Stolz turns it around at Michelin Championship
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2004 Michelin Championship at Las Vegas | Wrap | 11 Oct 2004
Last week Andre Stolz was considering coming back to Australia from the US early. He was frustrated with his progress, or rather lack of it, in 2004 and with little likelihood of a start at next week’s event in Greensboro (he was 8th alternate before today’s win) he was not interested in trying to Monday qualify. With a disappointing rookie USPGA Tour season behind him, he was about at the end of his tether and the prospect of a trip home seemed enticing.
When he opened with a 67 at this week’s Michelin Championship however, it was by far his best start of the year. Not only would it be his best start but as the week panned out, it would be by far his best finish.
Many felt when Stolz joined the PGA Tour at the start of this year he would soon make an impact at the next level. He now has, but early on there was a concern that the significant form he showed in his Nationwide Tour year in 2004 was noticeably absent. It is true that it takes some players longer to find their feet on the USPGA Tour than others, but such was his form and status leading into this week, that there were no guarantees that he would have any status at all on that tour in 2005, to allow him to capitalise on the learning curve he has experienced this year.
When he followed up with a 67 again in round two, it had him in contention of sorts, but the prospect was perhaps more of a good solid week than much more. Stolz saw it differently and proceeded to make some serious inroads on the leaders with his third round 66. That saw him head into day four of the event just one back of leader, Tom Lehman, and with the prospect of a top ten at worst.
Though nine holes of today’s round he had taken a one shot lead over Dicky Pride with Lehman and Frazar lurking and Tag Ridings, playing on the other side of the course, producing his own heroics and closing fast.
The birdie train that Stolz had been on for so much of the tournament began to slow and as the heat went on, it was pars that became important. His great up and down to save par from behind the green at the 12th was a significant moment. He failed to capitalise on definite birdie opportunities at the reachable par five 13th and the short par four 15th, but after yet another great drive at the 16th, he left himself just 165 yards for his second on the 560 yard hole. The adrenalin which obviously impacted the drive may have got the better of him and he was through the green with his second, although missing long here was not exactly a cardinal sin. He putted from off the green to 8 feet and holed it for the birdie that would give him the all important cushion.
When Lehman missed a tiddler at the 17th, Stolz knew a par would mean that his nearest rival still on the course, Dicky Pride, would need to birdie to tie provided that he himself could par. Pride missed the fairway, but Stolz did not, and when he found the green from the fairway, he had two putts to win, irrespective of what anyone else could do to him. He putted down to four feet and while it may well have been the longest four foot putt he has ever faced, he knocked it in with all the confidence in the world to take the title, the US$72,000 plus two years exemption.
This has been a life altering week for Stolz and it may just be with the insecurity of a lack of status on the PGA Tour now well and truly behind him, that the PGA Tour career that was promised, will now be realised.
Lehman birdied the last to join Ridings and Harrison Frazar in second place one back of the winner, with Swede Carl Pettersson and Dicky Pride, one further back. Ridings last round of 61, while playing in the obscurity of a tenth tee start on day four, equals Davis Love’s course record at the TPC at Summerlin.
Of the other Australasians, Greg Chalmers’ last round 71 saw him slip well back from his challenging third round position on a day that should have been better. It is, after all, his birthday tomorrow and what greater present than for him to have gained full exemption. It was not to be and his eventual 15th place finish will see him earn another US$50,000 or so but, with a good day today, he could have saved himself the pressure of another agonising three weeks trying to get inside the top 125. He will move inside the top 150 however which avoids stage two tour school and guarantees him some status next year, but a greater jump was hoped for.
Defending champion Stuart Appleby was 23rd, Geoff Ogilvy 37th, Steve Allan and Robert Allenby 45th and Craig Perks 52nd.
On a final note, spare a thought for the second round leader at this event and recently turned professional, Chez Reavie. His weekend rounds of 75 and 85 saw him limp home in last place of those that made the weekend.
As Stolz and Reavie showed in their contrasting ways, Golf’s like that. It’s a box of chocolates; you never know just quite what you are going to get.
