'Bohn'us Baby!

A win for a 37 year old Tour journeyman should be considered more than just a win, it’s a bonus. And for Jason Bohn that’s just what his victory at the 2010 Zurich Classic of New Orleans represents. With his victory comes an automatic entry into the 2011 Masters along with a much-needed two-year PGA Tour exemption. This victory was Bohn’s second PGA win to date, as he won at the BC Open in 2005. Please note, the BC Open was a tournament that ran opposite of The Open Championship, so suffice to say the top players are not on display that week. This win jumps Bohn up to 11th in Fedex Cup points, but may not be the biggest moment of his career.

In 1992 Bohn was attending The University of Alabama and was a member of the Crimson Tide golf team. That year he entered a ‘Hole in One Shootout’ and improbably holed out to win the million-dollar prize. There is amazing footage of the shot that you may have seen if you watch The Golf Channel at any length…and the celebration was outstanding. Anyway, after making that ace, it gave Bohn the financial stability to go and work on his game with no real pressure, and try to become a professional. And that he did.

2009 was not Bohn’s best year on Tour, but he did enough to hang around for another year. His T2 at the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, NC was his best finish and damn near was his opening to the 2010 Masters. But he and fellow T2 competitor Kevin Stadler were defeated by Ryan Moore in a three-man playoff. But his week in Greensboro was by far his best achievement in 2009, which did not even include a major championship appearance. He will get his shot, but no guarantee at getting into the field at the US Open and The Open Championship. But following that, this wire to wire victory on the bayou, will guarantee him trips to Whistling Straits for the PGA and Augusta for ‘The Tradition Unlike Any Other.’

Who knows what will happen! We’ve seen stranger Green Jacket wearers right? I guess it’s about as likely as a million dollar hole-in-one…

Humble in Victory, Honorable in Defeat

Golf is more than a game of concentration, flexibility, hand-eye coordination, and muscle memory. It was developed to be played with the principles of honor and integrity. It’s game where you are required to impose self-penalties, even if nobody but yourself witnessed the infraction. On Sunday this part of the game was at the forefront of the PGA Tour at the famed Harbortown Golf Links in Hilton Head, SC in the Verizon Heritage Classic.

Englishman Brian Davis is a long time journeyman on the PGA and European Tours. He has bounced back and forth from Great Britain to the United States over the past decade competing in events as if it was more like a job than a privilege. A few years ago Davis decided he was going to lay it all on the line and move his family from Britain to Orlando Florida in hopes to play exclusively in ‘The Show.’ He had earned his Tour card and ever since has hung in there enough to continue playing on a year to year basis. 2009 was Davis’ most successful season on the PGA Tour and although never in the winner’s circle, he had a run in May of three straight top 5 finishes (The Players, Valero, and The Nelson).

On Sunday in Hilton Head Davis had his chance to sew up the two year Tour exemption and the almost as important slot in the field at Augusta in 2011, that comes with a Tour victory. After 72 competitive holes where a lot of talented players were in serious contention, Davis and now World Number Five and Transitions winner Jim Furyk were tied for the lead; following a 25 foot birdie putt holed on the signature 18th by Davis. Both competitors ripped tee shots onto the tarmac that is the 80-plus yard wide fairway on Harbortown’s home hole to start the sudden death playoff. Both players showed 167 yards out, and long time PGA rules official Slugger White deemed Davis was out – this would not be the last time we hear from Slugger.

Davis tried to take a little off of a six-iron and tugged it left sending it off the rocks and bounding onto the hard sanded beach along Calabogue Sound. Furyk, understanding the door was open took a bit more club and sent a shot to the back fringe of the green leaving him some 50 feet for his birdie effort. In fact, Furyk’s ball was so far away from the pin, that he was actually further away than Davis and had to execute a putt to about 8 feet. Davis then had to decide whether to execute a difficult pitch out of the junk or take a drop and basically put the tournament on the putter of Furyk. He decided to keep it in his own hands and pitched it up onto the green, but as the ball was rolling across the surface of the green he looked up and said, ‘Slugger’ as he motioned toward the rules official.

