T.J.'s Take: TeeJay Awards for the '09 Florida Swing
By T.J. Auclair, PGATOUR.COM Interactive Producer
The sun has set on the Sunshine State's string of tournaments. With the 2009 Florida Swing in the books, or squeezed like fresh oranges, if you prefer, it's time to hand out another set of the oh-so prestigious TeeJay Awards.
If you'd like, feel free to take a look back at the TeeJay Awards, West Coast Swing edition, click here.
Now that you're caught up, let's see which players deserve a tip of the cap in Florida.
The envelopes please...
Most surprising winner on the Florida Swing: Y.E. Yang
I have nothing but the utmost respect for South Korea's Mr. Yang, but until The Honda Classic, I really didn't know who he was. Kudos to you if you did.
I kind of knew him the way everyone else did -- that guy who once beat Tiger in a tournament in Asia. That in itself is impressive, and nothing to thumb your nose at. But, throw him in a line up and I'm sure I couldn't pick him out. That win in Asia was nice, but it wasn't a win on the PGA TOUR.
The Honda Classic was.
Not only was Yang in incredible control throughout the tournament, never getting too high or too low with emotion, he also treated us to a level of charisma we're not used to seeing in a lot of first-time TOUR winners, who are grinding so hard they find it difficult to even crack a smile until the final putt drops.
Sure, there's always excitement with that maiden victory. But Yang's enthusiasm was easy to see throughout and he was someone that, while you may not have known him, you genuinely felt good about seeing him win.
With the win came a sweet two-year exemption, so hopefully we'll be seeing a lot more from Yang.
Best performance to silence the critics: Phil Mickelson
Lefty has made a career out of quieting the naysayers. For years, people rode Mickelson like a rented mule for not winning a major. Then, he goes out and wins three.
Don't be mistaken, what happened in the World Golf Championships-CA Championship at Doral isn't on par with winning a major. But, once again, Lefty gave us another reason not to doubt his abilities.
After a slow start to the season, Lefty busted out for a win at the Northern Trust Open, but we still weren't convinced that he was back to the form we all expect. Yes, a win is a win, but what Mickelson did at Riviera consisted of two great rounds that made us forget about two other mediocre-at-best rounds.
Fast forward to Doral and the final round.
Mickelson visited an urgent care center on the eve of the final round, where he was treated for dehydration. Still not exactly 100 percent, Mickelson mustered up the courage to put together a brilliant final-round of 69 to edge Nick Watney by one shot and won his first World Golf Championships event.
So about that slow start for Mickelson? How do two wins in six starts sound?
The "For Love of the Game" award: Tom Lehman
OK, he didn't win the Transitions Championship, but the 1996 British Open champion sure made for one heck of a story at the difficult Copperhead Course.
At 50 years old, Tom Lehman put on a clinic in the third round with a spectacular 3-under 68, a round that really took off on the back nine over a stretch that included four consecutive birdies.
All of that work gave Lehman a one-shot, 54-hole lead over eventual champion Retief Goosen -- Lehman's first such advantage in over four years.
Sunday didn't follow the Hollywood script many were hoping it would. Lehman fizzled out with a 4-over 75 in the final round to tie for eighth. Regardless of the outcome, he provided a great storyline and we certainly weren't cheated with the winner, Goosen, who had struggled over the last year due to complications from laser eye surgery.
Best impression of a Chippendale dancer: Henrik Stenson
Easily the funniest moment during the 2009 Florida Swing, and perhaps a contender for funniest moment ever in a PGA TOUR event.
In the first round of the CA Championship, Stenson hit a drive in the water's edge at Doral's third hole. You know where the story goes from here...
... No rain suit in the bag. No shame whatsoever.
In a move that would have made Chris Farley and Patrick Swayze proud -- and that's about it -- Stenson stripped down to nothing but his boxer briefs, played the shot from the water and went on to make bogey.
No one has ever gone so far to save a shot...and hopefully no one ever will again.
Most dramatic finish to a Florida Swing event: Tiger Woods at Bay Hill
Come on, folks. Was there any doubt? On Sunday, post-surgery Tiger Woods became the pre-surgery Tiger Woods we all know and love.
Trailing by five shots to Sean O'Hair to start the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, Woods fashioned a 3-under 67, punctuated by a final-hole birdie to defeat O'Hair by a single shot to claim a record sixth win at Bay Hill.
The 67 put to bed any questions as to whether or not he could return to the old Tiger form.
Not only did Woods win in just the third start of his comeback, but he did it in the dramatic fashion we've come to expect by holing a 16-foot putt for birdie on the 72nd hole as darkness set in to tie his best career come-from-behind performance.
It was special on many levels, but most of all we got to see Tiger at the top of his game with the Masters just around the corner.
With the comeback complete -- in just three starts no less -- we have plenty to look forward to as Tiger continues his chase for Jack Nicklaus' major record of 18.
So who do you think is the early favorite to win the Masters now?
T.J. Auclair is a columnist for PGATOUR.COM. His views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR.
Shop your favorite brand name golf equipment and accessories at SHOP.PGATOUR.COM
FAN ZONE
PGATOUR.com is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network