Tiger Woods sat in the CBS broadcast booth Sunday afternoon and watched Billy Hurley III handle the final round pressure at Congressional Country Club.
“I guarantee you this golf stuff is easier than what he used to do,” Woods observed.
There was Hurley, handling the heat with major champions Ernie Els, Vijay Singh and Webb Simpson in pursuit. Hot-shot rookie John Rahm was looking like golf’s next big thing.
Hurley got a quick handshake and some encouragement from Woods at the turn. Hurley would be tested shortly after that.
At the par four 12th, he missed a six-foot par putt and now things were really getting tight for Lt. Hurley, U.S. Navy, retired. He was grinding out pars at the 13th and 14th. He was showing the mental toughness it takes to get through the Naval Academy. “Mental toughness is one thing you learn at Annapolis or you won’t be there very long,” Hurley said earlier in the week.
The struggle continued at the par four 15th where he missed the fairway and ended up 15 yards short of the green in two. Tough angle, tough pitch. He NEEDED to make par or lose the lead. All he did was hit an incredible shot that found the bottom of the cup. Hurley jumped and raised his right arm as the crowd roared. He had a swarm of friends from nearby Annapolis following him.
He followed that miracle shot with a 27-footer for birdie at the 16th and suddenly, Lt. Hurley was cruising to an improbable win for the 607th-ranked player in the world.
No doubt thoughts of his father were with him all week. It was 10-months ago that his dad, a former police officer, went missing and would eventually be found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Billy and Heather Hurley are a “faith-based” couple and it shows. As he tapped in for victory on the 72nd hole, Heather, sons Will and Jacob and two-year old daughter Madison surrounded him.
“It’s the story of the year as far as I’m concerned,” said CBS analyst Peter Kostis, who followed Hurley every step of the way on Sunday.
“It’s been really hard,” Hurley said of the months following his father’s death. “So it’s nice to have something go well.”
It went better than well for Hurley, who spent the final two years of his five years in the Navy on the destroyer U.S.S. Chung Hoon as a surface warfare officer, commanding 20 men. In 2014 Hurley finished 97th on the money list with $1,145,299. He banked more than that on Sunday, a fat check for $1,242,000. More important, he’s now in the winner’s category on tour. He will play in his first major in a few weeks — The Open Championship,, then the PGA two weeks after that. He will play in his first Masters next April.
The victory also put Hurley in this week’s WGC Bridgestone Championship in Akron.
It’s a life and career changing moment when you consider he had earned but $80,707 coming into Congressional. It took a sponsor’s invitation directed by Woods to get him in the field.
“I did pretty good with my sponsor’s invites,” quipped Woods, who put winner Hurley and third-place finisher John Rahm in the event.
The win also puts Hurley’s story in the spotlight.
In the world of sports, Hurley is the perfect role model. He is living proof that you can serve your country then chase your dream, just as Roger Staubach did in the 60s and 70s when he went from Midshipman to Naval Officer to Hall of Fame NFL quarterback.
Hurley was the first Naval Academy graduate to earn a PGA Tour card. At age 34, he’s a late-bloomer in the world of big-time golf.
He and wife Heather are heavily involved in charities and religious organizations. They are involved with Adoption Advocates International. It operates Layla House, an orphanage in Ethiopia. That led to their adoption of Jacob.
“Really impressive,” is how Woods described Hurley’s performance down the stretch at Congressional.
But when you look at his body of work on and off the golf course, Hurley goes far beyond “really impressive.”
He showed his extraordinary character. Hall of Famer Nick Faldo raved about Hurley’s “composure and calmness” under pressure.
It’s all part of the package that entails the PGA Tour’s own Officer And Gentleman.
The Naval Academy Alma Mater contains this verse:
“For sailors brave in battle fair, since fighting days of old,
Have proved the sailor’s right to wear —– The Navy Blue and Gold.”
Hurley has proved that in so many ways.
And no doubt, the PGA Tour is proud to have a Blue and Gold winner in the ranks.
4 Comments
beege
It is indeed the PGA Tour story of the year. Now to take it further he declines the invitation to the Open to be at his sister’s wedding. Some guys might not do that but I have the feeling this was not a choice he had to think about. He is a man of honor, family, integrity and purpose. A golf tournament means nothing compared to family. Go Billy Hurley III–you are my newest hero.
Tom Edrington
I grew up in Annapolis, my father was Adminstrative Officer at the Naval Hospital at the USNA, spent a lot of my young life on the Academy grounds and Saturdays at Marine Corps Memorial Stadium watching Joe Bellino and later Roger Staubach. Yes, Billy is truly and Officer AND a Gentleman!
beege
Hi Tom,
you have a special empathy with the newest champion.
Tom Edrington
That I do and you wouldn’t believe how I was pulling for him on Sunday….he got shaky for a moment with that three-putt early on the back nine then that HUGE chip-in was simply unreal…..very, very impressive down the stretch.