Justin Thomas – Photo Getty Images Sam Greenwood
It was a frustrating final day for Queensland’s Cameron Smith at the Players Championship but he finished as the leading Australian in 17th position after a final round of 72.
Smith produced a round of five bogeys and five birdies although after two early bogeys it was perhaps a solid recovery and having a best of 56th in his previous starts in the event, the performance reflects the continuing advance of Smith towards the elite of the game.
A bogey at the last today followed birdies at the 16th and 17th, in fact he would birdie the dangerous 17th on three occasions during the week, but, overall, after working himself to the edge of contention during the weekend it was a result below his now considerable expectations.
With The Masters now fast approaching and Smith no doubt buoyed by his extraordinary showing in the 2020 event a few months ago when runner-up to Dustin Johnson, there is a lot to like about the 27 year old’s chances of another strong performance in a major.
Smith finished 7 shots behind the winner, Justin Thomas whose remarkable weekend rounds of 64 and 68 swept him from just inside the cutline to victory after birdies at the 16th and 18th on Friday evening saw him survive the cut.
Thomas struggled through the opening nine today but a birdie at the 10th followed by a 20 foot eagle putt at the 11th had him in a share of the lead with 54 hole leader Lee Westwood and he would go ahead with a two putt birdie at the 16th and held on to win by one.
Westwood was not at his best today but fought doggedly making a fine par save at the 16th before a three putt bogey at the 17th. He then holed a fifteen foot birdie putt at the last to edge clear of Bryson De Chambeau and Brian Harman who tied for 3rd.
“It means a lot, obviously,” said Thomas when asked of the significance of the victory to him.
“It’s a huge championship, very special. It’s a tournament I’ve wanted to win, a tournament that I truly did feel like I was going to win at some point, and hopefully multiple times.
“I love the golf course. It was in incredible shape this week. The greens were so good. The fairways were perfect. Rough was long. Just a great test of golf. I mean, that’s why it’s a PLAYERS Championship.”
“It’s been a crappy couple months. I’ve had stuff happen in my life I never thought I’d have happen, and I mean, losing grandpa was terrible, and having to play a round of golf dealing with that, and then on top of that not playing well, it just was a lot, and it took a lot on me mentally.
“At the same time, that’s just the way that it was. I had to figure it out and had to get over it, and if I wanted to come to these tournaments and have a chance to win, then I needed to suck it up and get over it. If I wanted to throw a pity party for myself or feel sorry for myself, there’s no reason to show up, and I can stay home until I feel like I’m ready.
“I felt like I was in a good enough head space where I could play. I just wasn’t playing well. And then once I wasn’t playing well, it was kind of snowballing.
“This week was huge to win a big championship like this in front of fans again, which is incredible. You know, it tested me mentally, physically, emotionally, and I’m very proud of myself for getting it done.”
Thomas reached some low points during the personal and on course issues he was facing and spoke of the manner in which he dealt with it.
“I talked to people. I’ve reached out to people. I mean, it’s not — I mean, I’m not embarrassed to say that I reached out to talk to people to kind of let my feelings out and just discuss stuff with them.
“I think it’s something, especially at our level, a lot of people probably think that they’re bigger and better than that, but some of the thoughts and things I was feeling, it wasn’t fair to myself, and I needed to do something, and my girlfriend Jill was very helpful with that and staying on me to make sure I was taking care of myself, like I would want to do for anyone else in my family.
“Yeah, just like I do in my golf, if things are going on in life, I need to work on it to try to get it better.”
Thomas moved up one place in the world ranking to 2nd behind Dustin Johnson.
Westwood finished runner-up for the second occasion having finished behind Bryson De Chambeau last week in Orlando.
“Obviously, when you’re in contention, you’d like to win every tournament you’re playing in, but I didn’t quite have my game today,” said Westwood.
“I don’t know what it was. Maybe I just haven’t played a lot of golf. I hate to say it, age is catching up with me. Yesterday I felt like my legs were just starting to get a bit tired and weak, and today I just didn’t feel like I had my legs under me. I was hitting shots I don’t normally hit. The ones right off 2, 4, and 11 were poor shots. Couldn’t quite find the strike.
“Slightly disappointed that I didn’t win, but you can’t be too wanting after a second place finish in the PLAYERS Championship. It’s something positive to take into next week to the Honda Championship, the Honda Classic.
