Honda Classic Wrapup
All Mark Wilson needed was a good night’s rest.
Wilson, along with Boo Weekley, Camilo Villegas and Jose Coceres, came back to PGA National early Monday morning to finish the Honda Classic in a playoff. Wilson capitalized on his late heroics during Sunday’s round and beat Coceres Monday morning with a birdie on the third playoff hole to win his first PGA Tour event in 111 starts.
With darkness looming, Weekley, Villegas and Coceres made routine pars on the first playoff hole, while Wilson remained unseen and unnoticed for much of the par-5 18th.
After suffering from the yanks on the back nine of Sunday’s round, Wilson started the playoff with a blocked tee shot that landed in the hazard. Luckily the ball was playable. Forced to lay up on the 604 yard hole, Wilson made the green in four but had 30 feet for par. Villegas and Weekley were on in regulation and Coceres was on the fringe with the closest putt for birdie. Wilson, an afterthought for much of the hole, dropped the 30 footer to make his par and keep himself alive after all of his competitors made pars.
This was not Wilson’s first clutch putt of the day.
On the 16th hole, Wilson faced 45 feet of real estate to make his par and remain in a share of the lead at 5-under par--Wilson jarred it.
On the 72nd hole, Wilson faced another par putt to stay at 5-under. The putt was no 45 footer, but it was just as important. Thinking he was out of tournament, Wilson rolled in another center-cut putt to remain at 5-under.
Boo Weekley, on the other hand, was not as clutch.
Weekley entered the 72nd hole with a one stroke lead at 6-under. He hit the green in regulation and had two putts to win; par was good enough for him. Moseying up the 18th fairway with a blank expression on his face and a chaw in his mouth, the southern kid was welcomed with the familiar chants of “Boo” and his family waited behind the 18th green to celebrate his victory. His family did not get that chance. Weekley meekly hit his birdie putt 3 feet short and charged his tournament winning putt 4 feet past the hole. He made his bogey putt to drop him into the four-way playoff.
The lead changed frequently throughout the final round between Wilson, Weekley and Robert Allenby, with several other golfers within shooting distance the whole day. This was a testament to the PGA National Champion Course. Everyday the average round came in over par and only 12 golfers finished the tournament under par.
The PGA Tour remains in Florida for this week’s PODS Championship. Check-in all week with hookedongolf.com for updates and results.
