Brad Bryant completed the second biggest comeback in Champions tour history yesterday, making up eight shots on Tom Watson to win the US Senior Open at Whistling Straights.
The 52-year-old American, who mustered only one victory in over 20 years on the regular PGA Tour, was the only player in the field to shoot par or below in all four rounds as the wind played havoc on the links-style course by Lake Michigan, north of Milwaukee.
Bryant began the final day at two under par, but a round which included five birdies in the first 11 holes and a further at the 16th took him to six under for the tournament. Watson, meanwhile, suffered double-bogeys at the 11th, 15th and last, as well as bogeys at the 12th and 13th to finish fourth at one under par for the tournament.
“You can write this story pretty easy,” Watson, who won eight majors in an illustrious career before joining the Champions Tour, said. “When I made double bogey at the 11th on a par five that with the wind you could reach in two today, that was the wake-up call that the course was not going to give in easily.”
For Bryant, his first major tournament success continued a career honeymoon far sweeter than anything he enjoyed before he turned 50, and hence became eligible for seniors golf. He finished third on the Champions Tour money list last season with two victories, and won the Regions Charity Classic in Alabama earlier this year.
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“It is an honour to have my name next to Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus and those types of guys. Lets face it, I am not in their league. As far as golf goes I never will be. I am just a journeyman who happened to have a great week,” he said.
His eight shot comeback is bettered only by Allen Doyle’s last day surge at the 2005 US Senior Open. The American shot a final-round 63 to overhaul a nine shot deficit at NCR Country Club in Ohio.
Scotland’s Sam Torrance, who began the final round well placed in joint third, failed to put together a round to put him in contention. The 53-year-old struggled from the outset, and carded a round of 76 to finish in joint fifth at one over par.
US Senior Open, Whistling Straits - Final Leaderboard
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1 BRYANT, Brad -6 71 72 71 68 282
2 CRENSHAW, Ben -3 72 67 76 70 285
3 ROBERTS, Loren -2 +2 70 69 73 74 286
4 WATSON, Tom -1 70 66 73 78 287
5 HAAS, Jay +1 73 71 73 72 289
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5 WEIBRING, D. A. +1 72 68 74 75 289
5 PURTZER, Tom +1 73 67 74 75 289
5 OZAKI, Joe +1 72 69 73 75 289
5 WATSON, Denis +1 74 73 67 75 289
5 TORRANCE, Sam +1 73 69 71 76