Senden comes out on top after surviving the Snake Pit

Post by Sports Writer, Derek Clements 

JOHN SENDEN struck a blow for the over-40s as his short game finally clicked into place and helped him to win the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook, Palm Harbour, Florida.

It was the 42-year-old Australian's second win, coming nearly eight years after his victory in the John Deere Classic, and it guaranteed him a place in the field for The Masters next month and earned him a cheque for $1.026m. Senden has a classic golf swing and would be the first to say that he should have many victories to his credit, but his short game in general, and putting in particular, has always been his Achilles Heel.

Not this time though. He pitched in from 70 feet at the 16th and then holed a 20-foot putt at the 17th to break clear of a logjam at the top of the leaderboard. Equally important was the par on the 18th, which was just as difficult as the birdies. He needed two putts up a ridge, breaking slightly to the right before it went swiftly down the slope and breaking to the left. The 40-foot putt settled inches from the cup. Senden recorded a 70 and finished at seven-under-par 277. Kevin Na had a chance to force a playoff, but missed the putt.

“This is the biggest win over here I’ve ever had,” Senden said. “My first PGA Tour win was special but this time you’ve got stronger players in the field and it’s a real feather in the cap to
know you’ve beaten a quality field.”

Senden, twice a runner-up at Innisbrook, looked destined for another near-miss when he made three bogeys in four holes from the 12th as nerves and demanding conditions conspired to cause a series of uncharacteristic poor shots. But he gave himself a pep talk as he approached his ball in the rough short of the 16th green.

“I said something special’s got to happen here if you’re going to get it done,” he said. “I’ve been working really hard on that particular shot out of the long grass and it was lucky enough to go in the hole. Then I made a couple of really solid swings the last two holes. I’m just so happy to come out on top.”

Na, who has in the past made unwanted headlines for slow play and an inability to take his club away and hit the ball, birdied the par-three 17th after almost making a hole-in-one but could only par the last in gusty winds. The American plunged off the leaderboard after dropping four shots in three holes before the turn, but showed resilience to battle all the way back to finish runner-up with a 72.

“It was a bad string of holes but I settled down, got back right in it,” Na said.“It was playing tough and I made two great birdies coming in but it wasn’t good enough.”

Left-handed Scott Langley, who held a share of the lead with three holes left, had a 70 to finish third, two shots behind. Overnight leader Robert Garrigus was another shot back, equal fourth. He dropped five shots in the first six holes, and his chance was gone. It is the fourth time Garrigus has gone into the final round of a tournament with at least a share of the lead, and he has yet to convert any of those into a victory.

Justin Rose had five bogeys in seven holes in the middle of his round and shot 74, a disappointing day for the US Open champion, who had started the final round just three shots out of the lead. But at least it confirms that he is fully fit once again.

Image credit - PGA Tour Facebook Page 

Derek Clements is a sports journalist with a particular passion for golf with over 12 years of experience covering golf and other sports including Chief Sub-Editor on the sports desk of The Sunday Times. To contact Derek email direct via [email protected]

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