Watney another first time winner in New Orleans
IN: News | US PGA | Zurich Classic of New Orleans (2007) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 23 Apr 2007
Nick Watney continued the tradition of first time winners at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans when he extended a one shot third round lead to two at the completion of the event at the TPC Louisiana this morning. Watney becomes the 9th player to win his first PGA Tour event at this tournament in the last eighteen years.
Watney turned professional in 2003 after a stellar amateur career and first gained his PGA Tour card in 2005. He played well that season but not well enough to retain full playing privileges and returned to Tour School where he finished 5th. Back on the PGA Tour in 2006 he continued to improve, especially late in the season when he recorded four top tens in his last eight starts. In 2007 he looked as if he might continue on with that impressive form when he played well at the Bob Hope and the Buick Invitational but things have not gone so well in the last few weeks leading into this event.
Watney was shaky early in his round, dropping shots at the third after missing the green at the par three and at the fourth after driving it in a fairway bunker. He had at that stage fallen two behind Ken Duke who had started with two early birdies. At the fifth hole however came the shot that would make the difference and perhaps give Watney the self belief that this was his day. From 132 yards and with a pitching wedge in hand, Watney holed his approach for eagle and he had rejoined Duke in the lead.
Both players added two more birdies by the turn and as they headed for home they were tied in the lead at 14 under. Watney fell one behind when he bogeyed the 10th hole after inexplicably three putting from 8 feet but he bounced back with a birdie at the 11th to join Duke in the lead once again. Another turning point came at the 14th when Duke bogeyed and Watney birdied after his tee shot finished 9 feet away. Now Watney had a two shot lead and he was not about to let it go.
Watney played the last three holes in a very smart fashion and without any pressure from Duke he was allowed to do just that. A rock solid par at the last after laying up at the par five saw him win by three after a Duke bogey and Watney had 'arrived’ on the PGA Tour.
“I tried not to think about it too much playing the hole,” he said referring to the nerves playing the last hole with the prospect of a win close at hand. “I was trying to prepare myself thinking that Ken was going to hole that bunker shot but after he didn’t, then it kind of soaked in. The first three shots were
I realised that I won (smiling), and it was a lot of fun. I mean, I’ve seen it happen on TV and stuff. I’ve played in close to the last group sometimes, and I’ve seen guys go through it. But it’s definitely more fun to actually do it. I’m trying to soak it all in. I’m having a blast and just very happy.”
Duke was brilliant on the Nationwide Tour last year ending the season as the leading money winner and although he has not started the season well in 2007 he did find form last week at Harbour Town when 10th.
“Yeah, I’ve been working hard, and at this time of year I played really well last year, and I feel like I’ve got a lot of good vibes going. My caddie and I are working hard, and we’re on the same page, and that makes a big difference,” said Duke later.
“I knew it was, but he’s (Watney) never won, either, so he must have felt a little pressure, as well,” said Duke referring to the closing stages of the round.
“I think he hit it 100 past me on that next hole, 15. I knew 16 was a hole that he could make birdie, but I knew he wasn’t going to go at the pin. 17 was hard again. I knew if I could get it to one coming to 18 I thought I had a chance, but he had two on me, and he played smart, and that’s what you’ve got to do.”
Rookie Anthony Kim has big wraps on him and today he again displayed why when he rattled off a last round of 65 to share third place with yet another rookie in John Mallinger who closed with 67.
The best of the Australians was Michael Sim, who appears fully recovered from the back injury that has plagued him in recent months. The former world number one amateur finished 18th, Matthew Goggin, Steve Elkington and Jarrod Lyle were 28th, Peter Lonard was 38th, Steve Allan and Nathan Green 56th and Mark Hensby 66th.
The PGA Tour heads to Dallas for this week’s EDS Byron Nelson Championship.
