The scene: The Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas. The players: Martin Laird, Cameron Percy and Jonathan Byrd, each tied at 21-under after regulation. They played three sudden-death playoff holes, each taking turns teetering on the edge of disaster. With darkness fast apparoaching, they agreed to play one more hole. Byrd stepped up to the tee on the 204-yard par-3 17th, and here's what happened next:
Unbelievable. Even Byrd wasn't quite sure what happened. "Did it go in?" he asked his caddy. Being a good sport, he didn't lose his mind immediately; both his playing partners still had to tee off. But when both put their shots into the water, that was that, and so began a celebration that included Timberlake kneeling and bowing in deference to Byrd's feat.
[Photos: Jonathan Byrd celebrates, kisses his trophy]
While a few players have hit eagles to win playoff tournaments, the PGA Tour said there has never been an ace to win a tournament in sudden death. Not until now, of course.
It was yet another spectacular finish in this year's Fall Series, following last week's Rocco Mediate eaglefest. And it gave Byrd, who'd been 117th on the money list, a two-year exemption to play on tour, as well as a paycheck for $774,000.
Comments (10) | |
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72Wannabe
10/26/2010 4:11:14 PM wow! |
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stash1832
10/25/2010 4:44:17 PM I can't believe he was able to hold it together. |
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PISC
10/25/2010 3:53:42 PM That's just down right awesome! |
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ArizonaBlue
10/25/2010 2:38:16 PM I was watching the playoff and I was stunned! My jaw dropped! It's too bad that he couldn't see it like we could (thanks to the cameras' iris being opened full). Last week's win by Rocco Mediate was great ... but this takes the cake! |
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Racer888
10/25/2010 2:36:00 PM Way to end it quickly!! |
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PeteG512
10/25/2010 2:23:48 PM Amazing feat, way to go Jonathan |
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HIGH_LANDER
10/25/2010 1:09:58 PM Awesome Ace! |
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cogolfer1
10/25/2010 12:22:27 PM Where was this in the regular season? |
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LindseyM
10/25/2010 12:20:32 PM Nice win for J.Byrd. Go Carolina Boy! |
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BUCKNUT
10/25/2010 12:17:46 PM And who said all the good golf was done for the year? |