8:59AM
Newsday (N.Y.): Young guns plan duel in the sun in final round of PGA Championship
8:59 AM
By Art Spander
Special to Newsday
SHEBOYGAN, Wis. -- Glory's Last Shot -- that's what they call the PGA Championship. In truth, it's anything but a last shot for so many of the contenders, first and foremost Nick Watney, the kid from Northern California who has worked himself into the 54-hole lead.
He grew up in small-town Dixon, west of Sacramento, Calif., the city where he was born. He was a star at Fresno State and he's a fan of the San Francisco Giants.
And he's about to face the biggest day of his golfing life.
"It's going to be a tough day,'' said Watney, who never has held the lead of a major tournament until now, "but I'm looking forward to it.''
Even if he is well aware of what happened to his friend Dustin Johnson in the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach last June. (Johnson was the third-round leader there before a final-round meltdown.)
Even if Johnson, 26, and 21-year-old hotshot Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland are in second, chasing Watney from only three shots behind.
Even if 32-year-old Matt Kuchar, who was in front when the delayed second round finally was finished Saturday morning, tumbled all the way into a tie for 11th after the third round.
The 29-year-old Watney shot a 6-under-par 66 Saturday for a spectacular 13-under 203 total after three rounds. Johnson and McIlroy are at 206. Wen-chong Liang of China, who in the third round shot an 8-under 64, a Whistling Straits course record, is tied for fourth at 207 with 22-year-old Jason Day of Australia and 25-year-old Martin Kaymer of Germany.
It says something about golf that of the six top players, only Liang, 32, is not in his 20s. It also says something that of those six, only Watney and Johnson are Americans.
If Watney, who has won twice on tour, hasn't exactly been under the sort of pressure which will exist Sunday, he does have a seventh place this year in both the Masters and the British Open. That will help some.
"At this point,'' Watney tried to persuade himself, if not the media, "it's just another golf tournament. I think that's the best way for me to look at it. Obviously, it's not, but I just need to go out there and keep doing what I'm doing. I'm playing very well. I'm putting the best I have in a really long time, so I can only control myself. Just got to do that [Sunday].''
Watney had the advantage of finishing his second round Friday. Because of fog delays the first two rounds, 78 golfers had to come out early Saturday, extending their day.
Liang also had the benefit of finishing his second round on Friday. He needed to play only 18 holes Saturday, not 30 as Tiger Woods and some others did, and in those 18, Liang made eight birdies and no bogeys, moving up from 37th.
He grew up in Zhongshan, where after the communist government relaxed controls, Arnold Palmer built China's first course since the 1930s. Liang won the Asia Order of Merit in 2007, the year he also played in another PGA, at Southern Hills, missing the cut.
"This round,'' Liang said through an interpreter, "is special to me because it makes people realize there are actually professional golfers in China.''
Dustin Johnson ended tied for eighth in the U.S. Open after a final-round 82 and he tied for 14th in the British Open.
"The younger guys have been playing well this year,'' Johnson said. "We have contended. We have won. [Sunday] is going to be a good show to see. You're going to have to go out and be somewhat aggressive. You've got to stay patient. I think at Pebble Beach I got maybe a little impatient.''
Watney, Johnson, McIlroy are all impatient to get that first major. As Johnson said, it should be a good show.
- - - - - -
http://www.newsday.com/sports/golf/young-guns-plan-duel-in-the-sun-in-final-round-of-pga-championship-1.2210829
Copyright © 2010 Newsday. All rights reserved.
Special to Newsday
SHEBOYGAN, Wis. -- Glory's Last Shot -- that's what they call the PGA Championship. In truth, it's anything but a last shot for so many of the contenders, first and foremost Nick Watney, the kid from Northern California who has worked himself into the 54-hole lead.
He grew up in small-town Dixon, west of Sacramento, Calif., the city where he was born. He was a star at Fresno State and he's a fan of the San Francisco Giants.
And he's about to face the biggest day of his golfing life.
"It's going to be a tough day,'' said Watney, who never has held the lead of a major tournament until now, "but I'm looking forward to it.''
Even if he is well aware of what happened to his friend Dustin Johnson in the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach last June. (Johnson was the third-round leader there before a final-round meltdown.)
Even if Johnson, 26, and 21-year-old hotshot Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland are in second, chasing Watney from only three shots behind.
Even if 32-year-old Matt Kuchar, who was in front when the delayed second round finally was finished Saturday morning, tumbled all the way into a tie for 11th after the third round.
The 29-year-old Watney shot a 6-under-par 66 Saturday for a spectacular 13-under 203 total after three rounds. Johnson and McIlroy are at 206. Wen-chong Liang of China, who in the third round shot an 8-under 64, a Whistling Straits course record, is tied for fourth at 207 with 22-year-old Jason Day of Australia and 25-year-old Martin Kaymer of Germany.
It says something about golf that of the six top players, only Liang, 32, is not in his 20s. It also says something that of those six, only Watney and Johnson are Americans.
If Watney, who has won twice on tour, hasn't exactly been under the sort of pressure which will exist Sunday, he does have a seventh place this year in both the Masters and the British Open. That will help some.
