Matteson wins Frys.com playoff
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2009 Frys.com Open | Round Four | 26 Oct 2009
Troy Matteson deserved his win at this week’s Frys.com Open.
Two consecutive rounds of 61 on days two and three set him up for the victory but there are no favours on the PGA Tour irrespective of the brilliance of your play.
Today, two former outstanding amateurs Rickie Fowler and Jamie Lovemark, made Matteson work to the very end to secure his second win in this particular event, although interestingly the first one came at a different venue, the TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas.
While Fowler and Lovemark were there to pounce when they needed to be it was more a case of Matteson opening up the door for them with two late bogeys but Fowler will be rueing his own costly final bogey perhaps even more.
A victory would have given Fowler status on the PGA Tour for two years but as it stands this finish should see him through to a place at the Final Stage of Q School whereas a week ago he was facing the harrowing task of all three stages.
Fowler, who was playing in just his fifth event as a professional, put together an almost unbelievable start. Six behind Matteson beginning the final day Fowler was five under through the first five holes including a brilliant hole in one at the 5th, the fourth of the week in this event.
Lovemark is another new recruit to the professional ranks and like Fowler the joint runner up finish will make a huge difference as he moves forward.
Matteson secured the title when he birdied the second extra hole after his second with a 6 iron finished only three feet from the hole.
Nick O’Hern finished as the leading Australian in 13th position after a good start to the week and has his 2010 Tour card in safe well and truly keeping now. Nathan Green was 33rd, Steve Elkington was 39th, Matt Jones 50th, Stuart Appleby 55th, Greg Chalmers 55th, Peter Lonard 71st and Aron Price 77th.
The PGA Tour will now play the Viking Classic.
