PGA Tour Shell Houston Open final scoreboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=pga
JB Holmes has been playing solid golf, sometimes great golf so far this year (remember the record tying 62 in the wind at Doral?) but on Sunday morning he began the day as an after-thought, T18. But he soon changed all that making birdies on his first nine holes, going out in 29, tying the tournament course record.
He had been six shots behind Jordan Spieth but his birdie on nine coupled with a Speith bogey gave him the lead, which he rode right into a playoff with Spieth (71) and a resurgent Johnson Wagner (69), only in the field on the sponsors invite..
Holmes ended up with a -8 64, the day’s low round, and won on the second playoff hole for his fourth PGA Tour victory. As you know Spieth is the hottest player heading to Augusta with 2 wins and a 2nd in his last 3 starts but this time he bowed out on the first playoff hole (18th) after his drive was almost wet then his approach rolled into in a bunker and he couldn’t get anywhere close to the cup on his chip and took a 5.
Meanwhile Wagner and Holmes hit perfect drives, halved the hole in 4's, then Wagner missed a short birdie putt to make 5 to JB's 4 on the second playoff leaving Holmes $1.18 million richer.
Spieth remember was 2nd to Bubba at the Masters last year, shot 71 and is in great shape as he flies up to Augusta, for what will now become Tiger Woods week..
Playing with the confidence of youth Spieth had this to say after his round. "I felt very comfortable with more and more pressure going into Augusta, which has the most pressure anywhere”
Two of our Canadians had good Sunday's, David Hearn 68 and Adam Hadwin 69 T25 at -8 280. Graham DeLaet as in the lead on Friday for a while after a pair of 67's but his weekend was not as good with 75 73...
Also going the wrong way on the weekend were Scott Piercy, who had shot a record 63 Thursday but faded and wound up five shots back. Austin Cook a Monday qualifier got to -15 under, but struggled with bogeys the rest of the way to finish six behind T11 also Phil Mickelson you'll remember was only a shot off the lead through 36 holes, but shot 75 Saturday and never made a serious move Sunday shot 71 T17, and you just never know what 3 time winner "Lefty" will do once he drives up Magnolia Lane.
So Spring must be here because MLB got underway last night and the Jays open their season in a chilly Yankee Stadium this afternoon, the Leafs mercifully only have 3 games left, but for many of you Spring will not arrive until Arnie Jack and Gary hit those first drives around 8.30am Thursday morning to kick off the 2015 edition of the Masters..
Tomorrow I will take a look at some of the more compelling stories you may miss as you are about to be inundated with all Tiger all the time..
As usual I am glad he is in the field for all the obvious reasons, but as usual I will not be ignoring the other 98 or so stories that are all worth telling..
Bryan
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