"At this point,'' Watney tried to persuade himself, if not the media, "it's just another golf tournament. I think that's the best way for me to look at it. Obviously, it's not, but I just need to go out there and keep doing what I'm doing. I'm playing very well. I'm putting the best I have in a really long time, so I can only control myself. Just got to do that [Sunday].''
Watney had the advantage of finishing his second round Friday. Because of fog delays the first two rounds, 78 golfers had to come out early Saturday, extending their day.
Liang also had the benefit of finishing his second round on Friday. He needed to play only 18 holes Saturday, not 30 as Tiger Woods and some others did, and in those 18, Liang made eight birdies and no bogeys, moving up from 37th.
He grew up in Zhongshan, where after the communist government relaxed controls, Arnold Palmer built China's first course since the 1930s. Liang won the Asia Order of Merit in 2007, the year he also played in another PGA, at Southern Hills, missing the cut.
"This round,'' Liang said through an interpreter, "is special to me because it makes people realize there are actually professional golfers in China.''
Dustin Johnson ended tied for eighth in the U.S. Open after a final-round 82 and he tied for 14th in the British Open.
"The younger guys have been playing well this year,'' Johnson said. "We have contended. We have won. [Sunday] is going to be a good show to see. You're going to have to go out and be somewhat aggressive. You've got to stay patient. I think at Pebble Beach I got maybe a little impatient.''
Watney, Johnson, McIlroy are all impatient to get that first major. As Johnson said, it should be a good show.
- - - - - -
http://www.newsday.com/sports/golf/young-guns-plan-duel-in-the-sun-in-final-round-of-pga-championship-1.2210829
Copyright © 2010 Newsday. All rights reserved.
Reader Comments (67)
I have read some good stuff here. Certainly worth bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how much effort you put to make such a great informative site.
I think this website holds very wonderful indited subject material articles.
Hi! Great post! :)
Spot up for this write-up, I seriously believe this site needs a lot more consideration. I'll apt to be once more to learn additional, appreciate your that information.
I would like to thank you for the efforts you have put in writing this web site. I am hoping the same high-grade site post from you in the upcoming as well. In fact your creative writing skills has encouraged me to get my own blog now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings quickly. Your write up is a good example of it.
Hello...
I like this blog so a lot, saved to my bookmarks ....
Greetings, very career, only was not therefore occupied with my research work I just read your own total blog. I seriously need to provide you with thank you!|
Wow that was strange. I just wrote an incredibly long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn't show up. Grrrr... well I'm not writing all that over again. Anyhow, just wanted to say wonderful blog!
This is really attention-grabbing, You are a very skilled blogger. I have joined your feed and look forward to seeking extra of your wonderful post. Also, I have shared your site in my social networks!
Wonderful issues.Id want to recommend going for a appear only at that type of as being a factor like hamburger.
Very nice style and superb content material , nothing else we require : D.
Hello Blogger! I discovered your website on Google and as a Search engine optimizer I have a tip for you that I think you will find very useful. There's a WordPress addon that automatically Search optimizes your site for better rankings, it's a 1-click setup that's not expensive at all and will help you make more money and drive more traffic to your blog. follow this link to check it out or click my name tinyurl.com/8267r5d . Thanks for your time.
As a designer i want to tell you that you have a very nice site , I enjoy the style and design, it really looks good.
Autopilot Twitter Money Making System ebook !! http://www.twittermoney.info ----- fan site for apps ! http://www.apps-touch.com
The electrical conduction system has the electrostatic field.
Im not a fan with the interludes either. But Im not a fan of most interldes and I guess they have been genuinely running using the International theme.
[url=http://www.angry-birds-luv.com]Angry Birds[/url]
Oh my goodness! an incredible article dude. Thank you Nonetheless I'm experiencing subject with ur rss . Don’t know why Unable to subscribe to it. Is there anyone getting equivalent rss problem? Anyone who is aware of kindly respond. Thnkx
Superstars are usually even so inserting about Ugg standard Crochet boot styles http://www.ontwerpburors.nl/bbbonline/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=96293" rel="nofollow">baby uggs on sale this particular truly is definitely an fashionable searching trunk that you just may put on along with some thing through denim jeans with a set of pants
this knitted boot style can be worn in several different ways to express some distinctly different looks http://foros.casaasia.es/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=201316" rel="nofollow">uggs on sale Presenting your Reasonably priced UGG Archetypal Brownish Shoes or boots
Women's Aupie ugg boots are also available in colors from pink to purple and so other colors http://www.lalogiadvd.com.ar/foro/viewtopic.php?pid=220704#p220704" rel="nofollow">ugg boots clearance but why stop there? After a child falls in love with their kid UGGs
Do not stop trying your own morals for every little thing.
A person essentially lend a hand to make significantly articles I'd state. This is the first time I frequented your web page and up to now? I surprised with the analysis you made to create this particular submit extraordinary. Excellent activity!
Deference to article author , some superb information .
WONDERFUL Post.thanks for share..more wait .. …