Re-enter Slugger White. The two discussed a possible violation as upon takeaway, Davis noticed that his club may have clipped a reed, something that only he could’ve detected in live motion. After in depth discussions and handheld communication with officials watching the video, Slugger bent down and pulled the reed out to show that it was a loose impediment as opposed to part of the ground. He notified Davis that because it was a loose impediment in a hazard, the small graze of the reed upon takeaway would be a 2-stroke penalty. This ruling basically gave Furyk the tournament as he smoothly drained the 8-foot par putt amongst the boat horns off of Calabogue Sound to earn the Tartan Jacket and his second victory in 2010.

For Furyk is was a well-earned victory and for Davis it was a crushing defeat. But Davis should have nothing to feel bad about (aside from the possible 400 grrr he left on the table). He may not have punched his Masters ticket or earned that 2-year exemption, but he earned the respect of his peers. In the ‘if your not cheating your not trying’ steroid HGH bribing for TV contracts coach Calipari new world of sports, a story like this is refreshing. He may not have won, but Davis, although probably difficult, did the honorable thing. Just as difficult to watch was Furyk accepting congratulations for his victory, more humble than usual. It certainly now looks like ‘Mr. Consistency is back…as if he went anywhere to begin with.

Master’Phil’

I know, I know I missed an entry where AK assaulted Redstone Golf Club and beat Augusta native Vaughn Taylor in route to his already punched Master’s ticket. And he took full advantage at the 2010 ‘Tradition Unlike Any Other.’ Now lets get to the good stuff.

In a week that was focused almost completely on the return of Tiger Woods to competitive action, he along with the rest of the field lived up to the hype…and then some. All roads led to 2:40PM EST on Thursday April 8th. Tiger teed it up and ripped a drive splitting the fairway on the par 4 first hole reintroducing himself with the serene nervy calmness that is Augusta National. As the sun descended on day one of competition most of the talk and excitement remained with Tiger who fired a round one Masters personal best round four under par 68. But with all that went on this day, he wasn’t getting all the attention.

With a calm and overcast setting for much of the day, along with not as challenging pin positions and tee placements, Augusta National on day one was more of a sleeping beast. The main defense was down just a bit with stickier and slower greens, making life that much more receptive to shots that were not pinpoint in accuracy thus leading to more red numbers. In layman’s terms, the pros were ripping it up! The talk of a dream week started early as 60 year old Tom Watson carded a Turnberry-like 67 to post his name in a tie for second after day one with the likes of fan favorite and two time Green Jacket wearer Phil Mickelson and top British hopeful Lee Westwood. But there was room for two in this Dolorean.

50 year old 1992 Masters Champion Fred Couples turned back the clock a bit himself casually strolling the hills of NE Georgia in tennis shoe-like moccasins on his way to a personal best 6 under-par 66 and the overall outright lead after day one. His recent entry onto the Champions Tour has been a bit of a rebirth for Couples game. He won the first 3 Tour events going away and in 12 competitive rounds he has posted an astonishing 77 under par! That is an average of over 6 under par per round! His hot play along with his veteran knowledge of Augusta National was a recipe of success for this gray-haired former roommate of my brother at the University of Houston.

Although Watson faded as the week went on (still finishing under par), Couples was more than game for sticking around to the finish. On a rousing Saturday: some players rose (Hunter Mahan), some players fell (Ian Poulter) and some players just didn’t do much of anything (Anthony Kim) – but it was arguably the best and loudest Moving Day in recent memory at Augusta. And as anyone who has ever walked the grounds Masters week will attest, the roars at Augusta are unlike anywhere else. The roars were almost personified in a near 30 minute stretch on the back nine on Saturday between 5:05 and 5:40.

