PODS Championship Wrapup
It took 18th green drama for Mark Calcavecchia to collect his 13th PGA Tour victory last week in Florida at the PODS Championship.
Needing only a four footer to tie the lead, Heath Slocum missed that putt and Calc and his caddy celebrated victory #13.
Other than the win taking Calc over the 20 million dollar mark on the career money list, the win was even sweeter for Calc’s caddy.
Eric Larson was released from prison last year after serving 11 years in prison for selling cocaine. Larson’s story initially received attention at last year’s Master’s, but he was not a novelty after the PGA Championship when Calc made Larson his permanent caddy. The win with Calc was their first together since 1995.
With Larson by his side, Calc won for the first time since 2005 when he traveled north of the border to win at the Bell Canadian Open; though Calc was all over the map in this win. He opened his tournament with a 75 and looked to be in dire straits to make the cut. A second round 67 erased any chances of Calc not seeing the weekend. With new life, Calc played the 7,290 yard Copperhead course to the tune of a course record 62 and held the lead going into the final day. John Senden, Lucas Glover and Slocum all had a shot at the lead, but the cagy play of the 45 year old held off the onslaught.
Charles Howell III continues to make himself an early season Player of the Year candidate. The FedEx Cup leader shot a final round 65 and jumped 28 positions to finish in a tie for sixth with defending champion K.J. Choi. To date this season, Howell is 7 for 7 in cuts made, finished in the top ten in five of those events, has 2 second place finishes and won at the Nissan Open in February.
This week the PGA Tour invades Arnie’s Army to play at Bay Hill for the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Check-in all week with hookedongolf.com for updates and results.