“I’ve got a fun couple of days coming up. I’m going to play Augusta with my son Sam. Tomorrow’s going to be a good Monday.”
After Smith, Cameron Percy closed out his first Players Championship appearance with a 68 to be the next best of the Australians in 29th place, Jason Day was 35th, Adam Scott 48th and Matt Jones 55th.
The PGA Tour now moves south to Palm Beach Gardens for the Honda Classic.
Michael Sim takes Two Shot NSW Open Lead
Michael Sim – photo Golf NSW
Queensland based Western Australian, Michael Sim, has a two-shot lead at the halfway mark of the Golf Challenge NSW Open at the Concord Golf Club in Sydney, the 36 year old Scottish born golfer producing bogey free rounds of 66 and 63 (today) to lead by two over Sydney’s Daniel Williamson.
Sim, a four-time winner on the Web.Com Tour in the US and a runner-up in an event during his time on the PGA Tour, has become a regular contender in events on the PGA Tour of Australasia including wins at the 2017 Queensland Open and the 2020 Queensland PGA Championship.
“I had it going early, five-under through eight,” said Sim. “I was saying to the boys after the practice round that I like the golf course. I like playing tree-lined golf. It’s just been two great days, without a bogey. I don’t think I’ve ever done that before,” he said.
The tournament carries a first prize of $72,000 and will move Sim inside the top six of the 2010 / 20121 Australasian Tour Order of Merit to be finalised at the completion of this week’s event should he go on to win the event.
“I’ve been in this position before. I know what to expect, it’s nothing new to me,” added Sim. “I’ve played tournament golf for 20 years now so I know what the feelings are going to be like. Once you get past the first couple of holes you settle into the round and hopefully, there’ll be a few more birdies.”
26 year old Williamson’s round was highlighted at his 10th hole (the first of the Concord layout) when he eagled the driveable par four 1st hole and he holds second place alone ahead of Picton (NSW’s) Justin Warren and recent winner Andrew Martin from Victoria.
Order of Merit leader Brad Kennedy took a share of the lead during his morning round before two late bogeys and he is now six shots off the lead in 12th place.
Scores
Brad Kennedy Crowned Order of Merit Winner
Brad Kennedy – The NZ Open Champion – a clear winner of the Australasian Tour Order of Merit – Image – Photo Sport
This week’s Golf Challenge NSW Open at the Concord Golf Club in Sydney will bring to a close the PGA Tour of Australasia’s Order of Merit for the extended 2020 / 2021 season and while the current leader, Brad Kennedy, has the top spot already wrapped up, at the other end of the list there remains a lot at stake.
The top 50 at the completion of this week’s event retain full status on the PGA Tour, the following ten eligible for a lesser status and those beyond that, unless covered by other categories, subject to the possibility of having to re-qualify to play the Australasian Tour.
Kennedy leads by just under $40,000 over Min Woo Lee with another $85,0000 back to the third placed Ryan Fox.
With a maximum of $72,000 up for grabs this week and both Lee and Fox not in this week’s field then Kennedy will be officially crowned the Order of Merit Champion on Sunday evening.
Kennedy’s lead comes courtesy of his victory over Lucas Herbert at last year’s New Zealand Open and his recent win over rookie Elvis Smylie at the TPS Victoria event on the Mornington Peninsula.
Both Lee and Fox gained the bulk of their money as a result of their 1st and 2nd places at the Vic Open 13 months ago and while in a normal season their standing on the Order of Merit would not hold up because of the limited number of events they have played, this season’s disrupted nature means they will finish 2nd and 3rd.
For those nearer the cut off mark of the top 50, however, this week remains an important week in terms of their prospects of playing a full schedule next season whenever that might happen.
Current standing
Three Australians Tackle WGC Dell Match Play
Jason Day a two time winner of the event – is this his chance to regain form? – photo Nike
The second WGC event of 2021 is played this week with the staging of the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play Championship at the Austin Country Club in Austin in Texas.
The event is being played in Austin for the 5th occasion after a move from Harding Park in San Francisco and, earlier, its longer-term home in Tucson, Arizona.
The field consists of the leading available 64 world ranked players and in 2021 the list goes down to the current 71st ranked player, Dylan Frittelli. Australia’s Lucas Herbert is the unlucky man to just miss the field, Herbert one place outside Frittelli in terms of his world ranking.
