Reno-Tahoe Open, J.J. Henry wins with attitude

J.J. Henry/golf365.com

J.J. Henry won the Reno-Tahoe Open on Sunday at the  Reno, Montreux Golf & Country Club, beating  Alexandre Rocha by a point in the modified Stableford event. J.J. gave some credit to his attitude in picking up the $540,000 winner’s check, on 43 points in the modified Stableford scoring format.

” It’s been a long time coming. A lot of it is attitude, wanting to be here, wanting to play, wanting to try to figure out how long a shot is playing. You have elevation, you have wind, you have uphill, downhill. The greens get firm and fast. I even said to some friends and my caddie, not to sound cocky or full of yourself, but I really thought I was going to have a great week. Sometimes when you believe it, good things happen. And that’s exactly what happened this week for me. Alex played great and really kept the pressure on down the stretch to make it interesting out there. To be honest, those are some stressful holes coming in,16, 17, 18. There’s a lot of drama and a lot of things that kind of go through your mind, good, bad and indifferent on those last couple of holes. I’ve been out here twelve straight years, so I’ve done something right, but it’s been six years since I’ve won. To finally get over that hump again means a lot, hopefully, I don’t have to wait another 176 starts.”

Just goes to prove that golf is a game that’s played between the ears.

HP Byron Nelson Championship, Jason Dufner Wins

Jason Dufner Carroll/Getty Images

Jason Dufner birdied the 18th hole to win the HP Byron Nelson Championship at TPC Four Seasons Resort,  Irving, Texas, by one shot from Dickie Pride. Jason had a last round of -3 under par 67 for a tournament total of -11 under par. This is Jason’s second Tour win in four weeks, and also the second of his career. This win gives Jason the lead in the FedEx Cup standings. Jason was pleased with his weeks work;

 ”Great week for me golfwise. Tough conditions throughout the week. Today was easier. That’s why I think you saw the leaderboard jam up there toward the top, made for exciting golf toward the end. Good bit of guys had a chance to claim the trophy.It was nice to have a birdie putt there at the end to win, and not to be in a playoff for once. So just all in all a great week the last month. You couldn’t ask for anything more professionally or personally, for what’s been going on”

Dickie Pride was alone in second place on -10 after his -3 under par last round. Dickie enjoyed his tournament and also praised Jason;

 ”It was fun. Apparently that was not a very difficult putt on 18, from the long right !!  It was downhill about a cup and a half out, and I made it, and I was pretty happy about that. Jason made a great putt. He’s a really good player.I think we’re all seeing that, we’ve known that, now he’s just winning tournaments, but I have a lot of respect for Jason. When we had our pro-am in Tuscaloosa for Tornado Relief, he was the first guy. He said, “I’m coming, I’m bringing a team and how can I help,” and that says a lot about him. For a guy that doesn’t say much, that says a lot about him. I’m happy for Jason. He went to Auburn, everyone is making a big deal about that, but he married a woman from Alabama to show him around, guys, someone has to do it!

Four players tied for third spot at -9 under par, they were; Joe Durant, Marc Leishman, Jonas Blixt and J.J. Henry. Unlucky J. J. stood on the par three 17th tee with a one shot lead, but an errant club selection saw him airmail the green, and he suffered a double bogey 5, to drop out of contention. The seven iron was way too much club, Phil Mickleson by comparison hit just a wedge onto the same green. Phil finished tied for 7th place on -6 under par for the tournament.

J.J Henry talked about 17;

 ”Obviously it’s disappointing. I played great all day, and to be honesty thought I had a great shot on 17. I hit the line exactly where I tried to, and it carried about 6 or 7 yards too far and it’s disappointing but that’s golf. You take the good with the bad. Great crowds out here. Everybody was very supportive. To play so well for that long, and actually like I said, I thought I had a good shot on 17 but the golf gods thought otherwise. I’m happy. This is the best I’ve played here, carry momentum into Colonial, right there where I live, and it’s always fun to play at home.”

Phil Mickelson enjoyed the week with his family, apart from his poor golf form;

“We had such a great week. There was so much to do here in Dallas: The two Ranger games, water parks. She and I had a special week, and I really had a great time here. This is a well-run event and I’m happy I was able to come back., I didn’t strike it well this week, and when the wind came up this week my misses were magnified and I hit into some crazy spots. Today there wasn’t any wind, they were more playable and manageable, and I was able to get hot with the putter. It’s not like I knocked down the flag by any means, but I tried to make some on the greens.”

 

Ernie Els finished tied for 41st place at 1 over par, another sad tournament for the South African Major winner.

Next week is the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial CC, Ft. Worth, Texas, where the defending champion is David Toms.

HP Byron Nelson Championship, third round

                                                                                         

Jason Dufner Carroll/Getty Image

Jason Dufner has the 54 hole lead at the HP Byron Nelson Championship at TPC Four Seasons Resort, Irving, Texas shooting a third round -1 under par 69, for a tournament total of -8 under par. He leads by one from three players who are tied in second spot at -7 under par. They are J.J. Henry, Aussie Jason Day the 2010 champion, and Dickie Pride. Just one shot further back is Fijian Vijay Singh, who had a third round 66 to elevate himself up the leaderboard. His experience could be a deciding factor in the final round tomorrow, plus an extra incentive, he is looking to end a four-year victory drought.

Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els look to be out of contention, Phil with a tournament total of -2 under par and Ernie one shot further back at -1.

Should be a good tussle tomorrow, with Jason Dufner, J.J. Henry and Dickie Pride all going for their second career Tour wins, and veteran V.J. Singh seeking to end a four-year absence from the winners circle.