Sang-Moon Bae wins 2014 Frys.com Open

Post by Sports Writer Derek Clements

I cannot possibly be the only person who can't get their heads around the PGA Tour's decision to have "wraparound" seasons. There was always genuine excitement when, as the year neared its end, players had to battle their way through the final tournaments as they tried to keep their cards or secure their places on the money list. If it ain't broke, why fix it?

So it is that we found the 2015 season starting at the Frys.com Open in California - in 2014!

Not that Sang-Moon Bae will be in the least bit bothered. The Korean golfer, who began the day with a four-shot lead, duly won his second title, and is beginning to look like a world-class player. He doesn't have a single weakness and successfully overcame a serious wobble in the final round to beat Steven Bowditch, of Australia..

The splendidly-named Hudson Swafford made the biggest move early on, reaching the turn in 31 with the help of three birdies and an eagle. It took the 27-year-old, who had just one top 10 finish this year (last season) to 12 under par, but that was still four adrift of Bae, and that was as close as he got.

Although this is the first official event of the new season, it was an important one for a number of players, none more so than Martin Laird. The Scot has won three times, but the 2014 season is one he will want to forget in a hurry. He finished 127th in the FedEx standings, failing to make the playoffs, and was so disillusioned that he took seven weeks away from the game.

He surprised himself by leading after 36 holes thanks to a pair of 67s, but laboured to a 71 in the third round, leaving himself five adrift of Bae. An early birdie helped him to close the gap, but the Scot's putter was ice cold and he finished in a tie for third place.

Hunter Mahan was next to make a move, getting to within two shots of Bae at 14 under, thanks to an eagle two at the 13th.. But then came a bogey at the 14th and another at the par-three 15th, where he barely cleared the water, thinned a chip and needed two putts..

Bae calmed his nerves with a birdie at the 12th. The lead was back to four. However, a poor second at the next left him 80 feet from the hole and he three putted. It got worse. Taking a three wood from the tee at the 14th, he carved the ball way right and although he managed to find the green with his second, he took three putts again. In his opening 54 holes he had just three bogeys. He had now suffered four in 14 holes.

His lead was down to two, from Bowditch, the Australian who won his first title earlier this year. Bowditch barely made the cut and finished with a pair of 67s to take him to 13 under. He was safely in the clubhouse though, while Bae's stomach was churning as he came to the tricky par-three 15th.

The Korean found the heart of the green. He was one over par for his round but knew that there were a couple of par fives to come. If he could hole his birdie putt at the 15th he would be home and dry. Instead, he ran the ball three feet beyond the hole. To his relief, Bae holed for a much-needed par. He was still two ahead.

Mahan's chance went when he left a birdie putt short at the 17th to remain at 12 under, alongside Retief Goosen, thankfully now fully recovered from his back problems.

Bae's woes continued at the 16th, a par five where he was looking for a birdie. He drove into thick rough, had to lay up and cleared the green with his third. He had a horrible lie but played a delightful shot to two-and-a-half feet and converted for par.

But still the drama wasn't over. In round three, Bae hit his drive at the par-four 17th to six feet and holed for an eagle. Now he chose a three wood, and hit a beauty that split the fairway. But his second, from 107 yards, flew the green, leaving him with another poor lie. He played a glorious recovery shot and parred the hole, taking his two-shot lead to the 18th, another par five - and a hole he had birdied in all three rounds. A 300-yard drive sealed the deal. Now he could enjoy the walk. A par was good enough.

Since winning in 2013, Bae has played 36 events without a top 10 finish. It's a safe bet that will not be repeated.
Just 12 months ago, Jimmy Walker made his big breakthrough at this event, winning the first of three tournaments, but his title defence was a disappointment. After from a second-round 66, the Ryder Cup player struggled and finished the week on level par.

Image Credit - @GolfTravel4U Twitter

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]