And so Australia will be represented by just three players this week with the one player eligible but not playing, Adam Scott, choosing other options to prepare for Augusta National in 16 days time.
Two time winner of the event, Jason Day, Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman will fly the Australian flag as they chase a fifth title for their country with both Day (twice) and Geoff Ogilvy (twice) having won the title over its 21 year history.
Day won in 2014 and 2016 and while it has been more than three years since he won an event of any sort on the PGA Tour, his penchant for head to head match play might carry him a long way this week.
Day also finished 3rd in 2013, losing out in the semi final that year to Matt Kuchar before claiming third place in the consolation against Ian Poulter.
Day has recorded just two top ten finishes in his last 15 starts with a best of 7th on two occasions so he is below his best but the chance to play this format will no doubt be one he is looking forward to resurrect the sort of form we know he is capable of.
Cameron Smith will play the event for the 3rd occasion having finished an impressive 5th on debut in 2018 and lost in the first round in 2019. Smith lost to Alex Noren in the quarter finals in 2018 and in 2019 lost all three round robin matches and did not advance to the quarter final.
Smith is playing some very impressive golf of late and as a former Australian Amateur champion, his match play prowess is unquestioned.
Cameron Smith – 5th on debut in the event two years ago and playing well.
Marc Leishman began the season well enough in Hawaii but his form since has been well short of his best.
In six appearances in this event Leishman has made it to the round of 16 on two occasions but has not advanced past that point.
The field contains all of the current top ten in the world ranking, most considering this to be their final warm up for Augusta National.
World number one Dustin Johnson’s performance will be of much interest given he won the event four years ago (it was not played last year) and that he will be defending his Masters title in two weeks.
Matt Jones Completes Emphatic Honda Classic Victory
Jones enjoying the moment- photo Jared Tilton Getty Images.
It started with his brilliant best-ever PGA Tour round of 61 on Friday at the Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens in Florida and finished today with an impressive front running round of 68 on one of the most demanding of layouts on which to lead a tournament.
40-year-old Australian Matt Jones did just that to win his second PGA Tour title by five shots nearly seven years after his first, add US$1.26 million to his PGA Tour earnings and take them to US$15 million, earn an invite to this year’s Masters, move to 49th in the world ranking and to 11th in the FedEx Cup table.
To say the least it has been a milestone week for the two-time Australian Open champion and highlights a game that is perhaps even better than his record to date shows.
Jones’ three shot 54 hole lead was reduced to just one when Aaron Wise made a fast start and turned in 32 to be just one behind but disaster would strike Wise when, looking for his second PGA Tour title, he four putted the 10th to fall four behind.
Although Jones would three-putt on two occasions on the inward nine such was his margin that he was able to enjoy a five shot lead over Brandon Hagy playing the last.
Jones was not about to make any mistakes, plotting his way conservatively up the par five last, two putting from 40 feet for par and the five-shot victory over Hagy.
Hagy, a late inclusion in the tournament, had begun his final round seven off the lead but the combination of his own brilliant best of the day 66 and the demise of several of those ahead of him starting the day saw him move into second place.
Jones was understandably emotional after his win especially given the quality of his ball striking suggesting it was his best-ever week in that regard.
“I said that to Lance (caddie) walking up 18,” said Jones. “That’s the best I’ve hit it from tee to green for, ever. And to be able to do it on this golf course is amazing. I mean, you have to do it out here to have a chance and I did it.
“I probably had a goal this week to walk a little slower and just relax. I’m normally an up-pace up-tempo person, play golf quickly, so I tried to stay calm and stay relaxed out there, and I know you have to be when you play this golf course, so I actually probably set that as a little goal this week and it worked out.
“It’s not easy to win out here. I’ve had a couple of chances, but they’re few and far between unless you’re the top guys, which they’re there regularly. But for me to close it out today on this golf course is amazing and it’s something that I can always look back on.
“I mean, golf, it’s a very tough sport we play out here. It’s very cut-throat. We’re working to keep our jobs every year and you have to perform well to be able to do that. So it’s probably been seven years since I won, but I’ve had some lean years in there, and to get back to the winner’s circle and to win this golf tournament was pretty emotional for me.”
One of the rewards for this win is a start at the Masters in two week’s time and Jones is aware of the fact that this time he will have a greater opportunity to prepare for the iconic event.
