LUKE LIST CLAIMED THE FIRST PGA TOUR WIN OF HIS CAREER AFTER A DRAMATIC FINAL ROUND IN THE FARMERS INSURANCE AT TORREY PINES ON SATURDAY.
BROUGHT FORWARD BY 24 HOURS SO NOT TO CLASH WITH THE NFL CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME BEING SHOWN BY HOST BROADCASTER CBS, THE FINAL ROUND WAS PLAYED ON A SATURDAY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE TOURNAMENT'S HISTORY, AND THE UNUSUAL FINISH DAY PROVIDED MORE THAN ENOUGH DRAMA TO MAKE UP FOR THE CHANGE TO TRADITION.
LIST STARTED THE FINAL ROUND 5 SHOTS ADRIFT OF THE LEADERS JASON DAY AND WILL ZALATORIS, AND WASN'T AMONG THE FANCIED CONTENDERS. THE 37-YEAR-OLD HAD WON TWICE ON THE KORN FERRY TOUR, BUT AFTER 8 FULL SEASONS ON THE PGA TOUR WAS YET TO TASTE SUCCESS.
THE SEATTLE NATIVE CAUGHT FIRE ON THE FRONT NINE WITH FOUR CONSECUTIVE BIRDIES AT 3, 4, 5 AND 6 TO SURGE INTO CONTENTION, AND FURTHER BIRDIES AT 12 AND 16 GAVE HIM THE CHANCE TO POST AN UNMATCHABLE SCORE IN THE CLUBHOUSE WITH BIRDIES AT THE FINAL TWO HOLES.
BUT A PLUGGED LIE IN THE BUNKER AT 17 COST HIM A BOGEY AND EVEN WITH A BIRDIE AT THE 18TH HE COULD ONLY POST 15-UNDER-PAR IN THE CLUBHOUSE, SOME 90 MINUTES AHEAD OF THE FINAL GROUP. IT SEEMED LIST WOULD COME UP SHORT, BUT IN THE END IT WAS A GROUP OF STELLAR NAMES WHO WOULD COME UP SHORT AT THE 2-TIME US OPEN COURSE.
BROUGHT FORWARD BY 24 HOURS SO NOT TO CLASH WITH THE NFL CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME BEING SHOWN BY HOST BROADCASTER CBS, THE FINAL ROUND WAS PLAYED ON A SATURDAY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE TOURNAMENT'S HISTORY, AND THE UNUSUAL FINISH DAY PROVIDED MORE THAN ENOUGH DRAMA TO MAKE UP FOR THE CHANGE TO TRADITION.
LIST STARTED THE FINAL ROUND 5 SHOTS ADRIFT OF THE LEADERS JASON DAY AND WILL ZALATORIS, AND WASN'T AMONG THE FANCIED CONTENDERS. THE 37-YEAR-OLD HAD WON TWICE ON THE KORN FERRY TOUR, BUT AFTER 8 FULL SEASONS ON THE PGA TOUR WAS YET TO TASTE SUCCESS.
THE SEATTLE NATIVE CAUGHT FIRE ON THE FRONT NINE WITH FOUR CONSECUTIVE BIRDIES AT 3, 4, 5 AND 6 TO SURGE INTO CONTENTION, AND FURTHER BIRDIES AT 12 AND 16 GAVE HIM THE CHANCE TO POST AN UNMATCHABLE SCORE IN THE CLUBHOUSE WITH BIRDIES AT THE FINAL TWO HOLES.
BUT A PLUGGED LIE IN THE BUNKER AT 17 COST HIM A BOGEY AND EVEN WITH A BIRDIE AT THE 18TH HE COULD ONLY POST 15-UNDER-PAR IN THE CLUBHOUSE, SOME 90 MINUTES AHEAD OF THE FINAL GROUP. IT SEEMED LIST WOULD COME UP SHORT, BUT IN THE END IT WAS A GROUP OF STELLAR NAMES WHO WOULD COME UP SHORT AT THE 2-TIME US OPEN COURSE.
IMAGE BARRY SLOAN/METROPOLITAN GOLF ASSOCIATION
JUSTIN THOMAS MADE A FAST START WITH A BIRDIE AT THE 1ST HOLE BUT 5 BOGEYS DERAILED HIS CHALLENGE, ENDING UP IN A TIE FOR 20TH PLACE. CHILE'S JOAQUIN NIEMANN MADE A RUN AT THE LEAD WITH 7 BIRDIES ON THE FINAL DAY BUT AN UNTIMELY BOGEY AT THE 15TH STALLED HIS CHALLENGE, ENDING UP WITH A ROUND OF 67 AND A TIE FOR 6TH.
