Howard downs Martin
Glenn Howard took advantage of a solid opening end and went on to beat Kevin Martin 6-5 to win the Pomeroy Inn & Suites National in Dawson Creek, B.C.
Howard, of Coldwater, Ont., cracked a three-ender in the first and kept Martin at bay the rest of the way to capture his second Capital One Grand Slam of Curling event of the season. The win also snapped a personal three-game losing streak against his longtime rival from Edmonton.
“The best bring out the best,” Howard said in an interview posted on the Grand Slam website. “Both of us, we love playing each other. I know Kevin always plays so well against us, and it drives us crazy.”
After winning the draw to the button for last rock, Howard had things set up for a potential deuce in the first end, but caught a break when Martin’s last stone picked. That created a possible double attempt for four. Although he jammed on the back stone, Howard still got three and a commanding early lead.
“We played a terrific first end,” Howard said. “We got a really big break. Kevin’s last shot, he got in a little deep, but he had to draw against two and it picked on him.
“I had a runback actually for four, I made it for three, and that puts us right in the driver’s seat.”
Martin, the defending champion who along with Howard had a 7-0 record coming into the final, kept things close and even had a chance to tie it in the eighth to force an extra end. Down 6-4 with hammer, he needed to make a razor-thin double and keep his shooter to score his deuce. He made the double, but lost the shooter in the process, handing Howard his 13th career Grand Slam title.
Howard also extended his lead in the Capital One Cup standings with the win — he now has 31 points, 10 more than second-place Martin with one event to go.
Martin has won a record 17 Grand Slams will need to prevail at the GP Car and Home Players’ Championship in April to avoid going winless on the circuit for the first time since the 2008-09 season.
Howard, Middaugh, second Brent Laing and lead Craig Savill earned $25,000 for the win.