In 2014 he won the week before in Houston to qualify for the Masters so only had three days to prepare for his debut and one of those was washed out but this time he has time to get things in order. His standard right to left game should stand him in good stead for a solid week at Augusta National which typically favours that shot shape.
“It’s going to be nice,” added Jones. “I can go prep for the Masters this time. Last time it was an absolute blur. I can’t remember a thing about it, so I’m going to do some prep this time before.
Adam Scott continued his build up to Augusta National with an encouraging week. The former winner of this event finished with a final round of 68 to share 13th place in the event, his two birdie and no bogey round, a solid preparation for the Masters which is now just over two weeks away.
Cameron Davis tied for 33rd after a final round which included six bogeys and three birdies and Lucas Herbert was 46th.
Herbert remains as first alternate for next week’s WGC Dell Match Play Championship in Texas but he also has an invite to the PGA Tour’s alternate event in the Dominican Republic so he has a possible two options this coming week.
SCORES
Harrison Endycott’s best Korn Ferry Tour finish
Harrison Endycott – file photo Bruce Young
Sydney’s Harrison Endycott has recorded his best-ever finish on the Korn Ferry Tour with a 5th place finish at the Chitimacha Louisiana Open in Broussard, Louisiana.
Endycott who is into his 4th full year as a professional after a stellar amateur career which included membership of the 2016 Eisenhower Trophy winning team and a win at the Prestigious Porter Cup in the US, recorded a final round 65 to finish alone in 5th place.
Three birdies in his last four holes at the Le Triomphe Golf and Country Club elevated Endycott to his best finish in his second season on the Korn Ferry Tour after two years playing the South American Tour.
Currently ranked outside the top 1000 in the world, this result is a boost of confidence for the 24 year old and although he remains well down the rankings on the Korn Ferry Tour it is clearly a move in the right direction.
Endycott has finished runner-up on three occasions in his professional career, one of those at the 2018 Vic Open, another at the 2019 Queensland PGA Championship and the other at an event on the South American Tour in 2018 but this represents a very important and timely result for him.
Aaron Baddeley was 23rd, while New Zealander Nick Voke, and Endycott’s fellow Australians, Curtis Luck and Jamie Arnold all made the cut but finished well back.
Matt Jones Regains Honda Classic Lead
It was not all plain sailing for Jones today but he scrambled well to lead by three – Getty Images Jared Tilton
Australian Matt Jones has regained the three shot lead he held after round one of the Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens in Florida, reversing a six shot deficit he once faced during today’s third round into a three shot advantage as the event enters tomorrow’s final day.
Jones trailed leader Aaron Wise by three shots as he began his third round and when Wise birdied two of his first four holes the gap was six after Jones had opened with a birdie but then bogeyed the 4th and six holes.
Wise appeared to be in full control but the Champion Course layout at Palm Beach Gardens has dangers around every corner and he would fall victim at the 6th which he double bogeyed before a dropping a shot at the 7th.
Further bogeys followed at the 10th 15th, 17th and 18th, the last coming when losing a ball in a penalty area and with Jones being one of the very few amongst the leading dozen or so 36 hole scores to finish under par, his round of 69 saw him lead by three as he had 48 hours earlier.
Wise would eventually finish with 75 and find himself tied for second place with J.B. Holmes whose round of 67 saw him jump 12 positions to be just three behind the lead ahead of tomorrow’s final round.
Another shot back and tied for 4th is Taiwan’s C.T Pan who reeled off a stunning round of 65 in the demanding conditions to jump 38 places and share that position with Cameron Tringale and Sam Ryder.
Jones has won just once on the PGA Tour, that coming at the 2014 Houston Open the week before the Masters, earning him his first start and only start to date at Augusta National.
A win tomorrow would provide him the chance to play the Masters again and along with the US$1,260,000 and a rise in the world rankings to around 50th, then tomorrow is a potentially big day for Matt Jones.
Jones, though, is not getting too far ahead of himself.
“I’ve got a long way to go. A lot of holes out here that can get you, but if I keep managing my game, hopefully I’ll have a chance coming down the last nine.”
Jones was delighted how he had managed his game through the difficult finishing stretch known as the Bear Trap at Palm Beach Gardens.
