Playing golf in the dark? No way, right?
No problem if it’s the final round of the fourth annual Greenbrier Classic that played out last weekend at the posh West Virginia resort in White Sulphur Springs.
Hindered by thunderstorms that caused a suspension of play for over three hours in Sunday’s final round over the Old White TPC course, it looked virtually certain that the tournament’s winner, and the $1.134 million winner’s purse wouldn’t be handed out until sometime Monday morning.
One thing that can be expected at the Greenbrier Classic- expect the unexpected.
It turned into a footrace to dusk as the players sped up their play to get in as many holes as possible. CBS Sports signed off their coverage at 6:00 p.m. with the final twosome having only finished the fourth hole and the commentators talking about a Monday completion. So much for that crystal ball.
When all the nighttime lamps finally burned, Sweden’s Jonas Blixt was hoisting the emblematic Springhouse Trophy for the title after firing a final-round 67, good for a 4-round, 13-under-par, 267 total. Blixt’s third straight round of 67 after opening with a 66, left him two shots clear of runnersup Matt Jones, Steven Bowditch, Jimmy Walker and former Va. Tech golfer Johnson Wagner.
Each of the four second-place finishers pocketed a nifty $ 415,800 while last year’s winner Ted Potter, Jr. showed that the Old White is sweet to his pocketbook after collecting another $ 211,050 with his 271 total and share of sixth place
Blixt’s win follows three straight unexpected champs in what has become the launching pad for unfamiliar names on the PGA Tour. The first year of the Classic in 2010 saw Stuart Appleby fire a final-round 59, a feat only accomplished 5 times in any round in PGA Tour history, to come from 7 shots off the pace on Sunday to win. In 2011, rookie Scott Stallings won in a three-man playoff, followed by Potter’s win last year in a three-hole playoff with unheard of Troy Kelly, at the time ranked 464th in the world golf rankings.
“I can’t believe,” Blixt said of his win. “This means the world, absolutely the world. No chance. That’s what kind of chance I thought coming here this week because I haven’t been playing very well.”
For the third straight year, fan-favorite Phil Mickelson failed to make the 36-hole cut. Ditto for 2010 champ Appleby. Tiger Woods, a 2012 entrant who failed to make the cut, wasn’t even in this year’s field. And, for the popular and ever-garishly dressed John Daly, an even quicker exit. After an impressive performance in 2012, Daly shot an opening round 75 on Thursday and withdrew.
It all goes to show one thing at the Greenbrier Classic. You better be prepared for the unexpected.
By Bill Turner