Franco another Japan Tour product to win in US

BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2004 US Bank Championship | Wrap | 26 Jul 2004

Paraguay’s favourite son, Carlos Franco, again gave us an insight into just what an immensely talented and natural golfer he is, with his two shot win in the US Bank Championship in Milwaukee today.

Franco also highlighted an increasingly impressive form line coming out of the Japan Golf Tour, following just a week after the win by Todd Hamilton at the British Open. Like Hamilton, Franco had honed his professional playing skills in Japan winning five tournaments there between 1994 and 1998. Interestingly Franco has not been back to play in Japan since but there can be no doubt that it played a key role in his progress to a new level in the game.

Franco made the Presidents Cup team in 1998 when the event was played at Royal Melbourne and he played a role in the International Team’s comprehensive win over the Americans. After losing his two fourball matches, Franco halved his singles match against Phil Mickelson. A star had been born and that just a week or so after he had gained access to the PGA Tour in 1999, by getting one of the last places at the Tour School in 1998.

So good was he that Franco won twice in his first season in the US in New Orleans and Milwaukee and the legend was growing. Here was man from a family of nine and absolute poverty in Paraguay, winning millions of dollars (he won nearly $2 million in his first season on the US Tour) and doing so in such a simple almost carefree manner that it almost defied logic. Perhaps it was logic.

Not only was it the wins he had put together that year (1999), but in his very first attempt at Augusta that year, he was 6th which perhaps even more than his wins, identified just what Franco was all about and what his potential was.

He would win again in 2000 again in New Orleans highlighting a point that emerged from this week also, namely that he plays specific courses well.

That however would be his last win in the US until this week as he seemed to lose his way on the PGA Tour, struggling to find the form that had announced his arrival to the big time. He was not exactly doing it tough, but he struggled to convert good finishes into something better. This year however there seems to be have been a renewed vigour in Franco’s play, despite not winning, He had missed only two cuts in thirteen starts leading into this week and although he had not been converting over the weekends, there was far greater consistency about his play.

He emerged today from a pack of likely winners with nine holes to go. At that point he trailed Patrick Sheehan, who was playing in the group behind, by one but Sheehan was about to fall from contention with a horror run of four dropped shots in three holes from the 11th and Franco had a lead of two. Perry challenged briefly when he holed his second from the fairway from 170 yards at the 8th but as soon as he was there, he was gone with two bogeys early on the back nine. Fred Funk finished strongly but it was going to take a disaster by Franco for him to have a chance and that did not happen.

For Franco therefore the win would be his fourth on tour and for the Tour itself the benefit of that ’cool dude’ and charismatic figure that Franco presents. He has accumulated earnings of nearly US$7 million in those five and a half year since heading for the US from Japan.

While Franco’s outwardly laid back attitude towards hard work and practice would not be included in most coaching manuals, it is an approach that suits this naturally talented and gifted golfer.

Of the placegetters, Fred Funk again showed what he can do on courses set up to suit his game. He seems to play well on traditional, tight, tree lined course where accuracy over power is the prerequisite for success. Statistically the straightest hitter in the game, it is no wonder he has done well here on a golf course that required such.

Another good news story from the placegetters was the return to form of Billy Andrade who has struggled all this year until now. In finishing in a share of fourth he signalled the long wait may be over. This was just his fourth top ten in his last forty nine starts on the USPGA Tour.

Another in the mix for much of the week was Bo Van Pelt who only now seems to be finding a way to play the PGA Tour. Van Pelt has been back and forward to the PGA Tour on three occasions now. His recent form indicates that he is now much more at home. This is his fourth top ten in his last seven starts and it may be that his first win is not too far away.

Of the Australasians there wasn’t a lot to crow about. Steve Elkington and Greg Chalmers were the best in 47th place, with Steve Allan 57th.

The PGA Tour heads to the Buick Classic in Michigan this week with Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh the headline acts.