Goydos and Fujikawa star at Sony Open
IN: News | US PGA | Sony Open in Hawaii (2007) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 15 Jan 2007
Paul Goydos has today won his second event on the USPGA Golf Tour, nearly eleven years after his first. For the 42-year-old, who has now finished runner up and first in his last two USPGA Tour events, it must all seem like a pipedream as he has turned around a situation which two months ago seemed to indicate he might be looking for another job.
"What else could I do," Goydos told the Golf Channel soon after his victory at the Sony Open in Hawaii was confirmed, when contemplating the rollercoaster ride that is professional golf and the possibility that he might be forced to get a real job. In late October 2006 and with the Chrysler Championship as his last chance, Goydos was facing the prospect of a return to Tour School, having accumulated only US$430,000 to that point and unlikely to make the top 125. He needed somehow to finish inside the top four if he was to avoid Tour School and he did just that. His runner up finish to K.J. Choi saw him head to an off season break with the knowledge that his PGA Tour status was assured in 2007.
Returning to Hawaii, Goydos opened with a very impressive 66 but when he added a 63 in round two he had joined the first round leader Luke Donald. Charles Howell moved ahead when he produced a strong finish to the third round, picking up four birdies in his last six holes to take a one shot lead into round four.
Howell appeared to have the tournament in reasonably safe keeping when he extended his lead to two over Luke Donald by the turn. At that stage he was four ahead of the Goydos who, after two early bogeys, had resigned himself to hanging in there to do the best he could.
Goydos was, howeve,r about to put together a finish that would sweep him to victory over a faltering Howell. Consecutive bogeys at the 12th and 13th by Howell opened up a chance for both Goydos and Donald but it was Goydos who was about to take full advantage. Goydos holed a putt from 30 feet at the 15th, then from 16 feet from just off the edge of the green at the 16th to move to 14 under and one ahead of Howell. At the par three 17th Goydos missed the green right after a very ordinary tee shot and then missed from 14 feet when trying to save par. He was then at 13 under and tied in the lead with Howell.
Goydos hit a fairway wood from the tee at the reachable par five last and then finished just short of the green in two. His chip to a front flag position hit the flag stick and stopped two feet from the hole. The resultant birdie saw him move back to 14 under and he again shared the lead. Howell had made a great 12 foot putt for par at the 15th but could not birdie either the 16th or 17th. Howell stood on the last tee needing a birdie to tie and Donald, who was playing with him, needed an eagle to join a possible playoff.
Both were short of the green in two although both faced delicate chips if they were to have any chance. Donald hit the flag and stayed out while Howell, who had the more straight forward chip, was long and finished 15 feet behind the hole. Howell was unable to make it and so the title went to Goydos.
Donald and Howell tied for second one shot behind but there was a gap of four shots back to Douglas La Belle, K.J Choi, Steve Stricker, and Jim Furyk.
Robert Allenby and Geoff Ogilvy were the best of the fifteen Australians who teed it up on Thursday. Ogilvy, who made the cut for the first time in five attempts at this event, enjoyed a brilliant last round of 64 despite an early double bogey. He shared 8th place with Allenby whose weekend was not as a good as his opening 36 holes but who still had a solid week.
John Senden was 20th, Andrew Buckle made a very good USPGA Tour debut when 28th, Nathan Green was 42nd, Jarrod Lyle made the cut in his first PGA Tour event and was 54th, Rod Pampling was 58th, and Gavin Coles 63rd.
After the hype of the opening two days and Michelle Wie's appearance, the focus of attention switched to a young man destined to become a cult figure of sorts, especially with Hawaiian fans. Tadd Fujikawa was born three months premature and at just 5 foot 1 inch he won the hearts of every fan. That he led the Greens in Regulation stats for much of the week and was more than adequate in terms of his length from the tee bodes well for the 16-year-old's future. He was a breath of fresh air at a time when most are calling for a reassessment of Michelle Wie's determination to play USPGA Tour events.
