But Taylor’s story didn’t turn out to be so bad, either – he hasn’t won on the PGA Tour in more than 10 years, and the one-time Ryder Cup member has spent two of the past three years whacking it around in obscurity on the Web.com.
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Paired with overnight leader Phil Mickelson, he momentarily tied for the lead with a birdie on No. 11, then saved par with strong bunker shots on the 12th and 14th holes.
Phil Mickelson, left, being consoled by caddie Jim “Bones” Mackay after missing a 5-foot birdie putt on No. 18 Sunday. Just lost a lot of confidence, lost a good bit of my game.
Taylor’s nine birdies on the par-72 Pebble Beach Golf Links included four in a row from the 13th.
Jordan Spieth had to get up-and-down for par on the 18th hole at Pebble Beach for a 74 to make the cut on the number.
Hiroshi Iwata, who started the day in second, two strokes back at the iconic seaside links, carded three birdies and three bogeys in the final round.
The next six players behind him on the leaderboard have combined for four PGA Tour victories.
That brief image of shock and dismay – Mickelson on the green, the ball still visible because it’s not in the cup where it’s supposed to be – was reminiscent of a half-dozen or so major championships he felt certain he was going to win.
Instead of a barrage of birdies, he had five bogeys, two pars and two birdies on his outward half. Coming out of the rough on the 15th, his ball hit the golf ball of Matt Jones and settled 2 feet away for a third straight birdie.
Taylor never had given up on his career, though he was starting to rule out another victory, and he never imagined returning home to Augusta, Ga., to play in the Masters. “But I just kept working, kept grinding, kept at it”.
“The positive is that I’m having more fun playing golf right now than I’ve had in years”, Mickelson said.
“I don’t even have my tour card – now I am playing in the Masters”, said the American, who finished on 17 under par.
Jonas Blixt finished in third after his final-round 69, becoming the only person to finish with scores of under 70 in all four rounds.
“To be even par, I mean I should be really, I would say average for me there would be 7- or 8-under”, he said.
National coach Ian Rae is hoping to see Scotland’s strong showing at Leopard Creek in the inaugural African Amateur Stroke-Play Championship replicated in the future on the European Tour. “I just have to give it my best next week”.
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The freshness and renewed appetite for the game showed itself in Schwartzel’s golf as he moved from a one shot lead going into yesterday’s final round, to a win by an impressive eight shot margin ahead of second placed Jeff Winther of Denmark.
