PGA News: Geoff Ogivly Ends Four Year Drought, Wins Barracuda Championship
According to PGA.com, Geoff Ogivly was having second thoughts of coming to Reno to compete for the US PGA tour Barracuda Championship. Now, he is not having a single hair of regret in body and is actually buying drinks to friends who convinced him to come after winning the Barracuda and qualifying for this week's PGA Championship.
Nursing a four year drought of not having to win any tournament since his surprising victory in his home turf during the 2010 Australian Open, Ogivly captured his eighth US PGA Tour win by finishing five points ahead of closest competitor Justin Hicks of the United States. He needed a bogey to finish first in the last hole but instead completed a birdie, scoring a total of 49.
He captured his 8th PGA Tour title by scoring five points with a 25-foot eagle on the par-5 13th hole and created separation in the modified Stableford event. In this tournament, players were given eight points for double eagle, five for eagle, two for birdie, zero for par, minus one for bogey and minus three for double bogey or worse. The 37-year old Australian had 14 points in the first round, 16 in the second and seven in the third that awarded players who went aggressively for the least amount of shots.
''Obviously it feels like it's been a long time coming. It's been a bit rough the past few years,'' Ogilvy said. ''I was 50-50 on coming here this week. On Monday night, I had a really long trip back from Canada and I was tired, and over it, and frustrated."
The win gives him a lot of incentives for other forthcoming tournaments. He is now qualified for the tournament of champions in Maui in January 2015, wherein he has already triumphed twice in his career. The 2006 US Open champion also booked a place for the US PGA Tour playoffs and will head to Valhalla in Kentucky this week for more championship golf aside from the $540,000 prize money he earned from the win.
Ogivly entered the week in danger of missing the PGA Tour with only two top-25 finishes this season and is currently only at 151 in the FedEx Cup standings. His win Sunday gave him 300 points and a jump up to mid-80s in the updated standings, which will qualify him for the PGA playoffs wherein the top 125 are automatically in.
Justin Hicks placed second with 44 points after an 18-point final day while John Huh and Jonathan Byrd were tied for third at 37.