Luke Donald joint third in US PGA Tour event
Englishman Davis loses $1,026,000 play-off to Furyk
after calling play-off penalty on himself
FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
American Jim Furyk has paid tribute to the sportsmanship of Brian Davis after the Englishman called a penalty on himself that cost him the chance of a a maiden US PGA Tour victory.
Furyk landed his second title in a month at the Verizon Heritage at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, following a near three-year drought, but the 15th US PGA Tour victory of his career came in bizarre circumstances after Davis had forced a sudden-death play-off with a 72nd hole birdie.
The pair went back to the 18th tee at Harbour Town Golf Links and Davis found himself in trouble after sending his second shot off greenside rocks onto the beach, the ball resting amidst short reeds in a hazard area.
As world No 6 Furyk stood over a five-foot par putt, Davis decided to play from where his ball lay for his third shot rather than take a penalty drop and leave himself a chip for par.
He chipped onto the green, but the shot proved irrelevant as Davis called a penalty on himself for touching a loose impediment with his club during his backswing.
Davis informed US PGA Tour rules chief Slugger White, who, after consulting with colleagues, determined there had been a breach of Rule 13.4 and a two-shot penalty was in order, leaving Furyk with a simple putt for victory.
"To have the tournament come down that way is definitely not the way I want to win the golf tournament," Furyk said. "It's obviously a tough loss for him, and I respect and admire what he did.
"To be there and be in the battle and have an opportunity to win the golf tournament, and then have to call a penalty on yourself has got to be extremely disappointing. I admire him for what he did.
"It's a testament to our game and the people that play on the Tour, and that we have so many guys that do that."
Furyk said the manner of the victory had made him feel a little uncomfortable.
"It's just awkward to see it happen at such a key moment in the golf tournament. Awkward for him to lose that way, and a little awkward for me to win.
"Obviously I'm very happy to win but you almost don't know how to react. I want to react to the crowd and kind of wave and let them know, that, hey, I'm excited, but I don't want it to take away from Brian. It was an awkward moment, an awkward way to win."
Davis, whose second place was his fourth runner-up finish in the last four seasons, said he had not felt his club brush the weeds.
"There was a little branch, one of the weed things sticking out, a big bunch," Davis said.
"I didn't feel it but I was pretty sure I saw something in the corner of my eye. So I asked Slugger to come over and check it on TV. And when he did check it on TV, I did indeed brush it on the way back, and the twig moved slightly, and obviously it was a two-stroke penalty."
White, the US PGA Tour tournament director and rules official, also credited Davis for his honesty.
"That will come back to him in spades, tenfold," White said.
"In fact, on the putting green, after it was all said and done, I don't know if Jim said, 'are you sure?' but he said, 'I know I did. I could not have lived with myself if I had not called it on myself'. He's class, first class."
The tournament had not looked as if it would turn into a two-horse race with 21 players within six shots of the lead after the third round, seven of whom, including England's Luke Donald, were just two shots behind Furyk's mark of 10 under par at the start of the day.
Donald, without a win since the 2006 Honda Classic, finished with a 70 as he tied for third with American Bo Van Pelt, who had closed with a 69.
Donald's compatriot Paul Casey, the world No 7, finished his week with a 69 to leave him in a tie for 22nd at five under.
Furyk had shot a closing 69 to finish on a 13-under-par total of 271. The victory was his 15th US PGA Tour win.
Furyk's cash prize was $1,026,000. Davis earned $615,000 for being runner-up - easily his biggest paycheck of the season and possibly his highest ever on the US Tour.
Martin Laird slumped to a final round of 74 and joint 41st place on 282. His first three rounds had promised better - 69, 69 and 70.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)
T1 Jim Furyk -67 68 67 69 271 (won play-off for $1,026,000 prize at first extra hole).
