News
Blixt blitzes to Greenbrier Classic victory
It is amazing what a great motivator fading daylight can be to a few dozen PGA Tour pros. And for Sweden’s Jonas Blixt, whose 3-under par 67 won him the Greenbrier Classic by two shots, it proved a great tonic.
On a Sunday afternoon where Mother Nature meddled with a Tour event for the 15th time in 2013, merely finishing the round seemed a long shot. Thunderstorms came to the Old White TPC at The Greenbrier before the final two groups had teed off and a 5 p.m. restart time cast notions of finishing into doubt, especially given professional golf’s ever-more-notorious reputation for sluggish play.
But just after 8:45 p.m. sunset-time in White Sulphur Springs, W.V., the final group of Johnson Wagner and Jimmy Walker putted out and pleasantly surprised any cynical golf fans. Even though neither of them won, they were able to play their final 18 holes in 3 hours, 38 minutes. In other words: an instant compared to the five-plus hours budgeted for many rounds in major championships.
Click here to see the clubs that were in Blixt’s bag.
The Greenbrier Classic serves as a counterexample to major championships in other ways — not necessarily a bad thing. In the tournament’s four-year existence, Blixt becomes the fourth champion to come from outside the top-100 in the Official World Golf Ranking at position No. 103. Ted Potter Jr., was 218th in the world when he won in 2012, Scott Stallings was 224th when he won in 2011 and Stuart Appelby captured the first Greenbrier Classic title in 2010 from the 159th position in the OWGR.
This brief history might make glass-half-empty folk dismiss the tournament as inferior, but any event that brings visibility to less-heralded players should be seen as good for the promotion of the game. Blixt’s post-round interviews were candid and endearing as he learned that he was suddenly exempt into events like the 2013 Open Championship and the 2014 Masters, the joy and excitement was palpable on his face and in his voice. That gladness outshone his bright yellow golf shirt, which is quite an achievement.
Blixt finished the tournament at 13-under par 267, over a quartet of players: Americans Johnson Wagner (final-round 73) and Jimmy Walker (71) and Australians Steven Bowditch and Matt Jones (both 68). Wagner, clad in maroon-and-orange pants that nodded to his alma mater Virginia Tech, held the 54-hole lead by two shots but a number of loose swings on his inward nine proved his undoing.
The PGA Tour moves west to the American heartland for the John Deere Classic from the TPC at Deere Run in Silvis, Ill. on Thursday. Zach Johnson will defend his 2012 title amid a field that includes three-time champion Steve Stricker.
- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
News
Morning 9: 58 on the Korn Ferry Tour | Rory on possible return to policy board
|
- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK1
Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.
As usual, general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums — including some pretty spicy custom putters and headcovers — await your viewing.
Be sure to check back for more photos from the Big Easy, as we’ll continue to update this page with additional galleries throughout the week.
General Albums
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #2
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Alex Fitzpatrick – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Austin Cook – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Alejandro Tosti – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- MJ Daffue – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Nate Lashley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- James Nicholas – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Kevin Streelman – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rasmus Hojgaard – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Tom Whitney – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- SangMoon Bae – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Daniel Berger – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rory McIlroy – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Russ Cochrane – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Aldrich Potgieter – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Steve Stricker WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Drew Brees WITB (Legendary New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Thriston Lawrence WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
Pullout Albums
- MJ Daffue’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Cameron putters – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Swag covers ( a few custom for Nick Hardy) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Custom Bettinardi covers for Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Doug Ghim’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Patrick Cantlay spotted testing a Scotty Cameron blade putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- LIKE6
- LEGIT3
- WOW1
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK1
News
Morning 9: Tiger’s TGL teammates | Woosnam’s criticism of Cantlay | Rory’s return to tour policy board
|
- LIKE4
- LEGIT0
- WOW1
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK2
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
-
19th Hole5 days ago
Justin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
-
19th Hole3 weeks ago
Tiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
-
19th Hole5 days ago
‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Two star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Report: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Neal Shipley presser ends in awkward fashion after reporter claims Tiger handed him note on 8th fairway
-
19th Hole1 week ago
Brandel Chamblee has ‘no doubt’ who started the McIlroy/LIV rumor and why