Potter wins Greenbrier Classic in playoff
Source: Agencies |
July 10, 2012, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
PGA Tour rookie Ted Potter Jr. won his first title on the US circuit with a nerve-jangling playoff victory over fellow American Troy Kelly at the Greenbrier Classic in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, on Sunday.
As the late afternoon shadows lengthened on the Old White TPC Course, Potter sealed the win with a four-foot birdie putt at the third extra hole, the par-three 18th, after Kelly missed his attempt from 45 feet.
Left-hander Potter had a golden opportunity to wrap up victory one hole earlier, at the par-five 17th, but he lipped out with a birdie putt from five feet after Kelly had rolled in a 20-footer to save par.
The two journeymen, who have played most of their golf on the 'mini' tours, finished the regulation 72 holes on 16-under-par 264, Kelly closing with a four-under 66 and Potter storming home birdie-par-eagle-birdie for a 64.
"This was just a big relief after all the struggles the last few weeks, knowing that now I've got a couple of years to try to improve on my game and win some more tournaments," Potter said after becoming the sixth first-time winner on the 2012 PGA Tour. The 28-year-old, who earned his PGA Tour card by finishing second on the 2011 Nationwide Tour money list, had missed the cut in his five previous events.
"When you're missing cuts every week, you get down on yourself," said Potter, ranked 218th in the world. "But the plus side for me is I was still young. I just knew I had plenty of time, just be patient and it will come back around again."
South Korean Charlie Wi eagled the 17th on the way to a 65 to share third place at 14 under with PGA Tour rookie Charlie Beljan (67).
US Open champion Webb Simpson, two strokes ahead overnight in pursuit of a fourth PGA Tour title, tumbled backwards with three consecutive bogeys from the 12th to finish with a 73 in a five-way tie for seventh.
For much of Sunday afternoon, the tournament appeared to come down to a head-to-head between world No. 5 Simpson and 464th-ranked Kelly as they dueled for the title in the final pairing.
Kelly made a fast start, birdies at the second and fourth, where he hit a superb approach to three feet, putting him in a tie for the lead with Simpson at 14 under. He then birdied the par-four fifth to move one stroke clear of his playing partner, who safely parred the first five holes.
As the late afternoon shadows lengthened on the Old White TPC Course, Potter sealed the win with a four-foot birdie putt at the third extra hole, the par-three 18th, after Kelly missed his attempt from 45 feet.
Left-hander Potter had a golden opportunity to wrap up victory one hole earlier, at the par-five 17th, but he lipped out with a birdie putt from five feet after Kelly had rolled in a 20-footer to save par.
The two journeymen, who have played most of their golf on the 'mini' tours, finished the regulation 72 holes on 16-under-par 264, Kelly closing with a four-under 66 and Potter storming home birdie-par-eagle-birdie for a 64.
"This was just a big relief after all the struggles the last few weeks, knowing that now I've got a couple of years to try to improve on my game and win some more tournaments," Potter said after becoming the sixth first-time winner on the 2012 PGA Tour. The 28-year-old, who earned his PGA Tour card by finishing second on the 2011 Nationwide Tour money list, had missed the cut in his five previous events.
"When you're missing cuts every week, you get down on yourself," said Potter, ranked 218th in the world. "But the plus side for me is I was still young. I just knew I had plenty of time, just be patient and it will come back around again."
South Korean Charlie Wi eagled the 17th on the way to a 65 to share third place at 14 under with PGA Tour rookie Charlie Beljan (67).
US Open champion Webb Simpson, two strokes ahead overnight in pursuit of a fourth PGA Tour title, tumbled backwards with three consecutive bogeys from the 12th to finish with a 73 in a five-way tie for seventh.
For much of Sunday afternoon, the tournament appeared to come down to a head-to-head between world No. 5 Simpson and 464th-ranked Kelly as they dueled for the title in the final pairing.
Kelly made a fast start, birdies at the second and fourth, where he hit a superb approach to three feet, putting him in a tie for the lead with Simpson at 14 under. He then birdied the par-four fifth to move one stroke clear of his playing partner, who safely parred the first five holes.
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