Appleby's last day heroics win Masters
BY Bruce Young | Australasian PGA Tour | 2010 Australian Masters | Round Four | 14 Nov 2010
The fickleness of Melbourne’s weather – which had caused so much grief yesterday – today worked in favour of the JBWere Masters. The forecast rain did not eventuate and perfect golfing conditions prevailed at the Victoria Golf Club as two of Australia’s emerging talents looked to stave off a challenge from several players with considerably more experience.
In the end it was that experience factor that would make the difference as one of Australia’s most successful professionals, Stuart Appleby, won the Australian Masters for the very first time. It was his third victory on home soil and while he has his own national open to his name it might just be that victory on this high quality golf course in front of home fans gives him equal if not more satisfaction.
Adam Bland finished alone in second position, securing by far his biggest cheque ($153,000) in tournament golf with recent European Tour recruit Daniel Gaunt holding off Tiger Woods to claim third position on his own.
“It is just a pleasure to play here – it is a fantastic course,” said the winner soon after his round.
“Maybe one in five, one in ten chance,” he added when asked what he thought his chances of winning were prior to day’s round. “I had to try and find a way to somehow get up close enough to them (the leaders) that it might make them change the way they were playing.” I don’t whether that was the case to whether they were dealing with their own things but obviously that was the way it panned out."
Earlier in the year Appleby won his 9th PGA Tour title when he shot a final round of 59 to win the Greenbrier Classic in West Virginia. “I was trying today to think a bit about that round,” said Appleby referring to that day. “I was just trying to be that guy”
Bland took a three shot lead into day four and at one stage extended that lead to five when his nearest challenger and playing partner, Gaunt, double bogeyed the 6th. At that point Stuart Appleby was five behind and Gaunt one further back but to his credit Gaunt bounced back immediately with a birdie at the 7th and 9th to make the turn at 8 under. With Bland bogeying the 7th and 8ththe difference was just two as the final pair headed for the 10th tee.
Appleby joined Gaunt in a share of second when he birdied the 10th but was unable to make any further progress until an unlikely birdie at the par five 17th. He had produced a brilliant par save from 25 feet at the 16th but at the par five 17th his drive found the left rough after running through the bunker and he could only lay up 125 metres from the hole. From there however although he found the green he still faced another 30 footer although this time for birdie. In that went and when Bland dropped shots at the 12th and 14th and Gaunt double bogeyed the 16th, Appleby played the final hole knowing a birdie could well seal the tournament.
“The 16th was a big bonus, said Appleby referring to the bomb he made there. “I had this feeling I was going to make it. I wish I could have that feeling more often. I got a slight read off Ryan’s (Haller) putt. I knew I had to birdie the last two and if I could sneak and eagle on 18 that would be pretty good to go.”
Appleby had a chance to put paid to his chasers when he faced a twenty foot eagle putt at the final hole. It missed but only narrowly but the birdie was secured and at 10 under par Bland and Gaunt needed something special over the closing two holes if they were to force a playoff.
Neither could birdie the 17th but Bland created one last realistic opportunity when his second to the par five last finished 15 feet short of the hole. It was a slippery downhill right to left putt which for a left hander is not a lot of fun especially given what holing it would mean. He missed but the birdie saw him finish one ahead of Gaunt who would also birdie the last after he too had missed an even shorter eagle chance.
Bland had mixed emotions about his week but there was an optimistic tone to his analysis after his round. “There is a little disappointment to have led for 68 holes and fall short of where I needed to be nut overall happy. If you had told me at the start of the week that I would finish second I would have sat in the clubhouse and taken it. But it is my highest finish on this tour so if I am not happy now then I guess I am going to be unhappy for my whole life.”
“I think I did a good job out there today and stayed positive. Things did not go my way and was hitting it to 50 feet all day and just two putting and three putting. I hung tough and stuck to my game plan and I guess I have to be pretty proud of what I have done this week.”
The tournament’s drawcard Tiger Woods was brilliant in his last ditch attempt to defend the title, storming home with a final nine of 30 for a round of 65 to secure 4th position.
“It was too little too late,” said Woods after his round and while the leaders were still on the golf course. He was asked if when he eagled the 15th he still felt he had a chance. "If I could have birdied out and picked up an eagle here or there I probably still had a chance but I am so far back I still need help (from those ahead) and unfortunately that is not going to happen.
“It was fun. I finally made a couple of putts – finally got a couple to the hole. “It is amazing what happens when you get a putt to the hole it actually does go in,” he added referring to his frustration with the greens.
“I’m pleased with the progress I have made (with the swing changes) the streaks are lasting a little longer but obviously I need to do it for 72 holes. I tried all week but unfortunately just didn’t make enough putts. I struggled all week with the speed of the greens. I expected them to be quick but they are not they are slow. I switched putters today to my practice putter back home which is a little heavier and has a little more pace to it and finally got it going.”
“I’d love to come back. This has been an incredible event, great people and I think this event as a lead in to the Presidents Cup would be a good thing. I don’t know yet. I’ve got to look at (his schedule) next year but I would definitely love to come back.”
The JBWere Masters might not have attracted the same level of interest or hype as last year but make no mistake it was still a hugely successful tournament by modern day Australian standards. The crowds turned up today and Tiger rewarded those who did with his great round.
It was Stuart Appleby however who had the final say winning an event that he watched on numerous occasions as a kid growing up. This win is very important to me. "We play around the world for big money and in big tournaments for fancy ratings and yet you come home to Australia and it is for real. It has hurt me at times and perhaps helped me you know wanting to win. But you put that in the back of your mind and just go and play golf.
“The win in August and now this really wraps the year up with a nice bow compared to the first half of the year.”
