Gary Woodland’s mistake hands Jhonattan Vegas a $900,000 title
After what we may call a lifetime of rounds (exactly 5), the Bob Hope Classic sided with Vegas from Venezuela subsequent to a competitive play-off with Gary Woodland and Bill Haas.
With a 69 in the last round of the tournament, Vegas played one of the most consistent games at the event. The 26-year-old golfer is the first Venezuelan to have won a PGA Tour and used his act of great perseverance and patience
to finish a good spirited round of golf.
“Just to think about victory on a PGA is something but then actually winning it is just crazy” said Vegas.
According to the winner, his overall day had been rather tough. He said that the PGA West Palmer course tested his neutral instinct which is obviously a difficult thing to do in golf. Vegas made it his job to play a solid match
out in the greens and thus played towards popularizing a sport which doesn’t have much support in his country.
“I hope people in my country recognise my efforts” said the 26-year-old Venezuelan.
As for the game, it sided with Vegas when Woodland faltered in his own play. According to reports, ‘Jhonny’ managed to play a total of 13 foot par putt at the second play-off hole and led the leaderboard in hopes for his 1st
PGA Tour win in a total of 5 starts.
The play-off initiated from hole number 18 of the GC where Bill Hass bowed out early due to Woodland and Vegas’ birdie trick. Haas carded a par at the par 5 hole while the others carded one stroke less than him for a birdie.
Overall, Woodland played two rusted shots that made way for the Venezuelan to climb to the top of the board. The runner-up golfer first faltered at his approach shot that headed straight to the bunker and then messed up the sand
shot that travelled to the opposite side of the greens.
With Woodland fading off at the greens, Vegas patience finally paid-off and he played a concluding 9-iron behind the pin for victory.
“The brawl seemed to go on forever. Jhonattan started off pretty well and I was right behind him” said Woodland.
The former college basketball player said that he had been chasing Jhonattan all day and exactly like the rounds, the chase continued till the play-off. He said that at tournaments like these, the professionals usually wait to
see who makes the first mistake. The second play-off hole thus sent Woodland out that left Vegas ruling the score board.
The three golfers carded a total of 333 strokes and tied with a 27 under par at the leader board. Haas carded 66 to conclude the fifth round of the tournament while Vegas and Woodland closed with 3-under 69s.
With a bright coloured peach shirt and stark white pants, Vegas managed to grab only one bogey all day that appeared at the last hole of the event. The final regulation hole of the event thus witnessed the 26-year-old missing the
short putt along with Hass. As for Woodland, he carded a birdie at the final hole of the Bob Hope Classic to step into the tied trio to battle out a play-off match.
"I hope people in my country hear about this and realize that it is possible to get to the PGA Tour and win," Vegas said of his fellow Venezuelans. "I hope people realize that all over the world."
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