Scene & Heard at Reynolds Plantation: Final Round
Check the stats: Ryan Benzel, the PGA Head Professional at Mill Creek Country Club in Mill Creek, Wash., had an unusual but impressive start to his final round. Benzel, who came in second in last year's Championship, birdied five of his first six holes. Then only hole he didn't birdie was No. 2, the short par 5 that has played as statistically the easiest hole on the course. Benzel shot a 67 and finished tied for fourth.
On to the altar: Charles Meola had an eventful week, shooting the low round of the tournament (65) and just missing a ticket to Oakland Hills after being the final player eliminated in a five-person playoff. But his hectic summer hasn't peaked yet. Meola will be getting married on Friday back home in New York.
Eyeing the skies: As the leaders started to come in, there was a rain delay of one hour and 42 minutes. There was no significant rain on the course during the delay, but there were a number of lightning strikes in the area.
Hometown heroes: Scott Hebert, the 2008 PGA Professional National Champion, received the Walter Hagen Trophy for his win. Hagen, one of the greatest golfers and PGA Professionals of all time, spent his final years in Traverse City, Michigan. Hebert, the PGA Head Professional at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa, lives in Traverse City, Mich.
Big winners: Two people have won the PGA Championship and the PGA Professional National Championship: Bob Rosburg and Sam Snead. Neither won both in the same year.
All in the family?: It's not unusual for to see a father and son participating in this event, often one caddying for the other. But for Craig and Chase Stevens, this week wasn't quite all in the family. Craig, the PGA Director of Instruction at Fox Creek Golf Club and Legacy Golf Links, brought a different caddie while Chase carried the bag for Alan Morin, a PGA Assistant Professional at The Falls Country Club in Lake Worth, Fla. Chase answered "Dad wasn't going to pay me." Craig gave a much different account, explaining that he had a regular caddie for these important events. Morin finished at -2 (tied for 15thth) and earned a ticket to Oakland Hills and the 90th PGA Championship. Craig Stevens finished at even par and in a tie for 25th.
HEARD:
CURT SANDERS
68-73-74-70--285 -3
"It has not even sunk in yet. To represent The PGA of America is pretty exciting. I think it will sink in as the day and night goes on.
"I am most pleased that I was able to hit good shots down the stretch that is always rewarding and the icing on the cake is that I get to go enjoy Detroit.
"I got the chance through winning our Section championship to play in the Verizon Heritage and the Wachovia Championship this year. I think that takes a lot out of you when you are preparing for a tournament plus having a full-time job at your club. Most importantly it was the experience that helped me greatly.
"I need to find out about Oakland Hills a little bit to help in my preparation. I know there is a lot of rough and it is long and difficult, so I will sit down and make a plan. But my first priority is to my club and my members. July is one of my difficult months as well."
FRANK ESPOSITO
71-74-71-71--287 -1
How do you feel about going into making the cut for the tournament?
"It's pretty neat, but there is still a lot of golf out of there. And if there is a playoff there will be seven guys for one spot. I hung in there and played very well."
Tell me a little about your game this week.
"I think that greens and regulation I was first and putting I was last. So that kinds of sums it up."
DAVID LONG
68-71-78-67--284 -4
"You have to take it one shot at a time. One round won't kill you. Yesterday, even though I shot a 78, I felt like I was still on the bubble. You just have to keep going and not worry about everyone else. Just play your own game and hope you hit the right club at the right time."
BRUCE SMITH
76-70-71-70--287 -1
"My big goal coming here is to try and qualify for the PGA again. It would be my second time. But more importantly it is for my family. My kids were here, and we drove 15 hours to get here from Dallas and having a chance for them to see me play golf, better yet, having a chance to get in the PGA and for them to see it, that was the goal this week. Everybody at the facility was fantastic. You couldn't ask for anything better. It is an absolute joy to be here."
CLEVE COLDWATER
75-70-71-71--287 -1
"I played in the '93 PGA and it's a blast. It would be great but I've exceeded all my expectations for the week and to just have an opportunity to have a chance to do it would be just fantastic. That's kind of the way I'm looking at it and I mean that perfectly honestly. I'm happy to shoot what I shot. I don't hardly play any competitive golf and to play like this, it's way higher than what I thought I'd do.
"I drove the ball real well and I think that's one of the big things that you have to do on these golf courses. I didn't drive it well on 18 but I think driving the golf ball is extremely important here to put yourself in position to go at some flagsticks. The greens are real receptive so if you put it in the fairway, you give yourself opportunities."
CHARLES MEOLA
75-65-75-72--287 -1
"I had my mind focused on this and I put that (my wedding on Friday) out of brain for a while. But it's a great thing to look forward to.
"It would be pretty special to make a PGA Championship. This is only my second time playing in this tournament so I know if I don't make it this year, I'm going to have a lot years ahead of in the years to come. It would kind of be extra special with getting married on Friday, it would be a great year. I did all I could so now we just have to wait and see what happens.