They started on the 13th hole as crowd favorite Phil Mickelson rolled in a 20 footer for eagle sending a roar of emotion through the loblolly pines and magnolias. Just moments later on the 15th green Couples had a little magic in his bag chipping in for eagle as patrons rose and exuded their appreciation for the veteran. Only ten minutes later there was a roar of epic proportions. Standing in the par four 14th fairway with a short iron in his hand, Mickelson struck a pure shot that landed on the green and spun down the hill to the right with the contours so perfectly it disappeared into the cup. The roar was so loud it reverberated through the dogwoods all the way to ‘Amen Corner’and noticeably affected the leader Westwood who promptly missed a par putt on the 11th green. Not more than five minutes later Ricky Barnes made on of the most difficult chips in all of golf behind in back of the green at #13 for an exciting birdie. And the clincher was at 5:40 when Phil Mickelson, seeking a record third eagle in a row, nearly holed out a wedge from just under 100 yards out. Between the roaring crowd and excitement of David Feherty’s call on air, the atmosphere was as dramatic as I’ve ever seen a Saturday in Augusta.

The roars themselves were so thrilling and intense that each one had kind of a life of its own. It was one of the most sensational half-hour of golf I have ever been a witness to, and, although on site, Tiger had nothing to do with it. He would reserve his electricity for Sunday….or so we all thought.

The ‘Striped One’ arrived at Augusta clad in Sunday red in a tied for 3rd place just four shots back of leader Westwood and three shots back of Mickelson. He was paired for the fourth straight day with KJ Choi who had mirrored his first three rounds of 68-70-70. And his engine sputtered from the start. A massive hook off the 1st, failing to birdie 2 or 3, and then two straight bogies on #4 & #5 and an ugly par on #6 and it seemed like Tiger’s chances were squelched before he even had the chance to contend. He stood in the first cut on #7 a whopping seven shots back with virtually no chance before his swing, and felt like he was right back in it after. Nick Faldo referred to it as Tiger’s best swing of the week and it showed. As if it was channeling Mickelson’s ball from #14 on Saturday it landed it the perfect place and then spun backwards and to the right perfectly down the slope and falling excitedly in the hole. Tiger got his roar that ignited a run of two more birdies to finish his nine in 35 and at 9-under and only three shots back. But the Jekyll & Hyde ways continued for Tiger and his tournament was basically over with a bogey on #11 and a three putt from 6 feet for a bogey on #14. Not even an eagle on #15 and a mocking birdie on the closing hole could not be savior enough for Eldrick.

Mickelson of the other hand, dazzled the patrons with one of the most memorable Sunday walks on the hallowed grounds. But it started slow. A very un-Phil-like seven straight pars to open the round finally gave way to a scrabbling birdie on #8 and an amazing save on #9, helped Phil turn in one-under 35. Rabbits were pulled out of the hat with two pars after hooked tee shots on #10 and #11. Although hundreds watch on across Rae’s Creek, the 12 green is one of the few serene lonely places at Augusta National to mull over a 25-foot birdie putt. Putting past experiences behind him he rolled in a confident stroke and grabbed his first outright lead of the tournament entering his favorite hole on the course. But the hooks got to him again and his tee shot finished left amongst the pine straw on this breath taking par five. Enter the shot of the tournament.

Mickelson stood set up on the unsteady pine needle with a long iron in his hand poised to hit a shot that wasn’t a lay-up, between two trees in front of him. Crazy would be the word many would use, except it is Phil Mickelson, so the word may just be ordinary. A typical caddie would never even consider letting their player hit this shot between tree and over a creek to a difficult sloping green in the Masters, but make no ‘bones’ about it, Jim Mackay knows and trusts his guy Lefty. When all was said and done and Peter Kostis tried to describe the craziness that was the shot, the ball sat just five feet from the cup and seemed like the clincher. Although Phil actually missed the putt, he still walked off the green with a lead going to a part of the course he could continue his magic.

