Byrd-ie Ball!

Sunday was a day that Robert Garrigus will never forget. Although late in the 2010 season he was able to exercise his winless demons with a victory, Sunday brought those demons from TPC Southwind right back to the forefront. Just less than six months ago at the 2010 St. Jude Classic from Memphis, Garrigus held a 3 shot lead on the 18th tee looking for his first win when disaster struck. After a couple of waterlogged shots and a heck of a scramble he managed a triple-bogey 7 to force a playoff, which he lost. Although it would seem that his Memphis demons were all but erased by his late season win in Disney, he was haunted again in the 2011 Hyundai Tournament of Champions at the Plantation Course in Kapalua Hawaii.

After rolling in a miracle 50+ footer for eagle on the 18th on Saturday afternoon, Garrigus grabbed a share of the lead with Jonathan Byrd and Steve Stricker. On Sunday it was evident that Sticker (who shared the final pairing with Byrd) was not going to be able to keep in contention as the scores were going extremely low. But Byrd and Garrigus remained neck and neck in the lead starring at the leaderboard and watching one of the hottest players in the world charging closer from a few groups ahead. Graeme McDowell got it to –23 (and 11 under for the day) when he got to the 18th green, but was not able to capitalize on the par five and got to the house with a final round 62 and a tie for the lead.

But as the birdies continued to fall for the field, both Byrd and Garrigus were able to drop birdies on the finishing holes relegating the reigning US Open Champion McDowell to third alone and setting up a playoff between the two. After a pair of par five’s on the first playoff hole, they moved to Kapalua’s 1st hole for a second playoff hole. Garrigus who was a top five in driving distance a year ago, blew it by Byrd by nearly 80 yards on the par four. Byrd hit his second shot to within 35ft and Garrigus followed that up with nearly the same shot just putting it 5ft closer. Byrd nearly drained his putt and tapped in for par while Garrigus paced it some 3ft passed the cup. Garrigus then unbelievable missed the comebacker to seal the deal for Byrd.

It was obviously tough for Byrd to celebrate with the way that he won, but it was good to see the 32-year-old tour vet cash in his 5th Tour victory and his biggest pay day to date. The former standout at Clemson as been a consistent staple on the Tour and has earned over $1 million every year but one since 2002. In his first start of the season he has already achieved that number. He has also grabbed early control of the Fedex Cup race and earned only his 4th ever appearance in the Masters. All of that for a guy who earned his way into the Hyundai TOC by hitting a hole in one on the fourth playoff hole at the 2010 Justin Timberlake Tournament in Las Vegas. And that’s the way he plays…an eagle there a par here, but always a Byrd-ie.