The Byron Nelson Classic is in the books, for your early week consumption, these observations:
Sir Nick Faldo is good in the broadcast booth, but not a great prognosticator. Faldo clung the the thickest limb on the prediction tree and went with Jimmy Walker to win it in the final round. Aussie Steve Bowditch, was as clutch as it gets with solid birdies at the 16th and 17th holes that gave him a hefty four-shot lead going to the final hole where he notched his second PGA Tour win.
Speaking of Walker, his putter slapped him in the face on the back nine Sunday. He missed three birdie putts inside three feet.
Dustin Johnson was the highest-ranked player pursuing Bowditch on Sunday. The 10th-ranked Johnson took himself out of it with a snowman at the par four sixth hole. The eight came via a drive that went out-of-bounds, way right, followed by his second drive that went way left. DJ finished in a tie for eighth.
Jordan Spieth never got it going from the start. His putting was off, his iron shots were a tad errant and he finished back in the pack, tied for 30th at seven-under par.
Bowditch’s wife Amanda was waiting for him at the 18th green where the two had posed for wedding pictures a few years back. Their reception at the time was held there at the TPC Four Seasons.
Charley Hoffman is quietly having a heckofa year. Hoffman’s tie for second on Sunday raised his money winnings for this season to a shade north of $3 million and moved him to sixth on the tour’s money list.
Bowditch might win if they had a contest for best five o’clock shadow among PGA Tour players.