"Yesterday I was in the second to last group playing with the leaders and nerves kind of got to me a little bit. And they kind of got to me today coming to the end. I made a bad decision on 16, a bad swing and on 18 it could have went in."
JAMES ESTES
73-71-71-68--283 -5
"I didn't really have any expectation because I haven't really been working on my game. I think my experience playing in four U.S. Opens and playing in the Tour, hopefully helped me coming down the stretch. The first nine holes we all putted poorly. I bogeyed 10 to go 1 over par and I told my caddie I'm just going to go for broke. I drove the green on the next hole and two-putted and I birdied the par 5. No. 12 I hit it on the green in two and I made a nice 15-foot putt on the next hole, 13. I didn't go for the green on 14 because the pin was tucked in the corner and I just played for 3 there and then 15 I hit a good tee shot. I was in the rough so I didn't get it on the green. I was short of the green and I don't chip in practice so I was a little anxious there. 16's the hardest hole on the golf course. The tee shot is so scary. We had to wait there for like 10 minutes. I hit the ball great on that hole all week but I was questioning myself. As it turned out it was a good 4.
"It's so exciting. I had one other opportunity when I played on the Nike Tour. I won the tournament but I had qualified through the National Club Pro in '95 and I didn't go because I won a tournament on the Nationwide Tour and they said you're No. 1 on the money list. What are you going to do? If you play in more than 12 events as a PGA guy you forfeit your PGA tournament so I had to make a decision and I went ahead and played full-time because I had won on that Tour so I didn't get an opportunity to play. So it feels good to be able to do this for the first time. It will be exciting."
ALAN MORIN
69-70-74-73--286 -2
"I'm not that happy with how I played today, but I'm very happy with where I'm at. I missed a lot of putts this week, I don't know why, but every putt was a grind. I just couldn't get the speed down.
"This will be my fourth trip to the PGA Championship and it's helpful having been there before. You know what to expect, you know how to prepare a little bit. It's just playing golf, just at a higher level.
"I love it. It's a great place. Everything this week was so top-notch. Everyone needs to be congratulated here, I think the superintendent deserves a big bonus or something. I mean, what a great place."
BRAD MARTIN
73-69-69-72--283 -5
"My expectations were high. I had been playing well although the weather at home was a little rough this spring. I hadn't been practicing a lot, but when I did play I played well. My goal was to make the cut and finish top 20. I had hoped to put myself in position to play for the win, and I did that, but I didn't play well enough today to win.
"It's been incredible. It was a complete shock. Once it sunk in, my fiancée and I celebrated that night and had fun. Everybody at Reynolds Landing seemed to know about it.
"I am going to just keep trying to work on the same things I've been working on all week. Ball striking was great and putting was not so good, so when I get home I'm going to work with my putter. I'm going to get back to my normal life and get ready for the championship.
"Back then I was a good player, but I didn't know what I was doing. I feel like every year as I've gotten older and grown in the game, that I could compete with the guys on Tour. I've got a lot of buddies on Tour so I have expectations of making the cut."
ERIC MANNING
70-74-70-72--286 -2
"After the rain delay we kind of knew that two was pretty safe and one was looking like a playoff so going out there and knowing that I had to do it (birdie 18) -- I did it. It may have looked like a short putt but it didn't feel like one. The first time I stood over it, I couldn't get the putter to move. It felt like it weighed about 200 pounds. I had to back off and do it all over again.
"It would be awesome to play in a major championship. I played in a couple Tour events, three of them, and I played on the Ben Hogan Tour, which is now the Nationwide, full-time in 1990 but this is another level. The only thing I'm disappointed is that I can't go play Tiger."
VINCE JEWELL
68-73-72-73--286 -2
"Right now it's wow. I don't think it has hit me yet. This is not my first Tour event. I've played in a few Byron Nelsons and a few Nationwide Tour events. This is definitely the biggest event of my life though as far as golf goes. I'm really looking forward to it now.
"Obviously my putter is working well. I got up and down on 17 and 18.
"We have a member that is from Detroit at my club and he's promised now to take me to Oakland Hills to play with me. He's played there several times I guess growing up so that will help me prepare."
BRADLEY DEAN
70-72-71-73--286 -2
"It's just an awesome feeling. It's in my own backyard in Oakland Hills and it's just a wonderful facility down there and I've played there before but apparently they've lengthened it a little bit. But it's going to be a definite challenge and I just hope I can find a game in the next month to play.
"I know a lot of people in Michigan. I've been there my whole life so it's going to be an exciting time and I'm really looking forward to it.
"First of all this is a phenomenal facility, just the spectators out here. It's just been really great watching the boats off the harbor while we're playing. It's just been awesome but I just tried to keep it in the fairway and minimize mistakes. I just tried to make a good score."
ERIC DUGAS
69-72-70-71--282 -6
"I can't even describe it. My goal for the week was to try to get around all four rounds without playing one over par and I was able to do it. I only had one round at even and the rest were under par. I'm ecstatic. I'm overwhelmed. I'm just trying to take it all in. I couldn't be more surprised or happy. It's just unbelievable.
