Durant breaks winning drought at Funai Classic
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2006 Funai Classic | Wrap | 23 Oct 2006
Joe Durant broke a five year drought today when he edged clear of a tight battle for the lead to win the Funai Classic at Disney World by four shots over Frank Licklitter and Troy Matttesson.
For Durant, whose last win came at the Genuity Championship at Doral in 2001, this was the continuation of some very good form in recent weeks including a runner up finish at the Southern Farm Bureau Classic and a 6th place at the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro.
There has not been a lot to get excited about in the years that have followed that breakthrough season in 2001 when he won twice and was runner up on another occasion but today the 42-year-old was particularly impressive through the middle of the round when the pressure was applied.
Durant’s great driving skills kept creating opportunities and with four birdies in seven holes after making the turn, there was no-one able to keep up with him.
Licklitter had set the benchmark early in the day when his final round of 62 moved him to 21 under but on a golf course where low scoring is the norm rather than the exception it appeared that score would struggle to stand up. Perhaps surprisingly it almost did and it was only the strong late burst by Durant that prevented Licklitter from what could have seemed an improbable victory at the commencement of play today.
Matteson did his best to stay with Durant however was unable to do so but backing up so soon after his great win last week in Las Vegas is a reflection on just how good he might become now that he has found his feet on the PGA Tour.
Justin Rose who again started the tournament brilliantly with his opening round of 60 will have mixed emotions about his fourth place finish. It was yet further evidence that his time will come but that he has let slip a few opportunities in recent months will bother him until he eventually gets that first win under his belt.
Vijay Singh’s last round of 64 quietly moved him into a share of fifth with Davis Love III, Nick Watney and Marco Dawson.
The best of the Australians were Stuart Appleby and John Senden who both finished 30th, Stephen Leaney was 36th, Robert Allenby 43rd and Nathan Green 51st.
The PGA Tour heads across Florida to Tampa for this week’s Chrysler Championship.
