Hideki Matsuyama has been busy back home in Japan, basking in the glory of his Masters victory last month but he’s ready to get back to work this week at the Byron Nelson Championship outside Dallas.
Matsuyama makes his first start since winning the Green Jacket and he will be getting his first look at the event’s new venue — the TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney.
World No. 1 Dustin Johnson, after a ho-hum week at The Valspar two weeks ago, will get his last tune-up before next week’s PGA Championship at Kiawah Island. World No. 2 Jon Rahm will join him as will Bryson DeChambeau.
DeChambeau had a heck of a week at the Wells Fargo. He thought he missed the cut on Friday after rounds of 70-74 left him at two-over. Late Friday, the cutline moved from one-over to two-over and DeChambeau arrived back in Dallas, got in a workout, took in five hours of sleep and headed back to Charlotte in the wee hours of Saturday morning. He arrived in plenty of time and shot a third-round 68 then added another on Sunday at finish at four-under, good enough for a top 10 finish. Not bad for a guy who thought he missed the cut.
Brooks Koepka hasn’t been seen since he missed the cut at The Masters, his surgically repaired knee simply wasn’t ready for major championship action and the terrain of Augusta National. He’s been home rehabbing since and this will be his only event prior to the PGA.
Jordan Spieth is a familiar face in the field. He has played in this event since his high school days and with his game rounding into shape, he could be a factor this week.
Alex Cejka Upends Steve Stricker At Regions Tradition:
Steve Stricker looked like he was on his way to winning another senior major but things didn’t go to well for him on the back nine at Greystone Sunday.
Stricker was looking good over the first nine holes of the Regions Tradition. He was four-under and 18-under for the tournament, three shots clear of journeyman Alex Cjeka and it was basically a two-man duel heading to the final nine holes.
A three-putt bogey at the 11th cut Stricker’s lead to two. Cejka birdied the 12th to cut the lead to one then things really flipped at the par five 13th. Stricker’s second shot found the water and he’d make bogey while Cejka made birdie to take a one-shot lead as he got to 17-under and Stricker dropped to 16. Cejka made it three straight birdies with another at the par three 14th to get to 18-under, two clear of Stricker.
Stricker fought back with a birdie at 16 then drained a clutch nine-footer at the 72nd hole to tie Cejka at 18-under.
The playoff took just one hole. Cejka got a great break when he hooked his drive into the woods left but his ball bounded back down the steep slope and into play. He’d go on to make nearly the same putt Stricker made to force overtime. Stricker then missed his birdie bid and Cejka had his first senior major.
Cejka, who won only once on the regular PGA Tour, was stunned but overjoyed. “He’s a great player,” Cejka said of Stricker. “I’m so excited, I don’t have the words now. I’m just super excited!”
Former SMU Golfer Austin Smotherman Gets Korn Ferry Win:
Former SMU golfer Austin Smotherman chipped in for birdie on the 71st hole Sunday then went on to win by three shots at the Simmons Bank Open in College Grove, Tenn.
PGA Tour player Brandt Snedeker was a driving force behind the event as it benefitted his foundation.
Smotherman shot three straight rounds of 69 and kept himself calm on Sunday when conditions got testy with high winds and a couple of weather delays. His winning formula was simple — he led he field in Greens In Regulation and Driving Accuracy. He finished at 16-under par, three clear of runner-up Carl Yuan.
“I was just trying to focus on keeping it in the routine no matter what was going on,” Smotherman said after winnning on the Korn Ferry for the first time. “The emotion was definitely high on that back nine trying to not get too far ahead of myself. I knew I was playing well and up and around the lead all day. The delays did not make it any easier. Luckily, I have my wife here. We grabbed some food; we were able to talk and hang out.
“It’s emotional. It’s awesome. It’s everything we’ve worked for, and to have it happen on Mother’s Day is pretty special, too.”
