News
Watney wins The Barclays, now No. 1 in the FedExCup
Nick Watney is one of those players that make people say that the talent on Tour is deeper than it ever has been.
The 31-year old put all his gifts on display this week, coming from two strokes back in the final round to win The Barclays Championship, the first round of the PGA Tour’s Playoffs for the FedExCup.
Watney’s final round 69 gave him a four round total of 10-under 274, three strokes ahead of runner-up Brandt Snedeker and four shots clear of third-round leader Sergio Garcia and Dustin Johnson.
Garcia came into the week fresh off his first Tour victory in four years at the Wyndham Championship, and for much of the week it looked like he would be the Tour’s first winner in consecutive weeks since Tiger Woods in 2009. His stellar play had him at 10-under going into the final round, winning over the vocal New York crowds that had ragged him mercilessly in the 2002 and 2009 U.S. Opens.
But Garcia played the last 10 holes in a disastrous 4-over par, while Watney played the same stretch 1-under. The key to Watney’s success was in the numbers; he led the field in greens in regulation and putted confidently on the super-slick Bethpage greens.
“The difference this week was my putting,” Watney said. “I missed a few short ones but I also mad a couple of long ones, but on the whole I think the greens were pretty tough and I putted pretty well.”
Watney’s season had been disappointing until this week, with his best finish coming at the Wells Fargo Chmapionship in early May. But his win this week guarantees him a place in the hunt for the $10 million first prize awarded to the winner of the Playoffs, and also puts him on the radar as Captain Davis Love III prepares to make his four at-large selections for the Ryder Cup team.
Throughout his career, Watney has always seemed capable of great things. The sweet-swinging Californian was a three-time All-American at Fresno State, and has posted five wins in his career. Interestingly, three of his wins have come at venues know for hosting major championships; this year’s Barclays joins wins at Torrey Pines (2009 Buick Invitational) and Congressional (2011 AT&T Invitational).
It was another disappointing weekend for Tiger Woods. He led the FedExCup points race at the start of the tournament and could have taken over the world No. 1 ranking with a win. But a back-nine 40 on Sunday erased his chances of contending. Woods tallied a 5-over 76 and tied for 38th at 1-over for the week.
No star shone brighter this week than the host venue itself. If any course can claim the title “America’s Course”, Bethpage Black would be one of the leading contenders. Like any New Yorker, the Long Island track is tough, demanding and loves the spotlight.
It has only hosted three PGA Tour events, a couple of U.S. Opens and the 2012 Barclays. While this week’s event wasn’t a major, it definitely had the intensity and degree of difficulty. Though technology and player fitness has had ten years to catch up since Bethpage Black put an epic beatdown on the entire field in the 2002 U.S. Open, the track would probably need only another inch of length in the rough to get the scores to 2002 levels. While it’s fun to watch the best palyers in the world throw darts at pins and rack up baskets of birdies, it just as fun to watch them wrestle a challenging course that tries to throw them off like a bucking bronco.
Next week takes the players to TPC Boston for the Deutsche Bank Championship, but Garcia will not be in the field. He announced that he will skip the tournament in order to be rested for the remainder of the Playoffs and the upcoming Ryder Cup.
Michael Williams is the contributing editor of Newschannel8 Capital Golf Weekly and Bunkershot.com, as well as a member of the Golf Writers Association of America.
- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage
GolfWRX is on site this week at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island for the RBC Heritage. Plenty of golfers who competed in the Masters last week will be making the quick turnaround in the Lowcountry of South Carolina as the Heritage is again one of the Tour’s Signature Events.
We have general albums for you to check out, as well as plenty of WITBs — including Justin Thomas and Justin Rose.
We’ll continue to update as more photos flow in from SC.
Check out links to all our photos, below.
General Albums
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #2
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Justin Thomas – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Rose – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Nick Dunlap – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Thomas Detry – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Austin Eckroat – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Jason Day – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Will Zalatoris – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Ludwig Aberg – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Collin Morikawa – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
Pullout Albums
- Wyndham Clark’s Odyssey putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- JT’s new Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Thomas testing new Titleist 2 wood – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey putter with triple track alignment aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Scotty Cameron The Blk Box putting alignment aid/training aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey Ai One Eleven T putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Christian Bezuidenhout – testing new Callaway Ti 340 mini driver – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele testing the Callaway Ti 340 mini driver & the DUW – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Byeong Hun An, two new L.A.B. Golf putter builds with “T” alignment – 2024 RBC Heritage
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
- LIKE7
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL1
- IDHT0
- FLOP1
- OB0
- SHANK0
News
Morning 9: Aberg: I want to be No. 1 | Rory’s management blasts ‘fake news’ reports
|
- LIKE1
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
News
Masters 2024: Reduced-scale clubhouse trophy and green jacket to Scottie Scheffler
In the world of golf, there is Scotty and there is Scottie. Scotty Cameron gave the world of golf a nickname for a prestigious putter line, and Scottie Scheffler has now given the golf world a blueprint for how to negotiate one of the toughest tournaments to win. Sunday, Scheffler won the Masters tournament for the second time in three years. He separated from the field around the turn, making a trio of birdies at holes eight through 10. On the long walk home, he added three more birdie at 13, 14, and 16, to secure a four-shot win over Masters and major-championship rookie Ludvig Åberg.
