World Golf Championships -
Accenture Match Play Wrapup
Is it the Mayakoba Golf Classic (which 50-year-old Fred Funk won last week)? Nope. What about the John Deere Classic? No, but you are getting closer. C’mon this is easy, The Players Championship. Good, but not the best.
Next to the Grand Daddys of Golf (the majors), the World Golf Championships - Accenture Match Play Championships is the most exciting tournament on the PGA Tour.
What makes it so enthralling to watch? As Dick Vitale would say: It’s the bracket baby! This match play event is full of so much that makes sports enjoyable to watch. Nail-biting drama, upsets, underdogs and a very grateful, tired champion.
Channeling Dicky V, last week’s tournament was similar to last year’s NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Not one top seed made it to the Final Four. Chad Campbell was the equivalent of George Mason, shockingly making it to the Final Four by defeating a number one seed in Jim Furyk and a slew of other top players. Like UCLA and Florida, the two playing for the championship were up and comers.
Stenson won the match play event defeating Ogilvy 2 & 1 in their 36 hole championship match at The Gallery golf course in Tucson, Arizona. Stenson went through a five day span playing 126 holes against some of the toughest competition in the world and looked gassed after completing his victory.
The final 36 holes were a testament to who could keep their head above water long enough to mount a comeback. Ogilvy started the first eighteen holes two down after two holes, then won four straight holes to go up two himself, then did not win a hole until the afternoon eighteen. Stenson ended the first eighteen holes up two. As quick as Ogilvy was down two after the morning eighteen, he won the first two holes in the afternoon to even the match. Ogilvy rallied to go up two holes entering the final nine and looked to position himself to go back-to-back in this tournament. But, Stenson showed the heart of a champion and won three holes on the back nine to win the match.
Stenson is continually adding victories and experience to his young career. This win capped a tremendous month for him. Early in February he won the Dubai Desert Classic, fending off Tiger Woods and Ernie Els in the fourth round. Five months ago he was a key part of the European team’s win at last year’s Ryder Cup, sinking the winning putt.
Winning in the United States showed a lot of golf fans that Stenson has the game to compete on the PGA Tour. Stenson said that he has committed himself to playing a full PGA Tour season and looks like a force to be reckoned with.
Next week the PGA Tour travels to Florida for the Honda Classic. Check-in all next week with www.hookedongolf.com for updates and results.