“I plodded my way around those holes. They’re not birdie holes at all. They’re just don’t make the biggest mistake holes, and I managed to play them even par, which is great. And then played the front nine, made a couple of bogeys, but then made a couple of birdies coming down the stretch on the back nine.”
When asked what memories he will draw on the get through tomorrow Jones added: “I’ll draw on the fact I’ve won a couple of Australian Opens in between, so I can draw on those,” referring to the fact that it has been seven years since his first and only win to date on the PGA Tour.
“I mean, playing with those top players in the final group down there was always something I can draw on. And playing out here it’s just a tough golf course. I mean, you have to go hit the ball well in the wind and coming from Australia we grew up in a lot of wind I’ve got 36 years experience playing in those sort of conditions.
Cameron Davis is tied for 18th at 3 under par after his round of 70 today, Adam Scott is 27th and Lucas Herbert 34th.
Scores
Matt Jones stays in touch at Honda Classic
Matt Jones during today’s second round – photo Getty Images Jared Tilton
Matt Jones has kept in touch with the lead at the Honda Classic after the first-round leader was round in 70 today to be tied in second place and three shots from the lead set by Aaron Wise.
Jones played in the afternoon half of the field on day two and with four bogeys in his first eight holes it appeared the brilliance of Thursday might have been quickly wearing off but an eagle at his 9th hole had him back on track and a birdie at his 12th was followed by a brilliant approach to his last hole for one final birdie and his even par round.
It had been a roller coaster of five bogeys, three birdies and an eagle but the 40 year old US based Sydney-sider was happy with his standing as the event heads to the weekend.
“It’s always tough to follow up a really good round,” said Jones in his post round media conference.
“I hit it well, warmed up well, and my goal was just to give myself as many chances at birdie as I could. I had plenty. I had a few out there today that I didn’t make, but I had a good day and I’m happy where I am.
“The wind was a little different. There was a little more — we started off yesterday with not as much wind when we teed off. Today we had a constant wind, but it was still very playable. You saw some great scores out there today.
“So I’m sure it’s going to show its teeth the next couple days when it firms up and they let the greens go a little bit more and you’ll really have to be able to control your ball good this weekend.”
Jones is tied for 2nd place with Brandon Hagy although Aaron Wise was able to edge clear of the field with his second consecutive round of 64 to be three clear.
Wise’s only victory to date on the PGA Tour came nearly three years ago when he won the AT&T Byron Nelson event in Dallas but he has been runner-up on two other occasions. His most recent form has been well below his best but he is delighted in the manner he has played thus far this week.
“It’s two great rounds of golf and I love that and I love that I’m playing good, but this place can get to you pretty quick and there’s a lot of golf left ahead and a lot of trouble out there.
“So you’re just still going to have to play smart golf, and like I said, the weather, the wind completely switches, it gets a lot colder, so it’s going to play really different this weekend.”
Adam Scott birdied his final two holes to be the next best placed Australian after Jones, Scott round in 67 to be in a share of 16th place which, after a bogey at the first, he has reason to be satisfied.
Cameron Davis was round in 71 to be tied for 25th and Lucas Herbert made a big move early in his round before finishing with 69 to be tied for 42nd and the only other Australian to make the cut.
Herbert only narrowly missed making the field for next week’s WGC Dell Match Play, missing out by one spot in terms of his world ranking after several leading players had not entered the event.
Scores
Matt Jones’ Day Out at Honda Classic
Matt Jones birdies the 13th today – photo Getty Images Jared Tilton
Sydney’s Matt Jones has produced a stunning opening round of 61 at the Honda Classic at Plam Beach Gardens in Florida, the round so good it was three shots better than any other player on day one.
The two time Australian Open champion, who is playing the event for the 8th occasion, finished 4th on debut in 2008 although that aside there has not been a lot to get excited about. Today, however, he took advantage of a 7.36 tee time by producing four birdies in his first five holes and then finished as he started with three birdies to finish.
It was Jones’ lowest round on the PGA Tour and equaled the course record on the Jack Nicklaus designed PGA National Champion course layout.
“In my rookie year I think I finished fourth here, I think I was tied for the lead for a long time, and I thought about that while I was out there playing,” said Jones.
“Someone sent me a screenshot of that leaderboard yesterday, so it was good to see that. It’s just a difficult golf course. If you’re off a little bit you can’t get away with it around here. It was good to make birdies and get away with it.
