Lucas Glover defeats Jonathan Byrd in play-off at Wells Fargo Championship
Lucas Glover par-equalled the play-off hole to win the $6.5 million Professional Golf Association’s Wells Fargo Championship at par-72 Quail Hallow Club against Jonathan Byrd.
2009 US Open winner (Glover) compiled a score of 3-under par 69 in the final round to push the tournament into a play-off with Byrd, who posted 72. The duo proceeded towards the par-4 18th hole, which was pre-defined by the tour officials to sell
their swag.
Byrd chose to tee off first and drove the tee shot into a fairway bunker on the right side. Jostled at the errant shot, Byrd jumped into the bunker with a sand wedge and successfully retrieved the ball, but could not save par. The shot plunged the fairway
and stopped on the edge of the creek that lay on the foot of the narrow green.
The winner of 2010 Hyundai Tournament of Champions, attempted to save par, as he chipped the ball out from danger onto the green, but the ball once again, missed the target and landed 25 feet away from the cup.
The errant shot resulted in a bogey for Byrd, while an opportunity for Glover, who stood on the other side of the hole to take his shot.
Diligently, but confused, Glover took his turn, and learning from the mistake made by his fellow opponent, Glover pulled a drive into the centre of the fairway. The shot left him in an ideal situation, from where he hit an approach with the help of an 8-iron.
The ball plunged a yard and landed 20 feet above the cup-on a hill. The American, who relished an average of 1.5 in putts per average in the 72-hole session chipped for a birdie, but the ball missed the target and stopped four feet before the cup.
The South Carolinian rolled a putt and walked towards the winner’s podium to collect his cheque and trophy. He collected $1.52 million and 500 FedEx Cup points in return of the victory.
When asked how he felt about defeating a childhood friend in the play-off, Glover said, “We grew up playing junior golf teammates and I saw him when he came off 18 there on the putting green, gave him a hug, and we just both said, "Great playing; see you
in a second, and it was kind of a calmness. I can't speak for him, but that's how it was for me”.
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