Dustin Johnson was settled in his chair there in the clubhouse at Eagle Point. His work was done, he had a helluva final 36 holes. Shot 67-67 and posted nine-under.
Paulina was sitting there with him. Pat Perez was standing there as well. He, like Johnson, had just posted nine-under and were the Wells Fargo co-leaders in the clubhouse.
Out on the course, Jon Rahm would have a good chance to join them at nine-under but for the moment, Brian Harman had their attention, all 150 pounds of him, maybe with some rocks in his pockets.
Harman was nine-under as well and had launched a perfect drive, 317, dead-center cut. He surveyed his second shot, water right, big oak tree left. He took some time to make his club choice but you had to think he was out there like The Little Engine That Could — I think I can, I think I can.
He was trying to find that magical birdie that would get him to 10-under. He changed clubs then settled in. Even these highly-skilled pros sometime think as we do. Harman gave it the old “Don’t Hit It Right” move and the little lefty blocked it a bit left, his shot clipped the big oak tree and settled behind the greenside stands.
Back in the clubhouse, D.J. was probably thinking quietly to himself that his chances at a fourth-straight win were very much alive. After taking his two-club relief from the stands, Harman dropped into a fluffy, unpredictable lie.
Things took a turn for D.J. and Perez when Harman didn’t catch his third very clean. Barely got it on the green, left himself with a not-so-makeable 28-footer for a possible winning birdie and 10-under.
The stat geeks flashed on the screen that he had a 92-percent chance of NOT making it, leaving D.J. and Perez a damn good chance that they would get ready to go out, warm up a bit and prepare for an inevitable playoff.
Harman was still in his “I Think I Can” mode, hit his putt on the perfect line. It was tracking perfectly and from a few feet out, he could tell.
Dead-center draino! Harman let loose into “I Knew I Could” celebration complete with multiple fist-pumps.
Back in the clubhouse, D.J. and Perez knew their day was done and that they had come up just short.
Back in 18 fairway, Rahm watched the whole thing live, shrugged his shoulder, smiled a “can you believe he made that?” smile and knew he’d need eagle to tie. Wasn’t that far fetched. He made one at 18 at Torrey Pines to win earlier this year.
Now it was Harman’s turn to watch nervously with wife Kelly and 11-month old daughter Cooper Riley in his arms.
Rahm was too pumped and blew his second over the green, leaving a longshot pitch for eagle.
Didn’t happen, neither did birdie and Harman had his second PGA Tour victory and his most prestigious by far.
“It’s surreal,” Harman said after that stunning putt. “I had three-putted 15. I knew it would be tough to birdie the last two after making par at 16.” But that is exactly what he did.
“It’s all emotion,” Harman went on. “I’ve been working really hard, this feels good. I thought I had a pretty good chance at Harbor Town (T9). Having belief in myself and knowing I’m pretty good at what I do,” said the Little Engine Who Did.
Meanwhile, D.J. was philosophical about his runner-up finish. “I knew I needed to play really well. I thought I needed to get to 10 or 11 (under).”
He was right and after making the cut on the number early Saturday (one-over) and finishing his second round with two late, costly bogeys, D.J. showed he’s still the best guy out there, almost pulled it off after a four-week layoff.
Got nipped by The Little Engine that was Harman.
“How’d be do that?” was the question America’s commentator, Jim Nance posed after Harman’s magical putt for victory.
His sidekick, Sir Nick Faldo had the perfect answer:
“Pure will power.”
Kinda like the Little Engine That Could.