“I don’t know why I always feel comfortable on this golf course. There’s so many uncomfortable golf holes out there. But it is a course I do like playing, and if I’m hitting it the way I am today the rest of the week, it’ll be a good week.”
Jones leads by three over Aaron Wise and Russell Henley but just two shots further back and tied for 4th is Jones’ fellow Sydneysider, Cameron Davis who played late in the day and put together an impressive round of 66.
Davis was struggling early in his round before he and his two playing partners eagled their 9th hole (the 18th). It was a feat Davis could not recall all three playing partners having done previously.
“I think that’s the first time I’ve seen that,” said the 26 year old. “That was awesome. Scott holed his putt and I was like, I got to make mine now, because I know that his was going in, because it was so close. So that was really fun. It was nice.
“I hit a couple of kind of okay shots, but I wasn’t really getting too much going until then. But I hit a really nice second shot into 18 and I feel like the feel from that shot kind of carried over a little bit onto the front nine.
“I think, like I just hit the ball probably a little bit better off the tee as well — I drove the ball pretty well all day. But I got to the point where I started getting some putts to go in and I think it was nice to get on a little bit of a roll from there on.”
Davis finished an impressive 8th in the event last year.
Cameron Percy and former winner of the event, Adam Scott, were round in 69, Percy continuing some good form of late and Scott’s three birdies and an eagle damaged by a double bogey at his 16th hole.
Lucas Herbert was one of the last out on day one and recorded a round of even par 70, an eagle at the last saving an otherwise ordinary day.
US based Lismore golfer, Rhein Gibson, gained a late start in the event courtesy of Daniel Berger’s late withdrawal and recovered from a horror opening nine of 4 over 39 to finish on that score (74)
Adam Scott timing his run to Augusta National
Adam Scott at Torrey Pines where he recorded his best finish in 2021 – photo Getty Images Donald Miralle
Former winner of the event, Adam Scott, plays the Honda Classic at the PGA National Champion Course in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida this week off the back of a series of solid if unspectacular finishes in 2021.
Scott has played six events to date this year and while he has made every cut, the only top ten came when 10th at Torrey Pines so it has been a case of close but no cigar for the 40-year-old.
With this week’s event and just two more beyond that ahead of this year’s Masters, Scott is no doubt timing his run to Augusta National in order that he will have his game peaking for the first major of the year.
At a media conference ahead of this week’s event, Scott was asked about the state of his game and had mixed thoughts on just where it stands.
“It’s not really where I want it, to be honest, but it’s always nice returning to places you’ve had success.
“This is a very demanding golf course, so it’s going to certainly test every aspect of my game, certainly. I’m not quite on top of my long game at the moment, and it’s a bit of a work in progress, but playing today it was a little bit better than it was Sunday at TPC, so hopefully it’s moving in the right direction.”
Scott may be a little unsure about his game overall but he is delighted with his short game jokingly suggesting if that was not holding up then he might be doing something else.
“My short game is fantastic at the moment. I mean, for sure the best consistently it’s ever been, which is fortunate, otherwise I’d be selling hot dogs, not playing golf if I didn’t have one.
“But I’m not really where I want to be with my long game. I can sit here and bore you with details why, but it’s just the fact is it’s just not good enough. In the big picture of things with Augusta in mind, I think if I can make some progress this week, I’ve got two weeks of practice which I really, really need to be ready for Augusta, and I still believe I can.”
Scott will be joined by fellow Australians Matt Jones, Cameron Davis, Cameron Percy and Lucas Herbert. Herbert gets a start for the first time in the event courtesy of a sponsors’ exemption ahead of a likely start at the Dell Technologies Match Play in Texas next week.
Davis is playing the event for the third occasion having finished an impressive 8th last year and Matt Jones will also have fond memories of the Palm Gardens layout having finished 4th on debut in the event 13 years ago although there has not been a lot to get excited about since.
Justin Thomas wins Players – Cameron Smith heads Australians
Justin Thomas – Photo Getty Images Sam Greenwood
It was a frustrating final day for Queensland’s Cameron Smith at the Players Championship but he finished as the leading Australian in 17th position after a final round of 72.
Smith produced a round of five bogeys and five birdies although after two early bogeys it was perhaps a solid recovery and having a best of 56th in his previous starts in the event, the performance reflects the continuing advance of Smith towards the elite of the game.
