For most of his life, Jim Herman put the “J” in journeyman.
On Sunday in Houston, he put the “C” in Cinderella at the Shell Houston Open.
With seventh-ranked Henrik Stenson putting on the pressure and ninth-ranked Dustin Johnson doing his best to win, Herman showed some major cool, major calm on the back nine at the Golf Club of Houston. He closed with a four-under par 68 and the winning shot came at the par three 16th when he chipped in from off the green for birdie.
That huge shot got him to 15-under par and he worked hard over the final two holes to collect a pair of pars that earned him his first PGA Tour win in 106 tries. The victory also earned him the last spot available for The Masters, which begins Thursday at Augusta Natonal Golf Club Club.
“I never thought it was possible,” said Herman after he holed a two-footer for par at 18 to pull off the upset. “Sorry for the tears,” he said but no one could blame him. He had just beaten a field that included Stenson, who finished runnerup at 14-under and Johnson, who took solo third at 13-under. But in the process, Herman also beat Rickie Fowler, fifth in the world, by six, Jordan Spieth, second in the world, by seven and three-time Masters champ Phil Mickelson, also by seven.
It was a stunning performance for the 191st-ranked player in the world.
“I almost can’t believe that he’s doing what he’s doing,” said the often cynical golf analyst, Johnny Miller.
Herman made Miller a believer along with everyone else.
“I hit a lot of three-woods,” said Herman, who stuck with a conservative game plan that kept him out of the trouble on most of the closing holes. He didn’t look nervous considering it was his first 54-hole lead ever on the PGA Tour.
Six pars and three birdies coming home was the magic formula for the former Cincinnati Bearcat golfer.
For Herman, it was a life-changing and career-changing day.
