By F. Edwin Miller
On the 72nd hole of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on Sunday, Jim Furyk attempted to will the ball further with his body after a failed bogey shot. His will, and overall play, proved ineffective.
On his way to what seemed like a victory, Furyk teed off on the final hole of the third round at Firestone with a one stroke lead. However, his shot landed in a bunker, followed by another shot that just missed the green, and an even more disheartening failed putt for par. Furyk’s series of misses allowed 2011 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year Keegan Bradley, who converted an amazing 15-foot par shot on the final hole, to come from behind and win after Furyk bogeyed on a five-foot shot that would have forced a playoff between the two.
(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images North America)
“I’ve lost some tournaments in some pretty poor fashions, but I don’t think I’ve let one ever slip nearly as bad as this one,” 16-time PGA Tour winner Furyk told reporters after the meltdown on the final hole. “This was my worst effort to finish off an event.” Furyk’s “worst effort” earned him a tie for second at Firestone with Steve Stricker (-12).
The tournament’s winner; however, had something much different to say.
“This just feels so great,” said Bradley after wrapping up his third PGA Tour title with a -13 finish. “I just felt so strong coming down the stretch. I just enjoyed every minute of it.” Perhaps Bradley’s greatest moment of joy emerged just after his par shot fell through on the 18th. He let a greatly enthused full body fist pump rip after the putt fell. His win also cemented him a spot on the 2012 U.S. Ryder Cup team.
(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images North America)
Bradley, along with Furyk, will enter the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island on August 9. Bradley, the 2011 winner of the tournament, will receive most of the attention as he looks to carry his momentum into Kiawah for perhaps yet another “fist-pumping” finish.