On No. 7, Ludvig Åberg makes birdie to move into a tie for second place. #themasters pic.twitter.com/ZSjcOr9OQK
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 14, 2024
As the final group moved along the ninth hole, a quadrilateral stood at 7 under par, tied for the lead. Scheffler, playing partner Collin Morikawa, and penultimate pairing Max Homa and Åberg advanced equally toward Amen Corner, with the resolution of the competition well in doubt. Morikawa flinched first, getting too greedy (his words) at nine and 11. Double bogey at each dropped him farther back than he wished, and he ultimately made a 10-foot putt for bogey at the last, to tie for third position.
Ludvig Åberg made the next mistake. Whether he knew the Ben Hogan story about the approach into 11 or not, he bit off way more than he should have. His approach was never hopeful, and ended short and right in White Dogwood’s pond. Åberg finished the hole in six shots. To his credit, he played the remaining seven holes in two-under figures. Finally, Max Homa was the victim of the finicky winds over Golden Bell, the short, par-3 12th hole. His disbelief was evident, as his tee shot flew everything and landed in azaleas behind the putting surface. After two pitch shots and two putts, Homa also had a double bogey, losing shots that he could not surrender.
Why? At the ninth hole, Scottie Scheffler hit one of the finest approach shots of all time, into the final green of the first nine. Scheffler had six inches for birdie and he converted. At the 10th, he lasered another approach shot into a tricky hole location, then made another fine putt for birdie. Within the space of 30 minutes, Scheffler had seized complete control of the tournament, but Amen Corner still lurked.
Scottie Scheffler is back in sole possession of the lead. #themasters pic.twitter.com/MGytXpJcXH
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 14, 2024
At the 11th, Scheffler played safely right with his approach. His chip shot was a wee bit too brave and left him a seven-foot comeback putt for par. He missed on the right side and gave one shot back to the course and field. His tee ball on 12 was safely aboard, and he took two putts for par. On 13, the 2022 champion drove slightly through the fairway, then reached the green, with his first two shots. His seventy-foot-plus putt for eagle eased up, four feet past the hole. His second putt went down, and he was back in the birdie zone. As on nine, his approach to 14 green finished brilliantly within six inches. His final birdie came at the 16th, where he negotiated a nine-foot putt for a deuce.
Leader by four with two to play. #themasters pic.twitter.com/KcoilYExDr
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 14, 2024
Scheffler reached 11 under par and stood four shots clear of Ludvig Åberg when he reached the 18th tee. His drive found the lower fairway bunker on the left, and his approach settled in a vale, short and right of the green. With dexterous hands, Scheffler pitched to three feet and made the putt for par. With a big smile, he embraced caddie Ted Scott, who won for the fourth time at Augusta National, and the second with Scheffler. Ludvig Åberg finished alone in second spot, four back of the winner. Not a bad performance for the first-time major championship participant Åberg, and not a bad finish for the world No. 1 and second-time Masters champion, Scottie Scheffler.
- LIKE2
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL2
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK3
-
19th Hole7 days ago
Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Things got heated at the Houston Open between Tony Finau and Alejandro Tosti. Here’s why
-
19th Hole1 week ago
Tiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Report: Tiger Woods has ‘eliminated sex’ in preparation for the 2024 Masters
-
19th Hole2 days ago
Two star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
-
19th Hole2 days ago
Neal Shipley presser ends in awkward fashion after reporter claims Tiger handed him note on 8th fairway
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Addiction, spinal fusion, and scam artists – Everything Anthony Kim revealed in candid interview with David Feherty
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Anthony Kim says doctors told him that he ‘may not have much time left’ ahead of LIV return
Troy Vayanos
Aug 28, 2012 at 6:53 pm
A great win by Nick Watney and a bit of a surprise. He hasn’t had the most consistent of seasons, at least compared to 2011.
But securing this victory turns all that around and you would have to say now it has been a very good year.