Tag Archives: Justin Leonard

Patrick Reed Claims Second PGA Title With Ease In California

If like me you stayed up to watch the conclusion of the Humana Challenge last night you will know that Patrick Reed held on to claim his second PGA Tour title by two shots in California.

The 23 year old American was in the form of his life heading into the final round after shooting three consecutive rounds of 63 giving him a seven shot lead.

The lead should’ve been unassailable but a couple of bogeys on the front nine brought him closer to the chasing back. He then made another two bogeys on the back nine with a birdie in-between to leave him with a three shot lead with three holes to play with Ryan Palmer and Justin Leonard on his tail.

He had a chance on the short par 3 17th to seal the tournament when he hit his sand wedge to six feet but failed to convert the putt giving him a two shot lead going into the last after Ryan Palmer had just made eagle on the final hole to at least make it slightly interesting.

Reed hit the 18th fairway with his 3-wood and wasn’t tempted to take on the green that is surrounded by water and bunkers as he didn’t need to take the risk, so he laid up down the right hand side of the fairway and left himself 100 yard pitch shot which he hit to 12 feet and went on to make par giving him a two shot victory.

Reed had a new caddie on the bag for his second PGA Tour win as his wife who normally caddies for him is 5 months pregnant with their first child, so Reed’s brother-in-law took the job on and I’m sure he will be happy with his 10% of $1,000,000! 

Next week we’re off to Torrey Pines for The Farmers Insurance Open where we will see Tiger Woods in action for the first time this year to defend his title.

Click HERE to read my last blog and to see the PGA Tour schedule for 2014

Great Golf Courses | Number 4 | Carnoustie

Whenever the name ‘Carnoustie’ is mentioned we automatically think back to The Open in 1999, for those of you that don’t know why, here’s a little reminder……

……yes you remember!!

Van de Velde nearly achieved victory at the 1999 Open Championship at Carnoustie, when he was the clear leader playing the closing holes. He arrived at the 18th tee needing only a double bogey six to become the first Frenchman since 1907 to win the tournament. He had played error-free golf for much of the championship and birdied the 18th hole in two prior rounds. He took a seven and got into a three-way playoff with Justin Leonard and Paul Lawrie.

Paul Lawrie eventually triumphed in the playoff.

Carnoustie had been set up particularly hard for that week boasting the longest rough an Open had ever seen, and the tightest fairways. With the wind blowing as well just made it one of the toughest opens in history, which made Van de Velde’s achievement going into the final hole even greater.

The Championship course was 7,421 yards for that week and a par 71.

Click here to see the final leaderboard.

The Course was established in 1850 and designed by, Allan Robertson, Old Tom Morris and James Braid

The course record stands at 64 held by: Colin Montgomerie, Steve Stricker and Richard Green.