JUSTIN ROSE, A PAST WINNER AT THE FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN, SEEMED TO BE HEADING FOR A MIDDLE OF THE ROAD FINISH BEFORE BIRDIES AT 3, 6, 10, 11 AND 14 GAVE HIM A SERIOUS CHANCE OF POSTING A WINNING SCORE IN THE CLUBHOUSE. KNOWING A BIRDIE OR EAGLE ON THE 18TH WOULD GIVE HIM A SHOT AT THE TITLE ROSE WENT FOR THE GREEN IN TWO BUT CAME UP SHORT IN THE POND IN FRONT OF THE GREEN, GOING ON TO MAKE BOGEY AND FALL AWAY.
JON RAHM CAME INTO THE FINAL ROUND AS THE FAVOURITE, DESPITE TRAILING BY A SHOT. THE US OPEN CHAMPION OVER THE SOUTH COURSE LAST JUNE, AND PREVIOUS WINNER OF THE FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN MADE A STORMING START TO THE TOURNAMENT, WITH ROUNDS OF 66 AND 65, BUT A LEVEL-PAR ROUND OF 72 ON FRIDAY SAW HIM LOSE THE LEAD TO DAY AND ZALATORIS. ON SATURDAY THOUGH HE SEEMED TEMPERAMENTAL AND IRRITABLE, AND MADE A STUMBLING START WITH BOGEYS AT 1 AND 5 BEFORE SURGING BACK INTO CONTENTION BY MAKING BIRDIES AT 7, 8 AND 9.
HIS CHALLENGED STALLED SOMEWHAT OVER THE BACK NINE AND SEEMED TO BE EXTINGUISHED WITH A BOGEY AT THE 15TH, BEFORE HE EVOKED MEMORIES OF THE 2021 US OPEN BY ROLLING IN A STUNNING PUTT ACROSS THE 17TH GREEN TO GIVE HIMSELF THE CHANCE OF A REMARKABLE VICTORY BY MAKING EAGLE AT THE 72ND. HOWEVER HE PUSHED HIS DRIVE INTO THE FAIRWAY BUNKER RIGHT OF THE 18TH FAIRWAY AND WAS UNABLE TO MAKE A BIRDIE, WHICH WOULD HAVE PUSHED HIM INTO THE PLAYOFF.
HIS CHALLENGED STALLED SOMEWHAT OVER THE BACK NINE AND SEEMED TO BE EXTINGUISHED WITH A BOGEY AT THE 15TH, BEFORE HE EVOKED MEMORIES OF THE 2021 US OPEN BY ROLLING IN A STUNNING PUTT ACROSS THE 17TH GREEN TO GIVE HIMSELF THE CHANCE OF A REMARKABLE VICTORY BY MAKING EAGLE AT THE 72ND. HOWEVER HE PUSHED HIS DRIVE INTO THE FAIRWAY BUNKER RIGHT OF THE 18TH FAIRWAY AND WAS UNABLE TO MAKE A BIRDIE, WHICH WOULD HAVE PUSHED HIM INTO THE PLAYOFF.
JASON DAY CAME INTO THE FINAL ROUND TIED FOR THE LEAD WITH WILL ZALATORIS, SEARCHING FOR HIS FIRST PGA TOUR WIN SINCE THE 2018 WELLS FARGO CHAMPIONSHIP AT QUAIL HOLLOW BUT AFTER A SHAKY START TO THE FINAL ROUND IT SEEMED THOSE HOPES WOULD BE DASHED. BOGEYS AT THE FIFTH AND ELEVENTH SEEMED TO HAVE ENDED HIS HOPES BUT HE SPECTACULARLY PUSHED HIS WAY INTO A TIE FOR THE LEAD WITH A HOLE-OUT EAGLE AT THE 14TH HOLE. HOWEVER, BOGEYS AT 16 AND 17 ENDED HIS CHANCES, BUT A TIE FOR 3RD PLACE WAS A POSITIVE SIGN OF DAY'S FITNESS AND ABILITY TO COMPETE IN A FIELD WITH THE WORLD'S BEST.
2020 WAS THE BREAKOUT YEAR FOR ENGLAND'S AARON RAI, WITH VICTORY AT THE ABERDEEN ASSET MANAGEMENT SCOTTISH OPEN, PLAYED LATER IN THE YEAR DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, AND AMONGST A WEAKER FIELD THAN WOULD USUALLY COMPETE FOR THE ROLEX SERIES TITLE. A RUNNER-UP FINISH IN THE Albertsons Boise Open ON THE KORN FERRY TOUR IN 2021 SAW HIM EARN A FULL PGA TOUR CARD FOR THE 2021-22 PGA TOUR SEASON.
