The Zurich Classic was as much of a waiting game as a golf tournament and it finally ended Monday morning with a new first-time PGA Tour winner.
Brian Stuard hit a sensational approach on the second playoff hole to notch his first victory, a life-changer.
Stuard birdied the 18th hole in regulation play to get to 15-under par and tied with Jamie Lovemark and Ben An, an emerging young star on the world scene.
First, Stuard had to survive his playing partner’s eagle and birdie attempts at the last hole. Lovemark hit the par five in two but faced a 100-foot putt. He hadn’t three putted the entire tournament but left his first putt 12 feet short then missed the would-be winning birdie attempt.
An bowed out with a bogey on the first trip down 18 in the playoff. Then it was Stuard against Lovemark. Lovemark’s length game him a marked advantage but on the second trip down 18 his second to the green went long, putting him in a tough situation. It got even tougher when Stuard’s third shot stopped within three feet of the hole. Lovemark’s third came up short setting Stuard up for the winning birdie.
“I don’t know what to say,” said Stuard, who gained a full two-year exemption after struggling from the 125-150 category. “I think first, the way I hung in there,” he said. “My short game was awesome this week and my putter was great.”
The field spent as much time waiting as they did playing at the TPC Louisiana as rains made it a difficult week. By mid-morning Monday, half the field finished, making it an official event, even though it was shortened to 54-holes.
The feel-good story of the week was Bobby Wyatt having a chance to win. The sponsor’s invitee came up just a shot short of the playoff at 14-under. He admitted he was nervous on Monday but his fourth-place finish earned him $336,000 and a spot in this week’s event, the Wells Fargo at Quail Hollow in Charlotte. It also guaranteed him a spot in the Web.com finals.
But it was Stuard who reaped the biggest windfall — a spot in the Masters and an entry to the Players Championship in two weeks.
