle at 18. Zach Johnson, former Masters winner had a good tournament tying for 8th with a 5 under score. Camilo Villegas who need a tie for 3rd or better to retain his tour card missed by 1 shot and finished in a tie for 8th. The ageless Steve Stricker carted a 4 under to finish tied for 13th. Phil Mickelson could only manage even par in the final round for a 2 under total good for a tie for 25th. J.B. Holmes who is in contention in playing in the final group with Jones ballooned to 79 to finish tie 46th.

Congratulations to Matt Jones, but the real winner was the money donated to the Jack Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.

Some more good weather is forecast for this weekend in central Missouri so good luck on the links, and hit ’em straight!