"17 was a 5-iron. I think we had 220 hole"
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America was treated to yet another self-indulgent rising star, this time the tedious Webb Simpson contending at the Transitions Championship before eventually...eventually...eventually...losing by one to Gary Woodland. I've seen Simpson's slow play schtick before so it came as no surprise watching him take his sweet old time around Innisbrook, but it was still fun to read the Twittersphere erupting over his antics. Unfortunately he was not asked about his rudeness after the round.
Doug Ferguson on long-hitting Woodland winning in Tampa with his putter.
Woodland took only 23 putts in the final round – 10 on the back nine. According to the Shotlink data, he didn’t miss a single putt inside 20 feet in the final round, with four of those 17 putts outside 10 feet.
Sean Martin notes that the Transitions victory was Woodland’s fourth top-6 finish in seven starts this season after overcoming injuries that have set his career back.
Bob Harig said his win continues a trend of surprising winners, making the Masters field swell up.
It's the seventh time in 11 weeks of the PGA Tour season that a tournament winner punched his ticket to the Masters. And Woodland, who lost to Jhonattan Vegas at the Bob Hope Classic, is the third first-time winner this year.
"I think it speaks to the depth of the tour at this point," said Brandt Snedeker, a one-time tour winner who finished fourth. "We've got a lot of young guys who come out of college prepared and ready to play. Not necessarily needing the Nationwide Tour to get ready.
As for hitting it a long way, from Woodland's post round presser:
Q. Just talk about the last two holes, the birdie on 17 and then the --
GARY WOODLAND: 17 was a 5-iron. I think we had 220 hole, and I was really struggling hitting the ball all day, and it was probably the best swing I made, right at it. I got up there, and it was just behind the hole 15, 20 feet, and the putt really never left. It was always in.
18, I hit a perfect drive. I wanted to hit 3-wood and my caddie talked me into 2-iron. Obviously I had a lot of adrenaline. I got up there and I had 148 in the middle of the fairway. Adrenaline got the best of me. I hit pitching wedge from 148 and it felt like it went forever. I had a putt down the hill and the thing just took off, it was so fast, and I got over it, a 12-, 14-footer, whatever it was, just up the hill and tried to hit it in the back of the hole, and fortunately it went in.
The other revelation from the week, besides Simpson's ridiculous pace of play and Woodland's length? Scott Stallings' and his writing proficiency.
Stallings’ season turned around at Transitions, where he finished third. Stallings played this week on a sponsor exemption, which was granted in part due to his friendship with Transitions endorser Kenny Perry.
As for his writing, you can read some of Stallings' work here.
