Cinderella Story

How cliché is it for me to quote one of Bill Murray’s most famous characters in an annual golf event made most famous by Murray himself. The stars of the screen, sports, music and business come out every year to visit one of the most breath-taking institutions in golf – Pebble Beach. Located on the shores of the Pacific Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill and Monterey Peninsula Golf Club’s are not only three of the most challenging tracks in the US, but as they were carved into the coastline, are seen a little slices of heaven. So it is no wonder that the stars of the Tour make it a point to get together every year with the influential to make spectacular synergy.

Although when it came down to Sunday, there weren’t exactly Tour stars at the top of the leader board, just a group of hungry run of the mill every week starters. Long hitting Virginian Steve Marino finished the third round –12 one shot clear of fellow no-namers (to Tiger viewers) Jimmy “Dynamite” Walker and Bryce Molder. Sitting two shots back was journeyman D.A. Points, who consequently enough had Bill Murray as his Amateur partner. To not be a total waste of the big-name only fans, Ryder Cuppers Phil Mickelson and Hunter Mahan were paired together a few groups ahead of the leaders both five shots back of Marino.

Marino kept a very level head and game with an even par front nine, doing his best to not pay attention to the fireworks happening to the two big stars who were dropping in birdies and cutting into the lead. By the early back nine it was curtains for both Molder and Walker who were struggling to keep up the pace that Marino, Mahan, Mickelson and Points were setting. Mahan’s five-under outward nine got him a share of the lead until bogeying #10, which was the site of an impressive birdie by Marino just minutes later. But just like most events at famed Pebble Beach, the pivotal par five 14th played a major role.

The difficult boomerang-like 573 yard gem of a hole with a sloping green that looks the size of a Twister mat from the fairway is anything but a party. Mickelson was the first of the leaders to be affected by this demon, by posting a bogey six that started his demise from the top. His playing partner Mahan hit a nearly perfect wedge to a couple of feet and was positively affected by the 14th with a birdie. It is no surprise that the venue for the shot of the tournament was this very same hole. D.A. Points hit a lay-up to within a gap wedge swing, which he applied and the ball sailed through the salty sea air before hitting in the rough just over the bunker and short of the green. The ball took a big hop forward and rolled perfectly as if it was guided by a mini-golf ramp right into the hole. Before you could blink, the new leader Points and his partner Murray sprinted toward each other and performed one of the most uncoordinated chest bumps of all time in the midst of the crowds roar.

Points rode that eagle momentum to a birdie on the 15th and although Mahan birdied the par three 17th his inability to convert a two-putt birdie after getting home on the historic 18th left him high, dry and 2 shots back of Points who bumbled, mumbled and joked with Murray to three pars to close his round at 67 and –16. Marino too, was unable to convert any birdie opportunities and stood on the 18th tee two shots back of Points. A pull hook on his 2nd shot literally sunk him into the Pacific and led to a triple-bogey snowman, dropping him out of a T2 to a T4.

As for Points, this victory marks his first on the PGA Tour, and qualifies him for his first ever competitive trip to Augusta for the 2011 Masters in April. In fact this trip to the Masters will be only his 4th appearance in a major championship, although he will have played in each major once come April. But as for his performance as Pebble, he attributed his cool and calm demeanor to Bill Murray who through comedy and conversation kept his mind away from the moment. He seemingly was as relevant to the novice golf fan as Carl Spackler Assistant Greenskeeper at Bushwood Country Club, would be at the Masters. But to those who know of D.A.’s game, could easily see this win on his horizon.

It was a magical week for this Cinderella story from Illinois, who stood in the 14th fairway in second plac, and left the green in the lead because he struck a perfect shot…”and it's in the hole!” So he “has that going for him, which is nice.” He was also able to carry fan-favorite Bill Murray to his first ever Pro-AM team championship at the famed tournament. Game, set, match…Points!