Golf Update: Jonathan Byrd took the trophy on Sunday at Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open
The $4300,000 purse of Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, which kicked off on 21st of this month (October) wrapped up on the weekend with Jonathan Byrd winning the trophy.
The Sunday started with Martin Liard of Scotland in the lead. However, by the end of the round, four players were seen in the top of the leader board; Jonathan Byrd, Martin Liard, Cameron Percy and Webb Simpson. The player who aced the 8th hole
(Simpson) missed a putt on the 17th and faltered to the fourth place. Just then, Byrd flew three birdies in the closing holes and pushed the tournament into a playoff.
The real drama kicked off in the final two holes, which were decided for the playoff. The trio took their turns to take the lead, but Byrd aced the 17th to surge into lead.
In the fourth place were Spencer Levin (66) and Webb Simpson (68).The duo picked up five and six birdies respectively.
Area resident Nick Watney took the 6th spot by finishing the tournament in 265 strokes. The American was the lowest score holder among the 15 professionals who had strong ties with this golf course in Las Vegas. Next on the leader board was John
Sendon who could not match his first day lead of 64. The Australian shared the 11th place with Cameron Tringale and Richard S. Johnson by picking up three bogeys in the final moments. Trailing behind was Tringale’s roommate, Rickie Fowler. He finished
in a tie for 22nd spot by producing a terrible final round of 70.
According to the experts, the 22-year-old American faced trouble with putting in all four rounds. His problem was identified in the beginning as he failed to comprehend the course in the first round.
Six strokes behind was Davis Love III. The American won the title seventeen years back at the same course, but was unable to regain the lost charm after the first round in which he shot a 66. Next came yet another Ryder Cup hero, Hunter Mahan. He drafted
67-68-73-67 in four rounds to finish with a score of four-under-par. Mahan did not lack confidence, but he required rest after the Ryder Cup. Same could be stated for Fowler, who despite having experience with the course lacked the ability to take the right
decisions.
The lowest corner of the leader board was taken by the Indian who managed to keep in contention till the last round. Arjun Atwal scored 6-over after struggling in the last two rounds at TPC Summerlin.
The event sponsored by Justin Timberlake kicked off with a hole-in-one in the opening round and wrapped up with an ace in the last hole. Webb Simpson smashed the first ace of the tournament; whereas, Jonathan Byrd fired the last. Both the players were happy,
at the same time shocked at their achievements. Simpson exclaimed joy while speaking to the press. He said,
“I made a lot of good birdies, good swings and good putts there on the back nine, which is what i needed to do.”
On the other hand, Byrd said, “I am shocked,” while talking to the media after the tournament. The champion was drained by the end of the tournament, but his laughter was uncontrollable on the winner’s podium where he stood next to the pop sensation,
Justin Timberlake. The singer has been sponsoring the event since 2008 for the charity purposes. The money earned from this tournament goes for the children in the Shriners.
This is it for the fourth of the fall series event, which wrapped up on Sunday to declare Jonathan Byrd as the winner. Martin Liard defended his title well, but ultimately lost the challenge by two shots.
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