T1 Brian Davis (England) 68 69 66 68 271
T3 Bo Van Pelt 67 72 66 69 274
T3 Luke Donald (England) 69 68 67 70 274
T5 Kris Blanks 70 68 69 68 275
T5 Camilo Villegas 70 68 67 70 275
T5 Ricky Barnes 69 69 66 71 275
T8 Stuart Appleby 69 67 73 67 276
T8 Rickie Fowler 68 72 69 67 276
T8 Nick O'Hern 69 72 64 71 276
T8 Heath Slocum 70 67 67 72 276
T12 Boo Weekley 68 68 68 73 277
T12 Briny Baird 71 67 66 73 277
T14 Rory Sabbatini 74 68 69 67 278
T14 Matt Kuchar 71 67 72 68 278
T14 J.P. Hayes 69 68 72 69 278
T14 Spencer Levin 72 66 70 70 278
T14 J.J. Henry 68 68 71 71 278
T14 Stewart Cink 71 69 67 71 278
T14 Webb Simpson 70 68 68 72 278
T14 Stephen Ames 74 65 65 74 278
T22 Jason Day 70 70 72 67 279
T22 Bryce Molder 68 68 74 69 279
T22 Paul Casey (England) 75 65 70 69 279
T22 Charles Howell III 68 67 73 71 279
T22 Brett Quigley 69 68 71 71 279
T22 Tim Wilkinson 71 66 70 72 279
T22 Robert Karlsson 70 68 69 72 279
T22 Fredrik Jacobson 74 68 65 72 279
T22 Aaron Baddeley 68 69 68 74 279
T22 Woody Austin 67 70 67 75 279
T32 Brian Gay 72 70 69 69 280
T32 Michael Allen 72 67 71 70 280
T32 Will MacKenzie 68 72 66 74 280
T35 Steve Flesch 70 71 71 69 281
T35 Kevin Na 70 71 68 72 281
T35 Chad Campbell 69 67 72 73 281
T35 Trevor Immelman 68 69 71 73 281
T35 Brendon de Jonge 72 69 67 73 281
T35 Carl Pettersson 69 68 70 74 281
T41 Bill Haas 67 75 70 70 282
T41 K.J. Choi 64 74 72 72 282
T41 Greg Chalmers 70 71 69 72 282
T41 Martin Laird (Scotland) 69 69 70 74 282
T41 Jason Dufner 67 72 69 74 282
T41 Marc Leishman 70 70 68 74 282
T47 Steve Lowery 74 68 71 70 283
T47 George McNeill 71 70 71 71 283
T47 J.B. Holmes 73 69 70 71 283
T47 Michael Bradley 69 72 70 72 283
T47 Matt Jones 69 70 70 74 283
T47 Zach Johnson 71 66 69 77 283
T53 Shaun Micheel 67 70 76 71 284
T53 Scott Piercy 71 70 71 72 284
T53 Glen Day 67 73 71 73 284
T53 Chris Tidland 70 72 69 73 284
T53 Omar Uresti 73 67 69 75 284
T53 Greg Owen (England) 66 69 73 76 284
T59 Byeong-Hun An (am) 69 70 72 74 285
T59 Cameron Beckman 73 66 72 74 285
T59 Michael Letzig 68 72 70 75 285
T59 Jerry Kelly 67 71 70 77 285
63 Tim Clark 67 70 71 78 286
T64 Richard S. Johnson 72 70 71 74 287
T64 Michael Connel 72 70 71 74 287
T64 Rod Pampling 72 70 71 74 287
T64 Blake Adams 77 63 72 75 287
T64 Graham DeLaet 74 68 69 76 287
T64 Mike Weir 66 73 70 78 287
T64 Tom Gillis 72 68 68 79 287
71 Davis Love III 67 75 71 76 289
72 Matt Bettencourt 72 73 81 294
after calling play-off penalty on himself
FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
American Jim Furyk has paid tribute to the sportsmanship of Brian Davis after the Englishman called a penalty on himself that cost him the chance of a a maiden US PGA Tour victory.
Furyk landed his second title in a month at the Verizon Heritage at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, following a near three-year drought, but the 15th US PGA Tour victory of his career came in bizarre circumstances after Davis had forced a sudden-death play-off with a 72nd hole birdie.
The pair went back to the 18th tee at Harbour Town Golf Links and Davis found himself in trouble after sending his second shot off greenside rocks onto the beach, the ball resting amidst short reeds in a hazard area.
As world No 6 Furyk stood over a five-foot par putt, Davis decided to play from where his ball lay for his third shot rather than take a penalty drop and leave himself a chip for par.
He chipped onto the green, but the shot proved irrelevant as Davis called a penalty on himself for touching a loose impediment with his club during his backswing.
Davis informed US PGA Tour rules chief Slugger White, who, after consulting with colleagues, determined there had been a breach of Rule 13.4 and a two-shot penalty was in order, leaving Furyk with a simple putt for victory.
"To have the tournament come down that way is definitely not the way I want to win the golf tournament," Furyk said. "It's obviously a tough loss for him, and I respect and admire what he did.
"To be there and be in the battle and have an opportunity to win the golf tournament, and then have to call a penalty on yourself has got to be extremely disappointing. I admire him for what he did.
"It's a testament to our game and the people that play on the Tour, and that we have so many guys that do that."
Furyk said the manner of the victory had made him feel a little uncomfortable.
"It's just awkward to see it happen at such a key moment in the golf tournament. Awkward for him to lose that way, and a little awkward for me to win.
"Obviously I'm very happy to win but you almost don't know how to react. I want to react to the crowd and kind of wave and let them know, that, hey, I'm excited, but I don't want it to take away from Brian. It was an awkward moment, an awkward way to win."
Davis, whose second place was his fourth runner-up finish in the last four seasons, said he had not felt his club brush the weeds.
"There was a little branch, one of the weed things sticking out, a big bunch," Davis said.
"I didn't feel it but I was pretty sure I saw something in the corner of my eye. So I asked Slugger to come over and check it on TV. And when he did check it on TV, I did indeed brush it on the way back, and the twig moved slightly, and obviously it was a two-stroke penalty."
White, the US PGA Tour tournament director and rules official, also credited Davis for his honesty.
"That will come back to him in spades, tenfold," White said.
