Greenbrier: Playoffs Anonymous

"If you had a chance late  Sunday afternoon to catch the end of the Greenbrier Classic at White Sulpher Mt. West Virginia expecting someone you were familiar with at top of the leader-board, you probably thought you had made a mistake, and accidentally caught the end of the Web.com tournament instead. No there was nothing wrong with your TV, and you were not on the wrong channel, just two guys you probably never heard of, were locked in a playoff that would be the most important of their careers."

Ok, no Tiger, no Phil, no Rory and no Bubba, the only guy on the leaderboard that was recognizable was US Open winner Webb Simpson. Simpson had a terrible back nine on Sunday and finished +3 on the day and five strokes out of the lead. What you saw were two young players, neither, ever cashing a PGA check greater than $20,000 tied at 16 under par and heading back to the 18th hole for a playoff.

On the line for these players would be the biggest check they had ever saw, their first ever PGA tour victory, a two year exemption and the biggest prize of all, at trip to Augusta next spring to play in the 2013 Masters. Fortunately, or unfortunately for one of the players, the loser would still get the biggest check of his career. The loser’s cut is was $658,000. The winner would bring home $1,098,000.

Ted Potter Jr. ranked 218th in the world, finished up a with his second 6 under par 64 in as many days at -16 for the tournament, and had to wait while on-course leader Troy Kelly finished up his round.

Troy Kelly had underwent hip surgery in 2010 after being diagnosed with arthritis and returned to play on the Nationwide tour last year where he finished 11th in winnings.

Potter watched with his girlfriend as Kelly played the par 3 18th and 72nd hole of the tournament. Kelly hit his tee shot pin high, 35 feet to the left. He would send his birdie putt 31/2 feet past the hole and have to make knee knocker coming back to send the match to the playoff.

The playoff started with a return to the 18th hole where Kelly would hit his tee shot to within 3 ft of his previous offering. He would face the same 35 ft  putt that he finished up regulation with. Ted Potter Jr. (being left handed) hit a baby draw that flew the flagstick and landed just inches off the back of the green. Kelly missed his putt and but like Potter, they would make par and go to the next playoff hole.

The par 5 17th was up next. After decent drives, Ted Potter Jr. somewhat blocked his second shot and was short and left of the green. Kelly jumped on his second shot and pulled it left into the greenside bunker just in front of Potters shot. Potter hit an excellent ship shot over the bunker to about four feet. Kelly had to modify his stance as his ball was so far to the left of the trap, he didn’t have room to get both feet in. He had to hit with his right foot in the trap, and on his left knee. He hit some 5-6 inches behind the ball and came out very short, almost getting hung up in the long grass.

Both players appeared to be in control, but you could see they had never played on a stage like this, and for so much. But with that being said, Troy Kelly stepped up and hit a 25 foot downhill breaking putt that found the bottom of the cup. Potter looked like a deer in the headlights and hit his four foot putt through the break and watched as it caught a little bit of the hole and popped out. Both players got pars and they went back to 18 for the third hole.

After dodging the bullet at 17, Troy Kelly hit his drive at 18 a little to fat and came up 40 feet short. His two previous shots had been left, but on the same level with the pin. This drive was short of the ridge and just plain short. Potter hit a laser in there to four feet below the hole. Advantage Potter. Kelly read too much break as the putt came up over the ridge, and did not come back to the hole. It wouldn’t matter, as Potter, faced with the same length of putt he had just missed at 17, didn’t hit this one through the break, but put it in the right side of the hole.

I told my wife as the two newcomers made their way through the playoff holes, this is what you have to love about sports. It was great to watch two unknown golfers play three holes that would completely change their lives. I was glad there wasn’t a seasoned player in the mix to intimidate Potter and Kelly.

Not only did he win the tournament, Ted Potter Jr. went from 173rd in FedEx points to 51st. He assuredly will climb in The World Golf Rankings, and did I forget to mention, a trip to England will be in his immediate future.

I felt bad for Troy Kelly, but someone had to win, and someone had to lose. The way I look at it, he has 658,000 reason to at least feel like a winner.

Photo Courtesy US Presswire

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