Arnold Palmer Invitational final scoreboard here.
I don't suppose many Canadians have enjoyed watching a Sunday on the PGA Tour this much in a while, but yesterday young Corey Connors proudly representing Listowel GC was in or around the lead all day on a very tough (75.6 scoring average) Bay Hill course in a strong wind, and toe to toe with the European Tour Player of the Year, Lee Westwood, and this era's John Daly, Bryson DeChambeau.
His motto on his twitter feed "living the dream out here on the PGA Tour", his game plan from Tiger's playbook "stay away from a big number, be patient, do your business on the par5's" was working all week, and he was in the lead most all week.
With veteran NBC analyst Gary Koch announcing to the world "this is like match play between Westwood and DeChambeau" Corey knocked in his 3rd eagle of the week at 16 to move a shot behind with just 2 holes left, and suddenly it was game on again.
My heart went out to him as he found that greenside bunker at 17, then as often as he'd saved himself with par putts all week, he missed one,crucially,for the bogey 4.
Understandably he hit one of his poorer drives into the thick right rough on 18, thumping the ground with his driver in a rare show of emotion, had no choice but to chip out and was unlucky his approach didn't run down the hill to the hole. 2 putts bogey 5 to finish 3rd -8.
He is now ranked up from 60th to 44th in the world, his highest by far, and will go to another treacherous Florida course, TPC Sawgrass for the Players and he's also in the field for the Masters.
As veteran Canadian golfer Richard Zokol said " this performance will ratchet up his confidence, he is just now learning what it's like to play under pressure in the final pairings and this will stand him in good stead everytime it occurs"
Meanwhile a tip of my cap to big Bryson because he made a bogey at the first and not another. He parred the last 12 holes and for all his prodigious length and power, he won this one, his 8th, with his putter, particularly with that testy 8 footer at the 72nd. His 67 71 68 71 -11 277 was the winning score.
And what about Westy ( 69 71 65 73 -10), standing there on the 18th to see if there would be a playoff, smiling like a cheshire cat. Here is is, loving life, Player of the Year, in love again, fit, playing and competing "over here in America in all these big events" with his 48th birthday just around the corner, ranked 31 in the world with the Players and the Masters to come.
It was a most enjoyable week, good for golf and great for Corey Connors.
Bryan Angus
It WAS an enjoyable Sunday to watch Corey try to negotiate a difficult, windy course and spirited competition. Third place was very respectable, and hopefully a good learning experience.
ReplyDeleteIt was a good week for Tigerless golf, and a great week for the rise of Corey Connors, who will be a great Canadian winner in years to come..
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