The Byrd is the word – Johnathan Byrd wins in playoff at Kapalua

Written by: Tony Korologos | Monday, January 10th, 2011
Categories: PGA Tour
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Byrd wins at Kapalua

The Byrd is the word

Johnathan Byrd is on a roll. He has won the last two PGA Tour tournament he has started in, both in playoffs. That is quite a turnaround, since he wasn’t even sure he’d keep his tour card at the end of the 2010 season. He punched his ticket to Kapalua and the Hyundai Tournament of Champions with an unbelievable win in Las Vegas by making a hole in one in a playoff to win at the end of 2010.

“I can’t sit here and not think about where I was toward the end of the season last year, fighting for my card. I’m just thankful, I’m overwhelmed, I’m grateful. All of the above.”  ~Johnathn Byrd

Byrd entered a playoff with the tour’s longest hitter, Robert Garrigus. Garrigus missed a par putt on the 2nd playoff hole which would have extended the playoff to a 3rd hole.

Robert Garrigus

Robert Garrigus takes 2nd

Garrigus

The fact that Robert Garrigus was even in that position, given the story of his journey to that point in his life, is also amazing. Garrigus had overcome substance abuse problems and gone through rehabilitation.  To be that low in one’s life, then bounce back to such a high level on the PGA Tour is an amazing feat.

McDowell

Graeme McDowell was one of those players who I mentioned yesterday would need to shoot a serious lights-out score to contend.  He did just that, tying the course record of 62 and bringing himself into the mix.  Graeme had a birdie putt on 18 which wasn’t terribly long, which would have put him into the playoff as well, but that one did not fall.

Stricker

Steve Stricker made bogey on the 1st hole, which when combined with the birdie Byrd made on the same hole, put him two shots back right out of the gate.  He couldn’t quite shoot a low enough score to win or get into the playoff, a two under 71.  Still, I love watching Stricker’s great short game and his simple and beautiful mechanics.

Sony Open

This coming week the Tour stays in Hawaii for the Sony Open. This will be the first “full field” event of the season.  Even John Daly is on his way down there to tee it up.  At the Sony there always seems to be some interesting story relating to a player who was invited like Tad Fujikawa or Michelle Wie.  I wonder what this year’s story will be?  It will be fun to watch.

Final Hyundai Tournament of Champions Leaderboard


Round
Pos Name 1 2 3 4 Playoff Today Total Strokes Purse
1 x-Jonathan Byrd 66 68 67 67 9 -6 -24 268 $1,120,000
2 Robert Garrigus 69 63 69 67 10 -6 -24 268 $635,000
3 Graeme McDowell 71 68 68 62 -11 -23 269 $412,000
T4 Carl Pettersson 66 67 71 68 -5 -20 272 $286,500
T4 Steve Stricker 69 67 65 71 -2 -20 272 $286,500
T6 Matt Kuchar 69 70 66 69 -4 -18 274 $201,500
T6 Ian Poulter 70 68 70 66 -7 -18 274 $201,500
8 Bill Haas 68 70 69 69 -4 -16 276 $182,000
T9 Jason Day 73 66 69 70 -3 -14 278 $162,000
T9 Jim Furyk 68 68 72 70 -3 -14 278 $162,000
T9 Dustin Johnson 71 66 73 68 -5 -14 278 $162,000
T12 Arjun Atwal 72 69 68 70 -3 -13 279 $132,000
T12 Bill Lunde 70 68 70 71 -2 -13 279 $132,000
T12 Justin Rose 75 67 69 68 -5 -13 279 $132,000
T15 Francesco Molinari 69 67 74 70 -3 -12 280 $10,700
T15 Ryan Palmer 70 72 68 70 -3 -12 280 $10,700
T17 Tim Clark 72 68 73 68 -5 -11 281 $87,000
T17 Ernie Els 72 64 74 71 -2 -11 281 $87,000
T19 Matt Bettencourt 73 70 70 69 -4 -10 282 $75,500
T19 Anthony Kim 69 71 74 68 -5 -10 282 $75,500
T21 Ben Crane 67 70 74 72 -1 -9 283 $71,000
T21 Adam Scott 73 67 70 73 E -9 283 $71,000
T23 Cameron Beckman 72 71 70 71 -2 -8 284 $67,000
T23 Zach Johnson 71 73 69 71 -2 -8 284 $67,000
T25 Charley Hoffman 68 75 67 75 +2 -7 285 $62,000
T25 Hunter Mahan 70 70 78 67 -6 -7 285 $62,000
T25 Bubba Watson 70 70 73 72 -1 -7 285 $62,000
T28 Jason Bohn 72 72 72 70 -3 -6 286 $58,500
T28 Heath Slocum 70 74 72 70 -3 -6 286 $58,500
30 Stuart Appleby 69 75 73 72 -1 -3 289 $57,000
31 Rocco Mediate 79 70 75 71 -2 +3 295 $56,000
32 Derek Lamely 72 76 78 70 -3 +4 296 $55,000
DQ Camilo Villegas DQ DQ DQ DQ DQ DQ DQ
x- won playoff

3 responses to “The Byrd is the word – Johnathan Byrd wins in playoff at Kapalua”

  1. Golf Practice says:

    The Byrd is the word…I think it’s his 4th or 5th victory on tour, a number greater than many of the up and coming stars like Mahan, DJ, etc. Byrd was dealing with a few things that prevented him from playing like he can but it looks like its behind him now.

  2. martin says:

    I will go with Graeme. Equipment change a week before this tournament and then puts up a 62 and comes in just one stroke back for the tourney. Awesome.

  3. Richard Pope says:

    McDowell. Unbelievable final round. This guy is the real deal. Not just a 2010 blip.


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