"My little brother was on the bag and my mom and dad were here. My older brother was at home rooting for me. The amount of phone calls and text messages that I have received in the past four days just shows me how many people are rooting for me. You really don't realize it until you get in these situations.
"I couldn't be happier with the way I played composure-wise and it's a testament to the guys you play with because if they didn't have the same composure then it's hard to maintain yours. When you get paired with good people and they're playing well, it's easy to ride the ship."
SONNY SKINNER
68-71-69-69--277 -11
"He (Scott Hebert) played extremely well. He hit the ball better than me and he putted much better than I did. My hat's off to him. He was a pleasure to play with. I love to compete and he made me compete. He just whipped me.
"The competition is addictive. I enjoyed it tremendously. I just wish I would have had a bit more of my game. On the back nine I struggled. On the back side I mis-hit some shots and didn't putt as well as I could have. All of a sudden he just took the momentum and ran with it. I thought the break that we had would help me and I came back and hit a really good shot on the next hole and just whiffed my putt. The next hole we both had chances to make it. I gave him a read and he rolled it right in. He really putted well and that's what we came to do. He did good.
"It will be my first major championship. I don't know how many tournaments I've played but I'm really looking forward to this one. I feel really honored to represent the PGA of America and I'm going to plan my schedule accordingly and be ready to play."
KYLE FLINTON
70-69-69-72--280 -8
"It was an up and down day. It was another good pairing. I had a great time with Scott and Sonny again today. I hit the ball well. I missed a couple greens. I just fought my putter all day long. I just couldn't trust it, couldn't get the speed down. It was just frustrating. I just never gave myself very many opportunities today. That's the frustrating part. The exciting part was it was a nice week with my wife and I'm looking forward to my first major.
"The weather delay helped me. It helped me regroup. I just three-putted 13 and I needed a 30-minute cooldown period before I really went ballistic out there.
"I'm extremely excited. I'm disappointed that I didn't have a better chance coming down the stretch. I just kind of watched these two fight it out. I was hoping to be in the mix. It's hard to be disappointed for my first event and I'm looking forward to playing in Michigan."
FRANK ESPOSITO
71-74-71-71--287 -1
How do you feel about going into making the cut for the tournament?
"It's pretty neat, but there is still a lot of golf out of there. And if there is a play off there will be seven guys for one spot. I hung in there and played very well."
Tell me a little about your game this week.
"I think that greens and regulation I was first and putting I was last. So that kinds of sums it up."
SAM ARNOLD
71-70-72-72--285 -3
Three under for the tournament, how do you feel?
"Ecstatic. My faith is pretty strong and two years ago, it went into a play off and got beat, but went in as an alternant, so it was a pretty big rollercoaster ride there in 2006. And now knowing that I'm in is really exciting leading up to the PGA Championship."
What are your expectations for the PGA Championship?
"The first time around I was really nervous, and this time I think I'm going to go out and have fun. And enjoy it with my family driving up from Cincinnati."
Tell me about your rounds this week.
"I was here on the first round and I shot 39 on the front nine and then finished birdie, eagle which the second shot hit the pin on 18 and I tapped it in for eagle. And then the next day at Reynolds Landing I shot a 70 with eight birdies. And then yesterday I shot 72 and today I shot 72 and I was just trying to keep it around par."
TIM WEINHART
73-67-72-70--282 -6
Talk about the whole experience, especially as being in hosted in Georgia.
"Well it was a home game, so that part was very important to play. I putted very well all week. My driver was sideways. I hit a good tee shot but also a lot of bad ones. But I wedged it real well and putted it real well. The game is funny. There are guys that can hit is 330 yards and that can't putt, and then guys like me that hit is 280 and I can wedge it and putt it. If my driver is not in the fairway, then that makes it a little more difficult."
Was it extra special being in Georgia?
"Yes. I can look around and see about 20 people I know here. And it is really cool."
What are your expectations going into the PGA Championship?
"Driving in the fairway and making the cut and hopefully shooting a low score. The goal is, ever tournament you are in, you are trying to win. And I know it sound really crazy and everyone say you are a club pro, what you can do and what chance you have against these guys. You know there is no defense in golf and there is no reason why I can't go up against these guys and finish in the top 10. If I drive like I do here, it will be hard to be in the top, but if I drive it good, there is no reason why I can't win."
JEFFREY MARTIN
72-68-70-74--284 -4
How do you feel?
"This is awesome. This is my second time going. It's why we grind our butts off this year, just for a chance to play in a major. It is awesome to rub elbows with the elite of the game for a week."
Tell me a little about your round for the week.
"I had one of the best weeks for hitting the ball. My putter went array out there for me. You know that is how it goes. I hit a lot of good iron shots today and a lot of good tee shots. Then I started thinking about PGA and the rain delay didn't help me. And I'm glad to be done with this tournament and on to the PGA Championship."
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