Pan is the man after Johnson crumbles
DuStin Johnson began the final round of the Heritage Classic in South Carolina yesterday with a one-shot lead over ian Poulter. He finished it proving that not even the world’s best golfer is immune from occasionally looking like just another Sunday afternoon hacker.
Consider Johnson’s back nine and take heart: from the 11th hole he had three bogeys in a row and then followed it with two double bogeys in succession.
Seven shots lost in just five holes — and this was supposed to be the day when he went one better than his runner-up finish at the Masters the previous Sunday, where they fitted him with the tartan jacket on offer here to the winner to make up for just missing out on the green one.
Just to put the tin lid on his afternoon to forget, the 34-year-old hails from just down the road from where the event was being held on beautiful Hilton Head island, and had plenty of family and friends in the audience. He concluded with a horrific 77 to fall all the way to a tie for 28th.
Poulter couldn’t take advantage of Johnson’s woes as he failed to recover from a poor start of his own, and neither could Shane lowry. the irishman was seeking his first victory on american soil for nearly four years, and established a two-stroke lead following three early birdies.
But a painful three-putt bogey at the 9th was followed by a costly double bogey at the 12th, where he needed four shots from an awkward spot 20 yards short of the green. lowry would end up with a 70 for tied third place, while Poulter had to settle for a 73 to finish tied 10th
While the leading groups at the start struggled, it proved one of those days for someone to post a score with every chance it would prove good enough. in the end it was Ct Pan from taiwan who shot 67 to claim his first Pga tour victory.
Pan finished one shot ahead of the total posted by former champion Matt Kuchar, who was seeking his third win of the season. asian golf is still awaiting the momentous occasion when one of their own claims the green jacket, but they appear to have no problem claiming this tartan one. Pan follows in the footsteps of Satoshi Kodaira from Japan, who won last year’s event.
Pan came to the US as a young man and did not speak a word of English. ‘i grew up watching all of tiger’s wins, so to have a win of my own after tiger last week feels incredible,’ said the 27-year-old.
irishman Seamus Power shot 67 to finish tied sixth. Eddie Pepperell shot 70 to sneak inside the top 20, while tommy Fleetwood closed with a 70 to be tied 25th. luke donald couldn’t improve on his amazing record of six top three finishes in this event as he closed with a 72 for tied 34th place.
Matt Fitzpatrick shot 72 for tied 40th while graeme Mcdowell double bogeyed the 18th for a 73 to finish among the stragglers.