A bogey at the last today followed birdies at the 16th and 17th, in fact he would birdie the dangerous 17th on three occasions during the week, but, overall, after working himself to the edge of contention during the weekend it was a result below his now considerable expectations.
With The Masters now fast approaching and Smith no doubt buoyed by his extraordinary showing in the 2020 event a few months ago when runner-up to Dustin Johnson, there is a lot to like about the 27 year old’s chances of another strong performance in a major.
Smith finished 7 shots behind the winner, Justin Thomas whose remarkable weekend rounds of 64 and 68 swept him from just inside the cutline to victory after birdies at the 16th and 18th on Friday evening saw him survive the cut.
Thomas struggled through the opening nine today but a birdie at the 10th followed by a 20 foot eagle putt at the 11th had him in a share of the lead with 54 hole leader Lee Westwood and he would go ahead with a two putt birdie at the 16th and held on to win by one.
Westwood was not at his best today but fought doggedly making a fine par save at the 16th before a three putt bogey at the 17th. He then holed a fifteen foot birdie putt at the last to edge clear of Bryson De Chambeau and Brian Harman who tied for 3rd.
“It means a lot, obviously,” said Thomas when asked of the significance of the victory to him.
“It’s a huge championship, very special. It’s a tournament I’ve wanted to win, a tournament that I truly did feel like I was going to win at some point, and hopefully multiple times.
“I love the golf course. It was in incredible shape this week. The greens were so good. The fairways were perfect. Rough was long. Just a great test of golf. I mean, that’s why it’s a PLAYERS Championship.”
“It’s been a crappy couple months. I’ve had stuff happen in my life I never thought I’d have happen, and I mean, losing grandpa was terrible, and having to play a round of golf dealing with that, and then on top of that not playing well, it just was a lot, and it took a lot on me mentally.
“At the same time, that’s just the way that it was. I had to figure it out and had to get over it, and if I wanted to come to these tournaments and have a chance to win, then I needed to suck it up and get over it. If I wanted to throw a pity party for myself or feel sorry for myself, there’s no reason to show up, and I can stay home until I feel like I’m ready.
“I felt like I was in a good enough head space where I could play. I just wasn’t playing well. And then once I wasn’t playing well, it was kind of snowballing.
“This week was huge to win a big championship like this in front of fans again, which is incredible. You know, it tested me mentally, physically, emotionally, and I’m very proud of myself for getting it done.”
Thomas reached some low points during the personal and on course issues he was facing and spoke of the manner in which he dealt with it.
“I talked to people. I’ve reached out to people. I mean, it’s not — I mean, I’m not embarrassed to say that I reached out to talk to people to kind of let my feelings out and just discuss stuff with them.
“I think it’s something, especially at our level, a lot of people probably think that they’re bigger and better than that, but some of the thoughts and things I was feeling, it wasn’t fair to myself, and I needed to do something, and my girlfriend Jill was very helpful with that and staying on me to make sure I was taking care of myself, like I would want to do for anyone else in my family.
“Yeah, just like I do in my golf, if things are going on in life, I need to work on it to try to get it better.”
Thomas moved up one place in the world ranking to 2nd behind Dustin Johnson.
Westwood finished runner-up for the second occasion having finished behind Bryson De Chambeau last week in Orlando.
“Obviously, when you’re in contention, you’d like to win every tournament you’re playing in, but I didn’t quite have my game today,” said Westwood.
“I don’t know what it was. Maybe I just haven’t played a lot of golf. I hate to say it, age is catching up with me. Yesterday I felt like my legs were just starting to get a bit tired and weak, and today I just didn’t feel like I had my legs under me. I was hitting shots I don’t normally hit. The ones right off 2, 4, and 11 were poor shots. Couldn’t quite find the strike.
“Slightly disappointed that I didn’t win, but you can’t be too wanting after a second place finish in the PLAYERS Championship. It’s something positive to take into next week to the Honda Championship, the Honda Classic.
“I’ve got a fun couple of days coming up. I’m going to play Augusta with my son Sam. Tomorrow’s going to be a good Monday.”
After Smith, Cameron Percy closed out his first Players Championship appearance with a 68 to be the next best of the Australians in 29th place, Jason Day was 35th, Adam Scott 48th and Matt Jones 55th.
The PGA Tour now moves south to Palm Beach Gardens for the Honda Classic.