The Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club would produce a third straight playoff in the past three years.
Once again first and foremost: kudos to the course superintendents for keeping the course in awesome shape. The rain that delayed the final two rounds turned the course soft, which allowed the players to really attack and go after the pin locations without running the ball past or having to use too much spin on their shots; made for a lot of fun approach shots. But the wind and sun would come out later and dry up the course just a touch. And even with the rain, the greens still rolled true and with fantastic pace which through off a few of the players putting strategies.
With that being said, there were three players tied for the lead going into the final round; William McGirt, Gary Woodland, and Matt Kuchar. However, only William McGirt would hold on to the lead while Woodland and Kuchar would slip away. Fan favorites like Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy would finish second and tied for third respectively. And then John Curran, a relatively unknown player from Vanderbilt (turned pro in 2009) would also sneak his way into a share of the lead when the tournament was all said and done in regulation.
So McGirt (Wofford College graduate, turned pro in 2004) and Curran would take it to the 18th tee for the first playoff hole. Curran would hit his drive in the fairway and land his approach on the green while McGirt put his drive in the rough and his approach in the front bunker… but both would make par and head back to 18th tee for the second playoff hole. #shortgame
Then for the second hole, Curran would land his drive into a fairway bunker and McGirt would land his in the fairway. But McGirt would send his approach long and left of the green while Curran would send his approach long of the green as well, but thanks to the shot bouncing off a spectator, Curran’s shot did not travel as long as it should have. He would take relief from the cart-path. Curran would then send his third shot long approximately 39 feet from the hole and eventually make bogey. McGirt would flop his third shot 6 feet from the hole and sink the putt for par, and the victory, and a cool 500 points in the FedEx Cup to move into the top ten (10) of the FedEx Cup standings. This would also be William McGirt’s first PGA Tour win.
The menu for next weekend will come from the FedEx St. Jude Classic in Memphis Tennessee at TPC Southwind. Last years champion: Fabian Gomez. AND…only two more weeks till the U.S. Open where Jordan Spieth will defend his title at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont Pennsylvania. This course will be much more enjoyable for not only the players but the spectators as well compared to last years track; Chambers Bay.
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