This McCoy is real, a real player.
Lee McCoy found himself paired with the world’s No. 1 player in Sunday’s final round at the Valspar Championship and surely the defending champion would show the amateur from the University of Georgia how it’s done. Surely Spieth would make a run and threaten to come from behind over the final 18 holes.
Surely Spieth would leave McCoy in his jet-wash.
It didn’t happen that way.
In fact, it was McCoy who showed Spieth how to perform on this Sunday at Innisbrook. On the course he played so often as a youngster, McCoy won the battle of the 22-year-olds. Two birdies and two bogeys on the front saw McCoy turn in even par. Spieth hit a horrible tee shot at the long par three eighth that found trouble long left and he would end up with a double-bogey to turn two-over.
Spieth could manage no better than a pair of birdies offset by two bogeys coming home for a closing 73 that left him at even par, tied for 18th.
McCoy went bogey-free on the back nine and birdies at the 12th and 14th holes were good for a 69 and a solo fourth place finish at four-under par.
“Surreal,” is how McCoy described his day. “I had to pinch myself a few times today. It’s incredible to see a guy in his position with that much class,” McCoy said, telling how Spieth complemented him all day and gave him a warm handshake and kind words as they finished their day together.
McCoy recounted the times he dropped by the tournament office over the past two years to beg for a spot in the tournament. The organizers came through for him this year and he did them proud.
No rest for McCoy, however. He was facing a long drive back to Athens where he will compete this week in the Southern Intercollegiate.
