Austin's 62 blitzes field at St Jude
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2007 Stanford St. Jude Classic | Round Four | 11 Jun 2007
Woody Austin has recorded a scintillating final round of 62 at the Stanford St Jude Championship in Memphis and in doing so has produced a 13 shot turnaround on the third round leader, Adam Scott, to eventually win by five over Brian Davis. Scott folded over the back nine holes to finish in 7th place after a last round of 75.
Austin, who last won on the PGA Tour in 2004, has hardly been close to winning form in 2007 but he did reveal in a post-tournament interview that he had identified a couple of key swing faults at the recent Crowne Plaza event in Fort Worth and his form last week at the Memorial had been much improved.
Adam Scott took a three shot lead into the final day but for the second time in consecutive weeks an Australian has let a three shot third round lead disappear. Last week it was Rod Pampling at the Memorial but it was perhaps even more surprising that the very much in form Scott would fall from grace the way he did. Scott dropped six shots in his last six holes including a triple bogey at the par three 14th when he dunked his tee shot in the water. That was the end of his challenge as by then Austin had moved three ahead of the Australian.
Austin gave an indication of what lay ahead when he birdied the second then holed out from 65 yards for eagle at the third to move within one of Scott who was playing in the group behind.
It would, however, be the final nine holes where Austin would stake his claim to the tournament. He birdied the 10th from long range to move to 9 under and took the lead for the first time. He added another at the 12th when he holed a delicate little pitch from just off the left edge of the green and at the 14th hit a five iron to two feet for another. By now he was racing ahead but was not about to stop. A two putt birdie at the par five 16th was followed by a superb iron to the 17th and a 15 foot putt that would ensure his walk up the final fairway was going to be fun. He two putted from 40 feet at the last to win by five over England’s Brian Davis who turned his season around with the US$648,000 he secured for the runner up placing.
In third place was the course specialist David Toms, who in his last five appearances at the TPC Southwind has been twice a winner, runner up and now third. Toms did his US Open chances no harm with a very solid week.
Brian Gay made a shaky start to what would be the best week of his season but rallied late with birdies at the 15th and 16th to finish alone in 4th place. He has now assured himself status in 2008 if indeed it was ever in doubt.
Scott in 7th place was the best of the Australians, but on the eve of the US Open, where his chances had been beginning to look good, this was not a good way to complete his preparations.
Robert Allenby finished 12th in what was a reasonable week given his form over the last two months, Stephen Leaney staged a weekend rally to finish 21st, Andrew Buckle was 25th after a fast start to the week, Gavin Coles was 39th, Steve Elkington was 46th, Steve Allan 70th and Nathan Green 72nd.
