Although there were a number of players in contention going into the final round of the WGC Cadillac Championship, by the time the final groups reached the back nine, it was really between Dustin Johnson and Nick Watney.
Both men probably stand out in most people’s recent memory for having thrown away significant leads in the final rounds of Major Championships. Dustin Johnson led last year’s US Open at Pebble Beach by three shots going into the final round, but shot an 11-over-par 82 on Sunday, opening the door for our own Graeme McDowell to claim his first Major.
Two months later in the USPGA Championship at whistling straits, it was Nick Watney’s turn to throw away a lead, shooting a nine-over-par 81 in the final round having also lead by three shots.
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Last weekend however, both men showed they have learned from those experiences. Nick Watney in particular displayed a steely nerve to hole crucial putts at crucial times. He saved par at holes 13 and 15, when bogeys seemed the more likely outcome. It’s almost impossible to describe the momentum and confidence a player can gain from holing such important putts under pressure. It’s what winners do.
It was putting that was certainly the difference between the Watney and Johnson. While Watney made the big putts at the right times, Johnson didn’t seem to get his eye in. As he said himself, one of those days where you hit good putts and they just don’t go in.
From an Irish point of view, Padraig Harrington was certainly an interesting one to follow. For the first time in a long time we saw him put three good rounds together and actually put himself in contention going into a final round. When he opened up with an eagle on the first and followed up with a stunning par save on the second, you’d have been forgiving that Harrington was back in form. A triple-bogey seven on the third quickly dispelled that illusion. Is there a golfer out there who has as many sevens and eights at crucial times as Harrington? Remember the 2009 USPGA Championship when leading during the final round and this happened…
That came just two weeks after a similar meltdown at the WGC Bridgestone invitational.
The other story of the week was Tiger Woods’ final round on Sunday. Having stuttered his way through the first three rounds, a 66 in the final round was a welcome surprise for him. He even managed to break into a smile after this shot.
A smile is something we haven’t seen from Woods for a long time, and whatever your thoughts on him are, it was nice to see him actually enjoy himself on a golf course, even if it was only for a couple of holes.
Woods, along with many of the games top professionals, plays the Tavistock Cup this week. It is a unique tournament that brings together the elite golfing communities of Florida all in the name of fun and charity. One leading golf journalist described the event as “obnoxiously exclusive”, “ostentatious” and “over-hyped.” Ian Poulter begs to differ.
Whatever your thoughts on the event, it is a rare opportunity to see professionals play golf outside of their normal habitat in an entirely different format and without the pressure they experience on a weekly basis. For most, it will be the last opportunity to have some fun before the build-up to the US Masters begins in earnest. The first Major of the year is just three weeks away.
Talking points
Sometimes you have to lose a big tournament to win a big tournament, as Nick Watney showed at the weekend.
Tiger Woods showed on Sunday that he hasn’t lost it altogether and may be on his way back to form.
What does Padraig Harrington need to do to put four good rounds together without any major mishaps?
Lawrence Donegan and Ian Poulter had an open disagreement on twitter regarding the Tavistock Cup, both men are well worth a follow.
It will be interesting to monitor the form of the top players over the next couple of weeks with the US Masters in mind.
In the swing: Watney triumphs in the battle of the bottlers
IT TURNED OUT to be the battle of the bottlers.
Although there were a number of players in contention going into the final round of the WGC Cadillac Championship, by the time the final groups reached the back nine, it was really between Dustin Johnson and Nick Watney.
Both men probably stand out in most people’s recent memory for having thrown away significant leads in the final rounds of Major Championships. Dustin Johnson led last year’s US Open at Pebble Beach by three shots going into the final round, but shot an 11-over-par 82 on Sunday, opening the door for our own Graeme McDowell to claim his first Major.
Two months later in the USPGA Championship at whistling straits, it was Nick Watney’s turn to throw away a lead, shooting a nine-over-par 81 in the final round having also lead by three shots.
Last weekend however, both men showed they have learned from those experiences. Nick Watney in particular displayed a steely nerve to hole crucial putts at crucial times. He saved par at holes 13 and 15, when bogeys seemed the more likely outcome. It’s almost impossible to describe the momentum and confidence a player can gain from holing such important putts under pressure. It’s what winners do.
It was putting that was certainly the difference between the Watney and Johnson. While Watney made the big putts at the right times, Johnson didn’t seem to get his eye in. As he said himself, one of those days where you hit good putts and they just don’t go in.
From an Irish point of view, Padraig Harrington was certainly an interesting one to follow. For the first time in a long time we saw him put three good rounds together and actually put himself in contention going into a final round. When he opened up with an eagle on the first and followed up with a stunning par save on the second, you’d have been forgiving that Harrington was back in form. A triple-bogey seven on the third quickly dispelled that illusion. Is there a golfer out there who has as many sevens and eights at crucial times as Harrington? Remember the 2009 USPGA Championship when leading during the final round and this happened…
That came just two weeks after a similar meltdown at the WGC Bridgestone invitational.
The other story of the week was Tiger Woods’ final round on Sunday. Having stuttered his way through the first three rounds, a 66 in the final round was a welcome surprise for him. He even managed to break into a smile after this shot.
A smile is something we haven’t seen from Woods for a long time, and whatever your thoughts on him are, it was nice to see him actually enjoy himself on a golf course, even if it was only for a couple of holes.
Woods, along with many of the games top professionals, plays the Tavistock Cup this week. It is a unique tournament that brings together the elite golfing communities of Florida all in the name of fun and charity. One leading golf journalist described the event as “obnoxiously exclusive”, “ostentatious” and “over-hyped.” Ian Poulter begs to differ.
Whatever your thoughts on the event, it is a rare opportunity to see professionals play golf outside of their normal habitat in an entirely different format and without the pressure they experience on a weekly basis. For most, it will be the last opportunity to have some fun before the build-up to the US Masters begins in earnest. The first Major of the year is just three weeks away.
Talking points
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Bottler Caddy Shack Doral Dustin Johnson Fore! Golf Nick Watney WGC Cadillac Championship