"In fact, on the putting green, after it was all said and done, I don't know if Jim said, 'are you sure?' but he said, 'I know I did. I could not have lived with myself if I had not called it on myself'. He's class, first class."
The tournament had not looked as if it would turn into a two-horse race with 21 players within six shots of the lead after the third round, seven of whom, including England's Luke Donald, were just two shots behind Furyk's mark of 10 under par at the start of the day.
Donald, without a win since the 2006 Honda Classic, finished with a 70 as he tied for third with American Bo Van Pelt, who had closed with a 69.
Donald's compatriot Paul Casey, the world No 7, finished his week with a 69 to leave him in a tie for 22nd at five under.
Furyk had shot a closing 69 to finish on a 13-under-par total of 271. The victory was his 15th US PGA Tour win.
Furyk's cash prize was $1,026,000. Davis earned $615,000 for being runner-up - easily his biggest paycheck of the season and possibly his highest ever on the US Tour.
Martin Laird slumped to a final round of 74 and joint 41st place on 282. His first three rounds had promised better - 69, 69 and 70.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)
T1 Jim Furyk -67 68 67 69 271 (won play-off for $1,026,000 prize at first extra hole).
T1 Brian Davis (England) 68 69 66 68 271
T3 Bo Van Pelt 67 72 66 69 274
T3 Luke Donald (England) 69 68 67 70 274
T5 Kris Blanks 70 68 69 68 275
T5 Camilo Villegas 70 68 67 70 275
T5 Ricky Barnes 69 69 66 71 275
T8 Stuart Appleby 69 67 73 67 276
T8 Rickie Fowler 68 72 69 67 276
T8 Nick O'Hern 69 72 64 71 276
T8 Heath Slocum 70 67 67 72 276
T12 Boo Weekley 68 68 68 73 277
T12 Briny Baird 71 67 66 73 277
T14 Rory Sabbatini 74 68 69 67 278
T14 Matt Kuchar 71 67 72 68 278
T14 J.P. Hayes 69 68 72 69 278
T14 Spencer Levin 72 66 70 70 278
T14 J.J. Henry 68 68 71 71 278
T14 Stewart Cink 71 69 67 71 278
T14 Webb Simpson 70 68 68 72 278
T14 Stephen Ames 74 65 65 74 278
T22 Jason Day 70 70 72 67 279
T22 Bryce Molder 68 68 74 69 279
T22 Paul Casey (England) 75 65 70 69 279
T22 Charles Howell III 68 67 73 71 279
T22 Brett Quigley 69 68 71 71 279
T22 Tim Wilkinson 71 66 70 72 279
T22 Robert Karlsson 70 68 69 72 279
T22 Fredrik Jacobson 74 68 65 72 279
T22 Aaron Baddeley 68 69 68 74 279
T22 Woody Austin 67 70 67 75 279
T32 Brian Gay 72 70 69 69 280
T32 Michael Allen 72 67 71 70 280
T32 Will MacKenzie 68 72 66 74 280
T35 Steve Flesch 70 71 71 69 281
T35 Kevin Na 70 71 68 72 281
T35 Chad Campbell 69 67 72 73 281
T35 Trevor Immelman 68 69 71 73 281
T35 Brendon de Jonge 72 69 67 73 281
T35 Carl Pettersson 69 68 70 74 281
T41 Bill Haas 67 75 70 70 282
T41 K.J. Choi 64 74 72 72 282
T41 Greg Chalmers 70 71 69 72 282
T41 Martin Laird (Scotland) 69 69 70 74 282
T41 Jason Dufner 67 72 69 74 282
T41 Marc Leishman 70 70 68 74 282
T47 Steve Lowery 74 68 71 70 283
T47 George McNeill 71 70 71 71 283
T47 J.B. Holmes 73 69 70 71 283
T47 Michael Bradley 69 72 70 72 283
T47 Matt Jones 69 70 70 74 283
T47 Zach Johnson 71 66 69 77 283
T53 Shaun Micheel 67 70 76 71 284
T53 Scott Piercy 71 70 71 72 284
T53 Glen Day 67 73 71 73 284
T53 Chris Tidland 70 72 69 73 284
T53 Omar Uresti 73 67 69 75 284
T53 Greg Owen (England) 66 69 73 76 284
T59 Byeong-Hun An (am) 69 70 72 74 285
T59 Cameron Beckman 73 66 72 74 285
T59 Michael Letzig 68 72 70 75 285
T59 Jerry Kelly 67 71 70 77 285
63 Tim Clark 67 70 71 78 286
T64 Richard S. Johnson 72 70 71 74 287
T64 Michael Connel 72 70 71 74 287
T64 Rod Pampling 72 70 71 74 287
T64 Blake Adams 77 63 72 75 287
T64 Graham DeLaet 74 68 69 76 287
T64 Mike Weir 66 73 70 78 287
T64 Tom Gillis 72 68 68 79 287
71 Davis Love III 67 75 71 76 289
72 Matt Bettencourt 72 73 81 294
Labels: US PGA TOUR, US PRO TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Sunday, April 18, 2010
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