The Daily Wrap-up, Rd. 4: Zurich Classic
AVONDALE, La. (AP) -- Jerry Kelly took the umbrella from the parade marshal, donned his tasseled sash and danced his way off the 18th as the brass band played an exuberant Dixieland tune.
After enduring a seven-year winless streak, a determined charge by half-dozen young golfers, and a pair of bogeys that dropped him out of the lead, Kelly's 1-stroke victory in the Zurich Classic on Sunday was plenty of reason to celebrate.
"It's been a long time," said Kelly, who was showered with Mardi Gras beads by fans and presented with a large tray of char-broiled oysters by his favorite New Orleans restaurant. "I sometimes doubted if it was ever going to happen again."
Kelly rallied with two birdies on the back nine to claim the 500 FedExCup points and $1.1 million payday on Sunday.
Kelly offset bogeys on No. 8 and No. 10 with birdies on Nos. 5, 11 and 14 for a 1-under 71 in the final round. He finished with a 274, one stroke ahead of three players.
It was the 42-year-old Wisconsin player's first PGA TOUR title since he won two in 2002 -- exactly 200 starts ago.
Charles Howell took advantage of Kelly's mid-round stumble with one of his six birdies on 11, which gave him a two-stroke lead. But bogeys at 15 and 17 left him with a 68 on the day, and he tied for second with Rory Sabbatini (67) and Charlie Wi (68).
"It's frustrating," said Howell. "I got up to 15, and had every chance to do it. I just couldn't finish it off."
Kelly, an admitted leaderboard watcher, said seeing Howell take a two stroke lead on No. 11 did not cause him to doubt himself.
"I knew what the back side had been doing to everybody all week," Kelly said. "And I had actually been playing the back side better."
Steve Marino, playing with Kelly, stayed within one shot until the 18th hole. Instead of getting the victory or forcing a playoff, he hit his tee shot into a fairway bunker then needed two putts. He put up his third bogey and finished at 70, tied for fifth at 276.
"I thought I hit a great third shot in there, and it just came off like half a club short in that bunker," Marino said. "And that was it."
• To read the remainder of this story, click here.
INSIDE THE ROPES WITH THE PGA TOUR NETWORK
PGA TOUR Network correspondent Michael Collins offers these observations from Sunday's action. Listen to PGA TOUR Live coverage on XM 146/SIRIUS 209 or right here at PGATOUR.COM.
In the category of "Worst break in Zurich Classic history", Rory Sabbatini would finish first. He hit driver over the back of the green on the reachable par-4 16th hole and had a chip for eagle from 38 feet. His chip was perfect -- it hit the pin squarely but didn't drop, then rolled just three and a half feet past. Right as Rory stood over his birdie putt to tie for the lead (at the time), the wind began blowing harder than it had all day, forcing him to play the putt at the left edge of the hole. When the putt left the face, the wind died down and the putt lipped out, as did his chance for victory. He wasn't bitter afterward, though, saying, "I gave myself chances and I'm happy with the way I'm hitting it. Just have to stay patient and know my time is coming." Proud of you, Rory.
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Charles Howell III wins the "I won't blame it on a spike mark" award. On the 17th hole, Howell had a par putt to stay tied for the lead with Jerry Kelly when his 4-foot putt hit a spike mark and veered offline. He eventually made bogey, but when he talked after his round Howell said, "I hit a good putt on 17, don't know if it hit something or not but I was disappointed when it didn't go in."
And the winner for "Putting my money where my mouth is" goes to Zurich Classic champion Jerry Kelly. The win in New Orleans pretty much guaranteed him a spot in the British Open but the Wisconsin native won't be going. After getting called out by a reporter at a news conference about the PGA TOUR event in Milwaukee (opposite the British), Kelly said they need to get more guys to go to Milwaukee if they don't play in the British Open. The reporter said, "You don't play." Jerry looked at him as steely-eyed as a former hockey player can (it's scary) and said, "I'm not missing it anymore, even if I'm in the British, I'm playing Milwaukee." Now THAT'S a champion!
| Top 5 notables at Zurich Classic of New Orleans | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Sunday's Best |
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The 575-yard par-5 11th hole was easiest with a Sunday scoring average of 4.625.
The 207-yard par-3 ninth hole was toughest with a Sunday scoring average of 3.403.
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Steve Marino holed out from just off the fairway on the 16th hole to make eagle and move within one shot of the lead. He wound up finishing in a tie for fifth. 
Four players shot 5-under 67s, but Rory Sabbatini's round was the most impactful since he moved into a tie for second and nearly captured the crown. | QUOTE OF THE DAY | ||||||||||
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ZURICH CLASSIC: FINAL-ROUND NOTEBOOK
By Mark Williams, PGA TOUR Staff
• Jerry Kelly shot 1-under 71 in the final round to win the Zurich Classic of New Orleans with 14-under 274. Kelly won by a stroke over Rory Sabbatini (67), Charlie Wi (68) and Charles Howell III (68).
• Kelly has now held/shared the 54-hole lead seven times in his career and gone on to win twice.
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• Kelly ranked 12th in scoring average (70.01) before the week began and No. 43 in The Presidents Cup standings. Kelly jumped to No. 15 on The Presidents Cup list and will push hard to make Captain Fred Couples' team in San Francisco later this year. Kelly went 2-2-0 at the 2003 Presidents Cup, defeating South African Tim Clark, 1-up, in South Africa. It was Kelly's first Presidents Cup.
• Kelly ranked 97th on both the FedExCup standings and the PGA TOUR money list entering the week. After his victory at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, Kelly is No. 17 on the FedExCup list and No. 14 on the money list.
• Kelly now has 70 career top-10s from 418 starts on the PGA TOUR.
• To read the remainder of this story, click here.
| This week's Kodak Challenge hole | |
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| Round-by-round statistics on the par-3 17th at TPC Louisiana | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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