Vincent Publishing - Index

Vincent Publishing - 2008 Northern Trust Open - Index

est in golf after the final major of the year was going to fly. It
sounded like a good idea. Something had to be done to keep
the flames flying and fuel interest even if the game had to go
head-to-head with college and pro football as well as the end
of the major league baseball season.
The concept was simple enough: play four events, see who
ends up with the most points at the end, and give him a shiny,
brand-new trophy and 10 million bucks.
But like anything being done for the first time, there’s going to
be a fly in the ointment every once in a while. After all the season
points were erased and new values were reassigned,
Woods still led the series but this time with only a 1,000 point
lead over Singh, 1,500 points over Jim Furyk with his eight
top-10s, including a victory at the Canadian Open, and
2,000 points over Mickelson.
Since Woods just won his past two outings heading into the
final four events, he decided to take the next two weeks off following
his victory at the PGA Championship. For many, the
problem was that the second week of his hiatus was The
Barclays at the Westchester Country Club, the first week of the
Playoff series.
Woods’ decision to skip The Barclays was a blessing in disguise
for the storywriters. Not only did it provide kindling for
the speculation of the success or failure of golf’s first “post season,”
but it also gave other players some breathing room and
the ability to position themselves to win the series. It also
brought the year’s best feel-good story to us.
Steve Stricker, the quiet, emotional, comeback man of the
year never lost hope, and he didn’t lose The Barclay’s title.
He had gone six years and 146 tournaments since his last victory
and lost his membership card at the end of the 2005 season.
Four times this year, he wasted prime chances to pose
with the trophy. The worst feeling on Sunday at The Barclays
was seeing K.J. Choi pour in two birdie putts that measured a
combined 95 feet that gave him the lead and left Stricker destined
for more heartache.
In a stunning turnaround, the tears he shed on the 18th green
were from sheer joy.
Stricker birdied four of his last five holes to close with a 2under
69, turning a one-shot deficit into a two-shot victory over
Choi and getting the inaugural FedExCup Playoffs off to a
rousing start.
“I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time,” Stricker said,
still wiping his eyes.
It sure wasn’t easy, not with 10 players — five of them major
champions — separated by only three shots along the back
nine. Not with the memories of four blown chances still nagging
him. And certainly not with Choi making two long putts
that caused Stricker to bow his head, but not sag his shoulders.
60
2008 OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT MAGAZINE
When his final birdie from eight feet dropped into the cup,
he raised his arms and hugged his caddie, Tom Matthews,
who first caddied for Stricker when he won the 2001 Match
Play Championship in Australia, his last victory. Jerry Kelly,
who grew up with Stricker in Wisconsin, was among the first
to congratulate him. We were all tearing up with joy right
along with him.
As a result, there he stood with his 9,000 FedExCup points for
the victory and the lead in the race. Stricker was on top with
104,950, followed by Choi with 102,900, Sabbatini in third
with 100,650, Woods with 100,000, Mickelson in fifth and
Singh in sixth. The lineup set up the dream threesome for the
first two rounds the next week at the Deutsche Bank
Championship.
So, the first week of the playoffs, even without Woods, was a
success. The second would prove to be even better.
Woods, Mickelson at high noon
Mickelson was back on the game that he discovered in May,
and it was good enough to take down Woods, much to the
delight of the fans.
Going head-to-head with Woods for the first time in 18
months, Mickelson buried the world’s No. 1 player on the
front nine and held him off down the stretch to close with a
5-under 66 and win the Deutsche Bank Championship by
two shots.
It was the first victory for Mickelson since THE PLAYERS, when
he looked ready to make a run at Woods during the season.
Then came a wrist injury that cost him his summer, and only
recently had Mickelson been able to swing without flinching.
The pain on this Labor Day belonged to Woods.
He couldn’t make a putt on the front nine, and couldn’t make
enough when he was trying to make up ground. Woods had
four putts for eagle on the TPC Boston, and picked up only
three shots. He wound up with a 67 and tied for second with
Arron Oberholser (69) and Brett Wetterich (70), who were
afterthoughts while playing in the final group.
The buzz outside Beantown was clearly on the two biggest
names in golf, and Mickelson relished this victory.
“For 10 years I’ve struggled against Tiger,” Mickelson said.
“This sure feels great to go head-to-head ... and over the last
five or six holes when he’s making a run, it was fun to match
him with birdies.”
Mickelson finished at 16-under 268 and earned $1.26 million,
moving him atop the standings in the PGA TOUR Playoffs
for the FedExCup.
After dispatching Woods, Mickelson said that he might not
play the next week at the BMW Championship. If Mickelson