O'Hern close to another milestone at Booz Allen
IN: News | US PGA | Booz Allen Classic (2006) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 27 Jun 2006
When Nick O'Hern returns to the TPC at Avenel at 7.30 on Tuesday morning (US time), he faces a 33 foot birdie putt at his last hole which could potentially see him finish second outright at the Booz Allen Classic. More realistically if he is able to two putt the final green for par, he would be in a four way tie for second although Steve Stricker faces a bunker shot at the par three 17th which, if he is unable to get up and down, could eventually reduce that number to three.
For O'Hern either scenario would see him secure his highest finish in a USPGA Tour event, his previous best a 5th at last year's Accenture and a 6th at the 2005 Memorial and 6th last week at the US Open Championship. If he is able to hole the putt and perhaps secure second place on his own he would earn his largest cheque in the game (US$540,000), surpassing the €333,000 he earned for his runner placing at the 2004 Linde German Masters. A three way tie for second would earn US$373,000 and if four tie, it would add US$330,000 to the O'Hern earnings in 2006.
O'Hern had considered moving to Florida earlier this year but with his wife Alana's pending birth of the couple's second child, a decision was made for a move to the US to be delayed. Alana's first pregnancy had been complicated and it was considered best for her to be close to her family in Perth rather than elsewhere. O'Hern has therefore been on the road on his own but the good finishes just keep coming. He was 19th at Augusta, 6th at the US Open and now has another fine result pending tomorrow.
O'Hern has been the quiet achiever in Australian golf in recent years. With only one win on a recognised golf tour in all his years in professional golf, and that coming nearly seven years ago, he has still been accumulating dollars at a remarkable rate. He has earned more than €5 million on the European Tour, most of that in the last three years, is amongst the top ten of all time money earners on the Australasian Tour and by tomorrow will have accumulated another US$1.5 million or so in career earnings in the US.
Before all this is confirmed of course the Booz Allen Classic tournament must be completed, and although there are just six players left on the golf course, the delay has caused massive headaches for tournament organisers.
It has also been an issue for those organising the International Final Qualifying for the British Open which is being staged just down the road at the Congressional Golf Club. That was to take place over 36 holes on Monday but with the inclement weather and storms and with Steve Stricker, Brett Quigley and Daniel Chopra who are still to complete this event and who are all looking to gain a place in the Open, the qualifying has been reduced to 18 holes from its original 36. If that qualifying can't be completed by Tuesday then the twelve spots that would have been available will be awarded according to the leading twelve world ranked players who were listed in the qualifying field.
Ben Curtis was playing the par three 17th when play was called for the final time today after storms had again battered the Washington area. He was long with his tee shot and was faced with a putt of nearly 30 feet for par when the siren sounded. Curtis had a seven shot lead and is all but assured of victory. He has led the tournament from his opening 62 and will be a tired man when he finally gets to hold up his trophy at about 8.00am on Tuesday morning, provided of course everything goes according to plan with the weather tomorrow.
Padraig Harrington and Billy Andrade both have the luxury of knowing that their work is done. Andrade completed his round with a lengthy birdie putt at the last to move into a share of second at 15 under along with Harrington who finished just a few groups after Andrade. On the course at 15 under are both O'Hern and Stricker.
Playing with Curtis are Brett Quigley, who is out of the running for a top five placing, and Stricker who was still to play a bunker shot when play was halted and can yet have a significant influence on the result when play resumes tomorrow. So too perhaps can Robert Allenby, who is playing in the second to last group with O'Hern and Daniel Chopra and who is in the middle of the fairway at the last. With just 177 yards to the hole, a birdie by Allenby, who is currently one shot out of second place, would add to the confusion.
This will be the first time since 1980 that a USPGA Tour event has taken until Tuesday to finish.
Other Australasians in the field who have already packed their bags and are on their way to other venues are Grant Waite who, as a previous winner at the TPC at Avenel, continued his love affair with the layout when 13th. This is Waite's best finish on the PGA Tour since finishing 11th at the Bell South Classic in 2004 more than two years ago.
Craig Parry had a good final round of 65 to finish 26th, John Senden was 34th, Steve Elkington 39th and James McLean 69th.
If they ever get this event finished, the PGA Tour will move to Hartford and the TPC at River Highlands for this coming week's event, the Buick Championship.
Photo - Anthony Powter