After a pedestrian par on #14 he bombed a drive on #15 and hit just another ‘run of the mill’ shot over the pond and onto the green for a 25 foot eagle putt. A two putt birdie coupled with a chip and two putt par for Lee Westwood, basically sewed up the tournament for Lefty as he walked off #15 three up with three to play. Although Westwood birdied #17 to make it halfway competitive, Phil outdid the field sticking a shot on #18 and enjoying the stroll up the hill to a massive ovation from the crowd. His closing birdie gave him his third green jacket and his 16 under par 272 was just 2 shots back of the all time low tournament score posted by Tiger in his ‘Win For the Ages’ in 1997.

All and all it was an amazing week with a great Sunday. Although the final hour seemed to be in no doubt at all, the building hours were unbelievable. The only competitor who could muster an semblance of a charge was the youngster Anthony Kim who went low on the back nine to gain control of a solo third finish. Lee Westwood kept his bridesmaid-like play in majors grabbing another Top 5. He seems to be on the cusp of cashing one in soon. No matter how you slice it or if you like it, Tiger is back…enough said. And as for Mickelson, it’s been a tough year with his wife Amy and his Mother both being diagnosed with breast cancer, and this ‘Win For the Family’ affirmed his hard work in a tough time. Unlike most, I’m not the biggest Phil fan, but I gotta tip my cap to him. He was absolutely masterful at Augusta. And now the year long lottery begins for players vying for the 2011 green jacket. Let the battle begin.

***Players who finished in the Top 16 and ties who will be invited back next year: Phil Mickelson (-16), Lee Westwood (-13), Anthony Kim (-12), Tiger Woods, KJ Choi (-11), Fred Couples (-9), Nick Watney (-8), Hunter Mahan, YE Yang (-7), Ricky Barnes, Ian Poulter (-5), Miguel Angel Jimenez, Jerry Kelly (-3), Trevor Immelman, Steve Marino, Ryan Moore & David Toms (-2).

Big Easy Like Monday Morning

Not even a rainy Sunday and a Monday morning finish could detour Ernie Els from cashing in on his second win in a two week stretch at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at the famous Bayhill Resort and Lodge in Orlando Florida. No doubt the hottest player on Tour Els has not only grabbed the early lead for comeback player of the year but now is the overall leader in Fedex Cup points.

After storms ravaged the Orlando area on Sunday afternoon dampering the tournaments usual finish, the finial few groups were left to wrap up their back nine. Although it was still anyone’s tournament and had only a one-stroke lead with one to play, Els never really seemed to let go of his stranglehold of the field. He continued his excellent ‘Southern Swing’ play by staying in cruise control on Monday to complete a final round 71 and two shot victory over talented youngsters American Kevin Na and Italian Edoardo Molinari.

But those two were not the only strong contenders this week at Arnie’s Place. Strong Tour vets like Davis Love III, Padraig Harrington, and even Phil Mickelson all were near contention for much of the tournament. Also in contention were unexpected players like Chris Couch and DJ Trahan. But inconsistent play coupled with overly consistent good play from Els really sunk these players from contenders to pretenders. Love III was wildly inconsistent with a variable cornucopia of birdies, bogies, and doubles. Mickelson started strong on Thursday and Friday, but could not get the driver or putter going on the weekend and rapidly dropped down the board. Various struggles could be said for Harrington, Trahan and Couch.

When it was all said and done Els had about as smooth of a week in Orlando as the mechanics of his swing. He once again has found himself poised to be in serious contention at Augusta for the first time since his runner up finish to Phil Mickelson on that magical Easter Sunday in 2004. And when I say serious contention I mean serious contention. He has had nightmares with his close calls at the Masters, and this could be one of his last real chances of rectifying his Green Jacket horrors. And if he plays like his week at Bayhill, his walk up #18 could be as easy as his Monday walk.