By Jay Betsill
22-year-old Seung-Yul Noh fired a 1-under 71 on Sunday to win the Zurich Classic in New Orleans by two shots. In winning his first PGA Tour title, Noh, outlasted major champions including Justin Rose, Keegan Bradley and local favorite David Toms.
“Very challenging today out there, especially playing with Keegan, a major champion, and heavy wind,” Noh said.
After going low on Saturday with a 65, Bradley wound up with a 75 on Sunday to tie for eighth at -13.
“I actually played pretty well,” Bradley said. “Just made one bad swing on 6 and had a bunch of lip-outs.”
Noh’s win gets him into The Players Championship in two weeks and next spring’s Masters Tournament.
“Dreams come true,” Noh said. “When I started at 7 playing golf, I dreamed of always playing (on the) PGA Tour … or playing any major, especially the Masters.”
Of note, former No. 1 player in the world David Duval, who entered the Zurich Classic ranked 1,099 in the OWGR, put his sponsor’s exemption to good use by finishing the week at _8, good enough for a tie for 25th.
Next up on the PGA Tour is the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte. Notables in the field include Rickie Fowler, Rory McIlroy, Ernie Els, defending champion Derek Ernst, Retief Goosen, Zach Johnson, Justin Rose, Jimmy Walker and Phil Mickelson.
NOTES
— The LPGA Tour will be in Dallas-Fort Worth area this week at the second edition of the North Texas Shootout at Las Colinas Country Club. Where the local PGA Tour stops — HP Byron Nelson Championship and Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial — struggle to attract the marquee names, this event has 99 of the top 100 players in the world. No. 1 ranked and defending champion Inbee Park, Paula Creamer, Michelle Wie, Stacy Lewis, Fort Worth resident Angela Stanford, Lexi Thompson and Morgan Pressell are among the big names scheduled to play.
— Tiger Woods announced the formation of a new amateur series to be known as the Tiger Woods Charity Playoffs. It will take place over five months on eight courses including Merion, Cascata, Sherwood Country Club, Pelican Hill and Congressional.
“My foundation provides really awesome experiences, and this event allows all golfers to play cool courses for charity,” Woods said in an email through his foundation.
Players can sign up at www.twcharityplayoffs.com.