Weekley does it again at Verizon
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2008 Verizon Heritage | Round Four | 21 Apr 2008
Boo Weekley provided further evidence of the “horses for courses” theory when he won his second career PGA Tour title at the same venue as his first, twelve months earlier. Weekley today won the Verizon Classic event at Hilton Head by a comfortable three shot margin over another previous winner, Aaron Baddeley, and Anthony Kim after having defeated Ernie Els by one shot in 2007.
Weekley continues to establish credibility and confidence on the PGA Tour but so too does he further develop a cult following, his every move today met with the unusual acknowledgement of “boos” as the crowd warmed to the 34-year-old Floridian.
Leading by three over Anthony Kim as the event entered the final day, Weekley bogeyed two of the last three holes but it mattered little as he had established so much of a lead after consecutive birdies at the 14th and 15th that he could make mistakes and still win.
Weekley is in his third season on the PGA Tour having first gained his card in 2002. He struggled in his first year but after regaining his status via the Nationwide Tour in 2006 he has not looked back. Weekley had played well for much of this year including a good debut at Augusta last week when he finished 20th despite a final round 77, an impressive start to what might well be many more opportunities at Augusta National.
Aaron Baddeley recorded his first stroke-play top ten in 2008 when he produced two late birdies to move into a share of second with Anthony Kim. As Weekley had done in 2007, Baddeley made this event his first USPGA Tour victory in 2006 and again he has shown a capacity to handle the subtleties of the great Pete Dye designed layout.
At one stage Kim appeared as if he might place late pressure on Weekley but a bogey at the 16th put paid to any such hopes. The runner up finish on such a quality golf course is further evidence of how much potential Kim possesses. A member of the victorious 2005 Walker Cup team, Kim gained his PGA Tour card via all three stages of the Q School in 2006 and with a third placed finish at the Bob Hope earlier in the season and now this big cheque this week he is already secure for 2009. His goals are no doubt much higher than just retaining security on this tour and it might be that he wins his first event before long.
Jim Furyk failed to capitalise on a fast start to the day when he birdied three of the first five holes but he recorded yet another good finish in this event when 4th.
The next best of the Australians after Baddeley was Robert Allenby whose final round was somewhat of a roller coaster. An eagle, three birdies, three bogies and a double bogey added up to a round of 71 but he spent a lot of money at the last with his double bogey eventually finishing 14th.
Mathew Goggin was 17th, John Senden 23rd, Tim Wilkinson 29th, Nathan Green 41st, Peter Lonard 57th, Nick Flanagan 70th and Matt Jones 73rd.
The PGA Tour now moves back west to Dallas for this week’s EDS Byron Nelson Championship.
