Future clearer for Hayes
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2002 John Deere Classic | Wrap | 29 Jul 2002
There had not been a lot to suggest that J.P. Hayes was close to his second win on the USPGA Tour. True there had been the fifth at the Greater Milwaukee event a couple of weeks ago, but that aside he had only one top ten in his 15 previous starts this season that being in Houston and he was forty eighth last week in Endicott.
Hayes joined the USPGA Tour back in 1992 and for the first four years alternated between the USPGA Tour and the then Nike Tour. His big turnaround came in 1998 when he won the rain shortened Buick Classic at Westchester. Since that time, he has not looked back retaining his card each year and slowly gaining consistency. He won also on the Nike Tour in 1996 but the future now for the 36 year old from Texas looks very bright and secure. This win and the accompanying $US540,000 take his earnings for the season to just under $US900,000.
Robert Gamez finished four shots behind Hayes but he will be elated with the way things are going for him of late. Gamez, who burst on to the PGA Tour back in 1990 winning at his first event, has suffered from a range of personal and injury problems, but a decision recently to become more aggressive with his strategies on the golf course seems to be paying off. He suggested this week that watching Phil Mickelson playing his own game has struck a cord with him and he is keen to revert to the type of player he was when he first came on tour. He was third last week at the BC Open just a few weeks after his ninth in Memphis so things are getting better for him.
Kirk Triplett followed up his 8th last week with another good finish in third place with Rookie of the Year contender Pat Perez in fourth. Perez now moves ahead of both Peter Lonard and Matt Kuchar on the money list of those in contention for the Rookie title although Kuchar’s win earlier and Lonard’s amazing consistency and his performances in the majors may count against Perez. Perez was a former World Junior Amateur Champion beating Tiger Woods at Torrey Pines in 1993.
Australian John Senden reversed some fairly ordinary form of late to tie for 15th. A doube bogey at the last proved very costly but that is his best finish since the Buick in February so all in all a good week. A cheque for around $US45,000 will be his. New Zealander Michael Long made the cut but was not able to go on with it finishing 64th, but still that is two cuts in a row, a feat he has not been able to produce this season, until this week.