RAI CAME INTO THE FINAL ROUND ONE SHOT BEHIND DAY AND ZALATORIS, BIDDING TO WIN HIS FIRST PGA TOUR TITLE IN JUST HIS 10TH START AS A MEMBER. A FINAL ROUND OF 72 SAW HIM SECURE A 6TH PLACED FINISH, HIS BEST FINISH YET ON THE PGA TOUR AND HIS FOURTH TOP-20 FINISH THIS SEASON.
ALSO SEARCHING FOR HIS BREAKTHROUGH VICTORY ON THE PGA TOUR WAS WILL ZALATORIS, THE YOUNG RISING STAR OF AMERICAN GOLF CAME TO ATTENTION ON THE GLOBAL STAGE WITH MAGNIFICENT PERFORMANCES IN THE MAJORS IN 2021, INCLUDING FINISHING AS RUNNER-UP TO HIDEKI MATSUYAMA AT THE MASTERS LAST APRIL. ZALATORIS CAME INTO THE FINAL ROUND AS JOINT LEADER WITH JASON DAY, AND DESPITE A BOGEY AT THE FIRST HOLE HE STEADIED HIMSELF AND BOUNCED BACK TO HOLD AT LEAST A SHARE OF THE LEAD THROUGHOUT WITH BIRDIES AT 5 AND 6.
PARS FOR THE NEXT 12 HOLES SAW HIM MATCH LIST'S TOTAL IN THE CLUBHOUSE, AND DESPITE MISSING A PUTT ON THE 72ND HOLE WHICH WOULD HAVE GAVE HIM THE OUTRIGHT WIN, THE TITLE WAS STILL UP FOR GRABS FOR THE 25-YEAR-OLD FROM SAN FRANCISCO.
so the two men, separated in age by 12 years, both searching for their first pga tour title, headed back to the 18th tee as the sun was setting. for one it would rise again with them as a winner on the pga tour.
RAI CAME INTO THE FINAL ROUND ONE SHOT BEHIND DAY AND ZALATORIS, BIDDING TO WIN HIS FIRST PGA TOUR TITLE IN JUST HIS 10TH START AS A MEMBER. A FINAL ROUND OF 72 SAW HIM SECURE A 6TH PLACED FINISH, HIS BEST FINISH YET ON THE PGA TOUR AND HIS FOURTH TOP-20 FINISH THIS SEASON.
ALSO SEARCHING FOR HIS BREAKTHROUGH VICTORY ON THE PGA TOUR WAS WILL ZALATORIS, THE YOUNG RISING STAR OF AMERICAN GOLF CAME TO ATTENTION ON THE GLOBAL STAGE WITH MAGNIFICENT PERFORMANCES IN THE MAJORS IN 2021, INCLUDING FINISHING AS RUNNER-UP TO HIDEKI MATSUYAMA AT THE MASTERS LAST APRIL. ZALATORIS CAME INTO THE FINAL ROUND AS JOINT LEADER WITH JASON DAY, AND DESPITE A BOGEY AT THE FIRST HOLE HE STEADIED HIMSELF AND BOUNCED BACK TO HOLD AT LEAST A SHARE OF THE LEAD THROUGHOUT WITH BIRDIES AT 5 AND 6.
PARS FOR THE NEXT 12 HOLES SAW HIM MATCH LIST'S TOTAL IN THE CLUBHOUSE, AND DESPITE MISSING A PUTT ON THE 72ND HOLE WHICH WOULD HAVE GAVE HIM THE OUTRIGHT WIN, THE TITLE WAS STILL UP FOR GRABS FOR THE 25-YEAR-OLD FROM SAN FRANCISCO.
so the two men, separated in age by 12 years, both searching for their first pga tour title, headed back to the 18th tee as the sun was setting. for one it would rise again with them as a winner on the pga tour.
INCREDIBLY BOTH DROVE THEIR TEE SHOTS INTO THE RIGHT FAIRWAY BUNKER TO WITHIN INCHES OF EACH OTHER, BOTH LAYED UP AND GAVE THEMSELVES A CHANCE FOR BIRDIE. GOING FIRST LIST PRODUCED A STUNNING APPROACH WHICH SPUN AND ROLLED DOWN THE HILL TO WITHIN A FOOT, GIVING HIM A CERTAIN 4 AND PUTTING THE PRESSURE BACK ON ZALATORIS.
