Gay cruises to St Jude win
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2009 St. Jude Classic | Round Four | 15 Jun 2009
Brian Gay won his second PGA Tour event of the season, extending his third round one shot lead to five with a final round of 66 at the St Jude Classic at the TPC Southwind in Memphis.
Gay won the Verizon Heritage in April and has been able to enjoy the walk up the 72nd hole on both occasions having won the Verizon by ten shots and this week’s event by five. Not only does the win earn the 37-year-old a substantial US$1,008,000 but it gains him a start in next week’s US Open courtesy of the two PGA Tour wins in the previous twelve months rule.
Gay led the tournament from his opening round of 64 and then adding three consecutive rounds of 66 to lead throughout. He led Bryce Molder by one heading into the final round but three early birdies all but sealed the victory.
Molder, who returned to the PGA Tour following a successful season on the Nationwide Tour in 2008, struggled to move forward on the final day although an eagle at the 16th would be enough to eventually earn him a share of second with David Toms. In doing so, Molder earned his biggest cheque in golf (US$492,000) and the one time outstanding amateur golfer is on track to regain his PGA Tour status for 2010 and perhaps even much better.
Toms was a two time winner here previously and continued his great record at TPC Southwind by powering home with a final round of 65. Toms has played well in recent weeks and now enters calculations as an outside chance at Bethpage Black.
John Senden made a big move through the field with a final round of 64 and with the cheque for US$241,000 moves his earnings for the season to US$1.186 million. He shared 4th with Paul Goydos and Robert Allenby. Senden is an alternate for next week’s US Open and given his current form will be desperate for a start on a golf course where the quality ball striking he possesses will be a huge plus.
Allenby must, along with Ogilvy, be considered the leading Australian chance next week at Bethpage Black. He played very well there in 2002 and takes some momentum into the week. Allenby struggled early in his round but fought his way back during the back nine, a pitch in for eagle at the 16th the catalyst for yet another good finish in this event. Allenby was beaten in a playoff in this event last year.
Nathan Green and Aron Price both had good weeks and finished in a share of 14th, both earning cheques for US$95,000.
Jason Day was 23rd, Marc Leishman 29th, James Nitties and Nick O’Hern 49th, Peter Lonard 59th and Jarrod Lyle and Greg Chalmers 69th.
The next stop for the PGA Tour is at Bethpage Black for this week’s US Open.
