Tom Lehman Gets it Done!

Sunday provided the gallery with impressive shots from all over the board, including Fred Couple’s back to back eagles on holes 15 and 16 at Colorado Golf Club. Couples was only three under when going into these last three holes and finished at seven under, a three way tie with Tom Lehman and David Frost of South Africa.

The Playoff Hole:
Fred Couples teed off with a shot to the left which actually ended up in a bush. Frost’s tee shot on the playoff hole (18th) was sprayed the other direction with Lehman’s tee shot splitting the fairway. Couples took a drop as an unplayable, therefore already hitting three. His third shot came up short of the green. Frost’s ball was taken by the wind and behind trees to the left of the green. Lehman stuck his ball 12 feet from the hole. Couples chipped up to the green and two putted for a double bogey, 6. Frost punched one over the green from behind the trees, then one past the hole and 2 putted for a double bogey six. At this point Tom Lehman was putting for birdie and basically had the 2010 Senior PGA Championship title. Lehman two putted for par as the gallery cheered endlessly.

I was able to sit in on the press conferences after Sunday’s round, one of the best experiences of my lifetime. First up, David Frost came in and talked about his round. Frost shot a 67 today and when asked what he took on the playoff hole he jokingly said, “It doesn’t matter.” Frost told the media he was not disappointed or discouraged to the least because he came out and played well. On the sixth and seventh hole in the fourth round, he chipped in. He said that he didn’t pay any attention to the scoreboard, only caught a glimpse as Couples was -3 after 14 holes. One of the most common things Frost talked about was the fan support throughout the tournament. Frost and Couples tied for runner up position.

Fred Couples failed to say anything to the media as he walked out immediately following the playoff hole in which he took the double bogey.

Tom Lehman came into the interview room smiles and all, in a great mood and rightfully so. He said, “It’s nice to win but ask me in a week or so because it probably hasn’t sunk in yet.” Going into the playoff hole after a fantastic up and down, Lehman said that he thought that he had an advantage right away because he had just finished. When you finish your round and have to wait it is much harder to come back out without being warmed up. “Frost got in first and I thought that he was in the driver’s seat [after regulation].” When he made his par putt on 18 in regulation he gave the fist pump as if to tell Couples and Frost, It’s on! One the playoff hole Lehman asked his caddy how many shots they had taken because he was confused. He didn’t even know if Couples had taken an unplayable or not, but he remained focused and did what needed to be done. Lehman was pleased with being all four rounds under par. He was asked if he had any trophies the size of the one next to him, and he replied no but that he knew the PGA of America would provide him with one, unlike other tournaments he has won. He said, “The check is nice but give me a trophy. My son is in little league football and he gets trophies, give me one!” His overall reaction of Colorado Golf Club is that he loved the course since the first time he set eyes on it. Congratulations Tom!

EARNINGS:
1. Tom Lehman- $360,000
2. Fred Couples- $176,000
3. David Frost- $176,000
4. Mark O’Meara- $96,000
5. Nick Price- $76,000