Jonathan Byrd breaks log jam to win BC Open

BY iseekgolf.com | US PGA Tour | 2004 BC Open | Wrap | 19 Jul 2004

In what must rank as one of the tightest finishes in PGA Tour history, Jonathan Byrd has broken the log jam of players at the BC Open in Endicott New York, to win his second USPGA Tour event.

With nine holes to go there were still eighteen players within four shots of the lead and even at the finish of the event only four shots separated the first twelve players. Anyone of ten players could have won the tournament with just four holes to go, but in the end Byrd drew clear, although he was helped by a costly miss by Ted Purdy at the last.

Purdy had hit his second to three feet and when Byrd missed his birdie attempt from twenty feet it was down to Purdy to take the tournament into extra time. Not that anyone, perhaps with the exception of Purdy, needed it as darkness was closing in. Play had been delayed earlier in the day by inclement weather and there was not a lot of light left for an extended playoff.

For Byrd, who underwent surgery in February for hip complications, this win followed his earlier PGA Tour victory at the 2002 Buick Challenge. The 27-year-old who perhaps controversially edged out Australia’s Peter Lonard for the rookie of the year title in 2002, now appears back to where he was before surgery halted his rapid rise on the PGA Tour. It has been a rough old ride this season, making only seven of fifteen cuts but there had been signs at his last two starts at the Western Open and the John Deere Classic, that things were about to get better. Perhaps not this much better but once he got his nose in front early in the tournament he seldom looked back.

Byrd entered day four just one shot ahead of another on the comeback trail in Notah Begay and Ted Purdy, who just three months earlier had missed a chance to win at the MCI Heritage when beaten in a playoff by Stewart Cink. Also there at the top of the leaderbaord, just one back, were Robert Gamez, Tommy Tolles and last week’s runner up John Morgan.

The lead see-sawed between many and in fact at one stage late in the round, seven players had a share of the lead at eighteen under. When Byrd birdied the 15th and 16th, he edged ahead and although many had chances to catch him, it wasn’t until the last hole when Byrd hit his approach so close that a playoff looked a formality. Purdy’s putt missed the hole completely and he would settle for second. The US$324,000 second place cheque has taken Purdy’s earnings for 2004 well beyond US$1 million.

Byrd, who had been languishing with just US$219,000 for the season, gets the boost he needs with US$540,000 taking him well beyond any concerns for 2005.

Other performances of note were those of Notah Begay, who continues on the comeback trail after his injuries of two years ago and Hidemichi Tanaka whose first win in the US may now not be too far away. The prolific Japan Golf Tour winner, made twenty five of thirty cuts in 2003 and while his strike rate is not quite so good this year he is quite a talent.

Another of note in the group just behind the winner and runner up, was the brilliant 22-year-old Colombian, Camilo Villegas. Villegas turned pro recently after a collegiate career at the University of Florida that saw him rated as one of the best amateurs in the world. This was Villegas’ fourth professional event since turning pro just prior to the recent US Open and the manner in which he fought on in a tight finish augurs well for him. He is a very long hitter with the sort of appeal that will ensure he has commercial success on and off course. A bogey at the last cost him a share of third place but he looks well on track for a successful professional career.

Of the Australasians playing the event, John Senden was the best after a topsy turvey last round that saw him drop three shots in two holes at one stage, but then fight back from 27th to finish 10th. It was Senden’s second top ten of the season and just his third in more than two years on the PGA Tour. His consistency however, looks as if it will again get him back to the PGA Tour in 2005.

Steve Allan was 20th, only his third top twenty of the season, Greg Chalmers was 29th and Grant Waite 72nd.

The PGA Tour now heads to Milwaukee for the Greater Milwaukee Open.