Anderson's 60 denies Jager maiden US win
IN: News | US Mens Amateur | Players Amateur (2008) | Round Four | by Anthony Powter | 14 Jul 2008
Mark Anderson denied Australia’s Matt Jager his maiden US victory at the Players Amateur courtesy of a red hot putter that saw the American fire a blistering final round 10-under-par 60, to be 22-under-par for the tournament, five strokes ahead of Jager, who finished with a 66 to be 17-under-par and runner-up.
During the final round, Anderson needed the flat stick on just 21 occasions to collect his first major title after earlier rounds of 66-69-63. The American’s previous best major tournament finish was T3 at the 2007 South Carolina State Amateur, although Anderson went into the Players Amateur with a top-10 finish at last week’s Rice Planters championship.
Matt Jager Audio Interview
Jager’s runner-up finish is his best international result and adds to his T4 finish last week at the Sahalee Players Championship in Seattle. This is Jager’s maiden US tour and he’s quickly making a name for himself with two top-5 finishes from just four tournaments in America.
“Overall, if you asked me at the start of the week would I take a runner-up finish here at the Players, I would have said ‘for sure’,” said Jager after his round.
Jager started the final day a stroke ahead of Anderson and went out aggressively in an attempt to widen his lead, however, it was Anderson’s putting having a say early in the round.
“I played solid and he [Anderson] obviously had one of those rounds. It’s hard to make a move when a guy is holing everything straight out of the blocks. He had one of those days where everything went his way and it was impressive to watch,” remarked Jager, currently ranked 23 in the world.
Josh Younger and Matt Griffin also kept the Australian presence on the leaderboard, sharing third position at 14-under-par, eight strokes from Anderson. Younger fired rounds of 65-70-64-76, whilst Matt Griffin recorded rounds of 65-69-67-65.
Griffin continues to play well in the US having won last week at the Rice Planters and then following up with another impressive result this week at the Players.
“I’m not complaining about this week. I missed a few putts today, but my ball striking is still there and my game just getting stronger with each tournament. I’m really looking forward to the rest of the tour.”
Jason Scrivener was another Australian to have a fine tournament at the Players with a top-10 finish in T8 position at 9-under-par after an impressive final round 65.
The majority of the Australian contingent will move to the Southern Amateur starting Wednesday at Lake Nona Golf Club in Orlando, Florida.
Jager remains optimistic he’ll secure a US victory despite the events of today.
“The last couple of weeks have been really good as I’ve found a bit of form,” remarked Jager.
“This week’s 17-under-par for the tournament beats my previous best total of 8-under by nine shots, so I can take a lot of positives out of this week and hopefully put myself into a similar position again.”
Matt Griffin is another feeling confident moving into the final leg of the US amateur circuit.
“There are a lot of Aussies starting to play well and that lifts your game,” commented Griffin.
“It great to have mates along with you also playing into contention in these tournaments and another Australian win here in America is not out of the question.”
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