You are viewing: October 2011

Luke Donald Season Long Money Race

The world's number one player, Luke Donald was a late entrant into the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic.  He announced his entry via Twitter proposing his goal to win the season long PGA Tour money title.  Already leading the European Tour Money list by $1.8 million over Rory McIlroy, Donald aimed to become the first player ever to win both money titles in the same calender year.

Luke's chances looked slim entering the final round five strokes off the 54-hole lead in 13th place.  At the turn, he was still two strokes behind the current money leader Webb Simpson, but Donald (in FJ ICON MyJoys) pieced together a brilliant back nine to charge up the leaderboard.  He ran in 6 straight birdies on the back nine, including a holed 45 foot putt on the par-3 15th to give himself a two stroke lead.  With pars on his last three holes, Donald finished the tournament at 17 under. He was two strokes clear of the field with several players still on the course, including the man he was trying to beat in the season long race.  Simpson, however, could not match the brilliant back nine of Donald and finished tied for 6th. 

The win gave Donald his second PGA Tour victory of the year, his 14th top ten of the year, and the season long money race on the PGA Tour.  Donald has five possible starts left on the European Tour for a chance to become the first player ever to win both money titles.

Ben Crane Wins All FJ Playoff

Ben Crane was an afterthought beginning Sunday's final round three strokes off the 54 hole lead.  Crane wearing DryJoys Tour and Pure Touch Limited, started his final round with seven straight pars before switching his game into overdrive on the par-4 eight by making his first birdie of the day.  He would follow the birdie on eight with three more birdies over the next three holes.  A bogey on number 12 only momentarily slowed Crane, as he made four more consecutive birdies from 14 through 17 to enter a tie at the top of the leaderboard with the two time 2011 winner Webb Simpson (FJ ICON #52039).

Both players would complete 72 holes at 15 under par to force the 18th playoff of the year on the PGA Tour.  Beginning the playoff both players had something to prove; Crane, to win his first tourney of 2011 and Simpson a possible PGA Tour money title.  Crane made the first move hitting his approach shot into the par-4 18th to six feet.  Simpson would respond, hitting a tricky greenside bunker shot into tap in range.  Crane's birdie putt narrowly missed the hole and both players left with a par.  Both players would find the green on the par-3 17th.  Simpson would putt first, lagging his put to three feet.  Playing more aggressively, Crane ran his putt five feet by the hole, leaving himself a tough putt for par, but poured it into the center of the cup putting the pressure on Simpson.  With a short putt to extend the Playoff Simpson would miss making Crane the 2011 McGladrey Classic winner.  

Kevin Na Wins the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open

Kevin Na shot a fearless six under par 65 to win the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.  Na wearing the new black and white asymmetrical FJ ICON started his final round tied at the top of the leaderboard with two time 2011 PGA Tour winner Nick Watney (FJ Sport), Na knew the the tournament would not be given to him. He would have to go out and take it.

Na responded to the challenge brilliantly with birdies on three of his first four holes, taking an early two stroke lead over the proven winner Watney.  However, after a Na bogey, Watney would pull even on the par three fourteenth at 20-under par. 

The bogey seemed to awaken Na as he rattled off three straight birdies (15-17) to take control of the tournament at 23-under par.  On the final hole both players exchanged pars and Na joined the ranks as a PGA Tour winner.