Jonathan Byrd flies away with Justin Timberlake title after hole-in-one
The PGA Tour event of Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, wrapped up on Sunday with a magnificent hole-in-one by Jonathan Byrd.
The fourth round of the $4.3 million purse event was pushed into the playoff between three players, Jonathan Byrd, Martin Liard and Cameron Percy. The trio shot a score of 21-under-par to make their way into the spot where a playoff hole was required to
decide the final winner.
The golfers proceeded towards the 17th hole in the wake of darkness taking over. According to the officials of the tournament, two holes were decided for the playoff, but as the lightening conditions were the mediating factor, therefore, the 17th
was chosen as the final hole.
There were several reasons behind opting for the particular hole. Firstly it was a par-3, which meant the show would wrap up in less time. Secondly, the hole stats showed variety of birdies and bogeys, which indicated that despite being short, the hole was
difficult to par.
All three players walked towards the 17th tee. Byrd lifted his Titleist 6-iron and hit a shot. The ball plunged into the darkness, fell a few inches away from the pin and rolled into the hole, it was a hole-in-one.
Percy and Liard stepped forward to congratulate the player, who was in shock and was unable to comprehend the situation. It was the second ace of the final day on the same hole. According to the media reports, it was the very first time in the history of
golf that the tournament had been wrapped up with an ace. Earlier, Webb Simpson aced the 8th par-3 hole in the first round.
116th on the money list, Webb Simpson was in the lead till the 17th hole, when he double bogeyed it and lost the lead of one shot to take the forth place. The American wrapped up the day with a score of 20-under-par and despite losing
the trophy Simpson was pleased with his finish. He told this to the press.
He said, "I take away a lot. I think I proved today to myself and everyone else that I can do it, I made a lot of good birdies and good swings and good putts there on the back nine, which is what I needed to do. You know, I'll sit down and really analyze
what I was thinking and feeling on 17 to learn from it, but all in all, I'm pleased."
The 17th was indeed the turning point for the three, who were tied for the first spot. Martin Liard, who won the title in 2009 by seeking the playoff hole, ran out of luck. Laird won the 2009 event in a playoff, but his luck ran out in 2010.
The Scottish parred the 18th hole twice and reached the 17th in three shots, but by the time he picked up his wedge for the tee shot at the 17th for the second time, it was too late. Byrd had already aced the hole.
Last moments of the playoff round were very crucial. The trio teed off the 17th and the 18th twice and they were level going head to head. The sky was getting darker, but the officials preferred to continue despite the discomfort for
the players. In all this time Jonathan Byrd was confident about his game as he knew that he was putting well so there won’t be a problem in reaching the green, which was hardly visible.
Speaking to the press he said, "We decided just one more hole, and if we get to the green and it's too dark, we'll stop. So I'm up first, and I've played that hole well in regulation and in the playoff, hit good shots, and just went through my same process”.
Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open folded it's wings on Sunday after the playoff. Jonathan Byrd shot a tremendous hole-in-one on the 17th hole and stole the show from the moon shining in the dark sky.
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