THE YOUNGSTER, WHO ALREADY HAD HIS PLACE IN THE MASTERS SECURED DUE HIS RUNNER-UP FINISH IN 2021, PITCHED TO ALMOST THE SAME SPOT HIS THIRD ENDED IN REGULATION. LIST WENT AHEAD AND HOLED HIS PUTT FOR BIRDIE, LEAVING THE STAGE CLEAR FOR ZALATORIS. A BIRDIE WOULD MEAN THEY WOULD HAVE CERTAINLY HAD TO RETURN ON SUNDAY MORNING TO COMPLETE THE PLAYOFF, BUT THE PUTT SLID BY THE LEFT AND WITH THAT LUKE LIST WAS CONFIRMED AS A PGA TOUR WINNER.
THE AUGUSTA RESIDENT CAN NOW MAKE PREPARATIONS FOR HIS FIRST TRIP DOWN MAGNOLIA LANE AS A PROFESSIONAL, AND STAY IN HIS OWN BED. LIST MADE HIS MASTERS TOURNAMENT DEBUT AT THE AGE OF 20 IN 2005 AFTER A RUNNER-UP FINISH IN THE 2004 US AMATEUR EARNED HIM AN INVITATION. HE PERFORMED CREDITABLY BY SHOOTING ROUNDS OF 77, 69, 78 AND 70 TO FINISH IN A TIE FOR 33RD POSITION.
THE YOUNGSTER, WHO ALREADY HAD HIS PLACE IN THE MASTERS SECURED DUE HIS RUNNER-UP FINISH IN 2021, PITCHED TO ALMOST THE SAME SPOT HIS THIRD ENDED IN REGULATION. LIST WENT AHEAD AND HOLED HIS PUTT FOR BIRDIE, LEAVING THE STAGE CLEAR FOR ZALATORIS. A BIRDIE WOULD MEAN THEY WOULD HAVE CERTAINLY HAD TO RETURN ON SUNDAY MORNING TO COMPLETE THE PLAYOFF, BUT THE PUTT SLID BY THE LEFT AND WITH THAT LUKE LIST WAS CONFIRMED AS A PGA TOUR WINNER.
THE AUGUSTA RESIDENT CAN NOW MAKE PREPARATIONS FOR HIS FIRST TRIP DOWN MAGNOLIA LANE AS A PROFESSIONAL, AND STAY IN HIS OWN BED. LIST MADE HIS MASTERS TOURNAMENT DEBUT AT THE AGE OF 20 IN 2005 AFTER A RUNNER-UP FINISH IN THE 2004 US AMATEUR EARNED HIM AN INVITATION. HE PERFORMED CREDITABLY BY SHOOTING ROUNDS OF 77, 69, 78 AND 70 TO FINISH IN A TIE FOR 33RD POSITION.
REMARKABLY LIST HASN'T EARNED AN INVITATION TO THE MASTERS A PROFESSIONAL, UNTIL NOW. IN THE INTERVENING 17 YEARS LUKE HAS PLAYED IN ONLY 9 MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS, AND SPENT MUCH OF HIS TIME TOILING ON THE KORN FERRY TOUR. HIS FIRST WIN ON THE PGA TOUR'S SECONDARY CIRCUIT CAME 10 YEARS AGO AT THE SOUTH GEORGIA CLASSIC, BUT HE WOULD TAKE ANOTHER 8 YEARS TO ADD TO THAT TALLY, WHEN HE WON THE KORN FERRY CHALLENGE, AT TPC SAWGRASS IN 2020.
THE WIN AT TORREY PINES COULD BE LIFE-CHANGING, IT CERTAINLY CHANGES A CAREER WHICH WAS TO ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES HEADING NOWHERE VERY FAST. BUT THE VICTORY IS TESTAMENT TO KEEPING ON WORKING HARD, TRYING YOUR BEST AND PERSEVERING TO FULFIL YOUR DREAMS. HE MAY NOT BE A-LIST BUT HE IS LUKE LIST, AND A PGA TOUR WINNER AT LAST.
UP NEXT WEEK ON THE PGA TOUR: AT&T PEBBLE BEACH PRO-AM - SHANK COVERAGE INCLUDES FINAL ROUND UPDATES ON TWITTER AND A POST-TOURNAMENT REPORT ON SHANKMEDIA.CO.UK/GOLF
UP NEXT WEEK ON THE PGA TOUR: AT&T PEBBLE BEACH PRO-AM - SHANK COVERAGE INCLUDES FINAL ROUND UPDATES ON TWITTER AND A POST-TOURNAMENT REPORT ON SHANKMEDIA.CO.UK/GOLF
