Verplank secures emotional victory

BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2007 EDS Byron Nelson Championship | Wrap | 30 Apr 2007

Scott Verplank won his first event since the 2001 Canadian Open when he survived an emotional last round journey to edge out Luke Donald and win the EDS Byron Nelson Championship in Dallas today.

Verplank, who had perhaps one of the closest relationships of the modern day players with Nelson before the great champion passed away last September, was visibly moved not only by the fact that he had won the tournament named after his friend and mentor but that he won after such a long time away from the winner’s circle.

A 43-year-old, five time winner on the USPGA Tour, Verplank’s career has been plagued by injury but he has always been considered a great talent since his US Amateur win in 1984 and his win as an amateur at the Western Open the following year. Despite that win he continued on at Oklahoma State until he completed his Business Degree in 1986 before turning professional.

Today Verplank started slowly but his round built momentum towards the latter stages of the front nine when he birdied the 6th, 7th and 8th holes and took the lead after his playing partner and third round leader, Luke Donald, double bogeyed the 9th to fall one behind at the turn.

By the time the pair reached the 18th tee there was still just one shot separating them and both hit the fairway from the tee. Donald was first to hit and, knowing he likely needed a birdie to force a playoff, hit his approach to ten feet below the hole. Verplank, from just a few yards closer, also hit a fine shot to just outside Donald’s and was first to putt. His putt was always left and he ran just over two feet by.

Donald then had his putt to create the need for a playoff but he did not learn sufficiently from Verplank and missed his left also. Verplank still had to make his which, in normal circumstances, would have been automatic but given what was at stake he was feeling the pinch. “I was so nervous over that putt,” he outlined later. In it went and the victory was his and he sank to his knees further indicating just how much the win meant to him.

“I mean, I think it’s obvious,” said Verplank when asked later about what the win meant to him. “It’s a childhood dream. I was a little kid, you know, riding out in the back seat of somebody’s car going out to watch the Byron Nelson when it was at Preston Trail back in the ’70s. You know, I walked around, I ran around, watching Tom Watson play. He used to win

that was a reason that I admired Tom, one of the reasons. Yeah, then I carried the little standard bearer deal, and gosh, met some of the old-time pros. They didn’t remember me obviously (laughter). Honestly I’m not sure if I can remember all of them now.”

“Yeah, I grew up wanting to do this. I guess it’s like a kid peeking through the wall of a baseball stadium and wanting to be on the Yankees one day. That’s what it was like for me. I was a kid wanting to do that, and I can’t believe I pulled it off.”

“I’ve never been that light-headed and nervous and shaky over a putt in my life,” added Verplank when asked about the short putt he had to make to seal the victory. “I don’t know. You know what, Ryder Cup, nothing compared to that, to me. I mean, that was a lot of fun today, but like I said – it was an out-of-body experience.”

Donald was disappointed but his week continued a great run of late.

“I will look at the positive, but right now I’m very disappointed. I came here to win today. I’ve had a couple good chances this year. It’s not much fun finishing second, to be honest. I much prefer the feeling of being the champion. You know, I’m encouraged about my game for the next couple weeks, and hopefully that will continue. Hats off to Scott though. He played very good. He was just stumbling a little down the stretch and I felt like I had a chance to catch him but he hit a great drive on 18 and a great second shot. It was a very solid par. He made me have to make birdie.”

Phil Mickelson, Rory Sabattini, Ian Poulter and Jerry Kelly all tied for third with Kelly and Sabbatini recording final rounds of 64 to move up seven places from their third round positions. Mickelson was round in 65 in what must have been an encouraging display.

“I’m looking forward to heading over to the Wachovia next week and see how things work out,” he said referring to the fact that he has been working on new things in his swing under new coach Butch Harmon.

Rod Pampling was the best of the Australians finishing in 10th place after a last round of 66. It was Pampling’s best finish of the season to date. Steve Allan was 19th, Nathan Green and Stephen Leaney 29th, John Senden and Robert Allenby 39th, with Gavin Coles and Steve Elkington 44th.

The PGA Tour now heads to Charlotte in North Carolina for this week’s Wachovia Championship.