PGA Tour Honda Classic final scoreboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=pga
There's an old song with the lyric " I don't want it you can have it she's alright by me.."
That's what's going through my mind after a strangely intriguing Monday morning from the Honda Classic where at least 3 guys had the lead, made a mess of things and finally the ever fidgety Paddy Harrington, playing on a sponsor's exemption, lost the lead, had the lead, lost the lead and eventually beat a 21 year old local kid, Daniel Berger who closed with a brilliant 64, on the 17th, the second playoff hole for his first PGA Tour win since 2008.
Now 43 and ranked 297 in the world he survived when all around him were failing and he's off to the Masters while he moves up to 82nd in the world.
Consider Paddy's roller coaster ride... He made four straight birdies on the back nine to take the lead. He then lost it after a soft 5-iron into the water for double bogey on the par-3 17th. Then he got it back with a clutch 15-foot birdie putt on 18 to force the playoff. Then the icing on the cake when after fidgeting forever on the tee, he hit the same 5-iron to 3 feet on the 17th to win on the second playoff hole when Berger hit into the water and made double bogey.
He wasn't alone on the rollercoaster...Consider Ian Poulter....He had a three-shot lead going into the final round on Sunday. He proceeded to hit five shots into the water which cost him the 3 shot then the 2 shot leads culminating with two more into the water on 14 for triple bogey. Despite all that he then finished birdie-birdie for a 75 and only missed the playoff by one shot.
Now consider Patrick Reed.. tied with Harrington at -7 on the 15th Reed hit his tee shot into the water and made double bogey. He bogeyed the next two holes, shot 73 and finished three shots behind.
How about Paul Casey who lost in a playoff at Riviera last week, was tied for the lead until a bogey on the 14th hole. He never caught up, missing a 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th that would have got him into another playoff.
Finally Daniel Berger, 21 years young, father a former top 10 tennis player. He played better than anyone in his final round of 64 and had a 15-foot birdie putt to win on the 18th in a playoff and narrowly missed. Then, he watched Harrington hit 5-iron to within 3 feet on the 17th on the next playoff hole just like he had in regulation, only to lose it short and right into the water, leaving Paddy two short putts for the win.
A ' comedy of errors " for sure, but wildly exciting to watch, especially since the ultimate grinder, Paddy Harrington, once #3 in the world, down to #297 without a card came out on top.
Note Adam Hadwin finished T31 71 71 68 72 +3
Bryan Angus
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