World No. 1 Jordan Spieth never got untracked until the final round, his usually stellar short game and wedge play derailing him en route to making the cut on the number and shooting rounds of 71-69-74-66 to finish T21.
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Mickelson was aiming for a 43rd PGA Tour win – and his first since 2013 – but missed a birdie opportunity on the final hole to send the tournament into a play-off. ‘It taught him, ‘ she says now, ‘that life is precious.’ That might have been a lesson that Taylor needed. I didn’t know if it would ever happen again.
Many are calling him “the comeback kid”.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been in that position, it’s been a while since I’ve led a tournament, and it’s been a while since I’ve felt like I was playing this well, where my expectations were a lot higher”, he said. He was certain he would make the playoff-forcing put on the 72nd hole.
Mickelson made use of the holes he had remaining to get within striking distance. Hiroshi Iwata of Japan was within one until he dropped a shot at the 16th. Murray hit a respectable shot and chose to celebrate by launching his club down to the that world-famous 7th green (or maybe it was an attempt to deposit it in the ocean). He instead set up for a chip-and-putt situation for birdie.
And Taylor wasn’t too far away, watching all of this happen.
“It tells me I need to do a little work”, Mickelson said of his final round. “I was prepared for a playoff”.
Taylor shot to the top of the leaderboard with a run of four consecutive birdies from hole Nos.
The world No. 32’s reaction said it all; doubled over, one hand on his knee and the other on his putter. Things were just – it was just magical out there. “I can’t believe I’m actually sitting here right now”. Taylor hasn’t been a regular on Tour since 2012, so he came out of nowhere for his first victory since 2005.
Taylor went out in 34 but it was after the turn that he really upped his game.
“It’s just frustrating when you don’t putt very well and you don’t convert, and to make the putts when it counts, that’s even more satisfying”.
He played at Pebble Beach with the rest of the celebrities, which is a tradition on this course, except that he teed off on the back nine and was on the opposite end of the golf course from the dancing, clowning and raucous atmosphere on a gorgeous day once the fog lifted. “I mean, are you kidding?”
With the win, Taylor – who calls Augusta, Georgia, home – booked a return to the Masters for the first time since 2008.
Defending champion Brandt Snedeker finished in a tie for 35th, but his performance nonetheless allowed him to take over the top spot in the FedEx Cup point standings.
Along the way, he attempted to get that elusive win. “The best players don’t play good every week”. “I made some good swings”. Maybe I should have enjoyed the ride.
“I also know that I am close”.
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But the cozy confines of Pebble Beach can accentuate even the smallest flaws.
