DeChambeau claims Palmer Invitational title
ORLANDO, FLA. >> The long ball helped Bryson DeChambeau outlast Lee Westwood on Sunday in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, only the key shots were as much with his putter as his driver.
DeChambeau holed a 40-foot birdie putt on the front nine and a 50-foot par putt early on the back nine. He closed it out with a nervy 5-foot par putt for a 1-under 71 and a one-shot victory over the 47-yearold Westwood.
It matched the low score of the day, one of only three rounds under par in the toughest final round at Bay Hill in 41 years.
DeChambeau and Westwood were never separated by more than one shot over the final 15 holes, a fascinating duel of generations that came down to the last shot.
DeChambeau took a one-shot lead to the par-4 18th and hit his most important drive of the day — in the fairway. Westwood’s tee shot settled in a divot, and he did well to get it on the green and two-putt from 65 feet. DeChambeau’s birdie putt slid by some 5 feet and he shook his arms in celebration when the par putt dropped.
Westwood closed with a 73, not a bad score considering the average of 75.49 was the highest for a final round since 1980.
Corey Conners was third at 8 under after a 74.
DeChambeau said he received a text Sunday morning from Tiger Woods, who is recovering
from serious leg injuries from his car crash in Los Angeles. He said Woods, an eight-time Bay Hill winner, told him to “keep fighting.” He also considered the words from Arnold Palmer to “play boldly.”
DeChambeau rose to No. 6 in the world with his ninth PGA Tour victory, and he became the first player this season with multiple victories, to go along with his U.S. Open title in September. It matched the longest it took for a multiple winner on the PGA Tour since 1969. Nick Price won his second title in the 21st week of the
season in 1994.
LPGA TOUR >> Austin Ernst won the Drive On Championship for her third LPGA Tour title, pulling away to beat fellow former NCAA
champion Jennifer Kupcho by five strokes at Golden Ocala.
Tied for the lead with Kupcho after each of the first two rounds and a
stroke ahead entering the day, Ernst closed with a 2-under 70 to finish the wire-to-wire victory at 15-under 273.
Kupcho, coming off a closing eagle Saturday, had a double bogey and three bogeys in a 74.
Following sisters Jessica and Nelly Korda in the first two events of the year, Ernst gave the United States three straight victories to open a season for the first time since 2007.
The 29-year-old former LSU star from South Carolina also won the 2014 Portland Classic and the 2020 NW Arkansas Championship. She won the NCAA title in 2011.
Jenny Coleman made it a 1-2-3 U.S. finish, closing with a 71 to get to 8 under.
DEAR READERS >> Every year during this time I step away from my column to work on other creative projects. I hope you enjoy these “Best Of” Q&As from 10 years ago.
Today’s topic is: Customer service.
I also invite readers to subscribe to my weekly “Asking Amy” newsletter, at Amydickinson.substack.com.
DEAR AMY >> This week, I was fired from a customer-service job. I had only been at the job for three weeks. The incident leading to my firing happened when I was exhausted and caught off guard by a very young customer who was angry about an answer I gave her. I was not at my best but tried to steer her to my manager. The girl refused to see the manager and Tweeted about my company and me that night. The next day, I called my supervisor to alert her about the angry customer. I was shocked to hear our headquarters caught wind of the Tweet, which stated that I was unkind to this customer. I am a compassionate person and about three times her age (about 20). Tell your readers to count to 10 when they are angry, even if they are “right” in a commercial situation. It is a test of character to know how to complain about people.
— Fired
DEAR FIRED >> Twitter and Facebook (and other social networking sites) have made it very easy for consumers to broadcast their praise about products and services. These same tools are being used by consumers to complain about services and single out specific employees. I admit to having done this myself.
Recently, after a very frustrating encounter with an airline employee during a delayed flight, I took to Twitter with a nonspecific, snarky complaint, neatly delivered in 140 characters.
Within minutes, I heard back from the corporate office of the airline, asking for the name of the employee I was complaining about. I declined to provide it (and the lesson to me is that
I’ll never do that again).
Sometimes a complaint is a vent and not grounds for punishment or dismissal.
I agree with your admonition to count to 10 before pressing “send.” I also urge companies not to overreact to unverified Tweets or postings, especially when these complaints could be used to improve service through training.
(February 2011)
DEAR AMY >> It is important for people to understand that servers and store salespeople are fired for customer complaints.
I only complain if the service is seriously lacking. If the service is good, I find the manager and sing their praises.
— Equal Opportunity
Praiser
DEAR PRAISER >> I agree that we should all put as much energy into our praise, as we do into crafting our outraged and clever complaints.
(October 2011)