Marietta’s Larry Nelson was glad the Champions Tour returned to Atlanta, but he’s also glad the week is over after finishing the Greater Gwinnett Championship with a 12-over 228.
Nelson, 65, said the combination of commuting, which included roadwork on I-285 on Saturday and Sunday, his age and the tough TPC Sugarloaf course contributed to his score.
“It was a tiring week but I really enjoyed it,” the three-time major winner said. “I’m really glad to have the tournament back.”
Nelson said he hit some good shots Sunday, but the wind was difficult to gauge.
“Honestly you could get fooled by the wind every hole,” he said.
He said he will likely stay at his home when the tournament returns next year, rather than staying somewhere that can shorten what should be a 45-minute commute without traffic or roadwork.
“Still nice to be able to go home, even if it’s a bit of a hassle,” he said.
Langer's idea: Tournament winner Bernhard Langer said he'd love to see golf's four majors — Masters, U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship — extend annual invitations to the leading money winner and Schwab Cup winner from the Champions Tour.
“There are a lot of us very good over-50 golfers that can produce some good results,” he said. “I don’t think they would lose anything by doing that. I would think they would gain two wonderful players, two great legends of the game.
“So I leave it in your corner.”
Lehman's tip: Tom Lehman said his caddie gave him a tip Saturday night that helped turn around his round on Sunday.
Lehman needed 27 putts in Friday’s first round, but needed 35 on Saturday. He said he missed four three-footers on the front nine. His caddie alerted to him something in his pre-shot routine after the round.
He needed just 28 putts on Sunday.
“It made a big difference with the short ones,” he said.
Frost streak snapped: David Frost's streak of eight consecutive top-10 finishes came to an end with his t-36th-place showing. Frost shot 1 over on Sunday to finish 5 over.
“That’s golf,” Frost said.
Frost said he couldn’t get his driver going in Sunday’s third round. He praised the TPC Sugarloaf course, saying it was in great condition.
Frost will now turn his attention to the Liberty Mutual Insurance Legends of Golf in Savannah, in which he and teammate Michael Allen are the defending champions.
Beck's back: Chip Beck's week started with him making the field at the last minute when John Huston withdrew.
Beck’s first three holes include two double-bogeys. But it got better, with Beck on his way to a round-of-the-day 5-under on Sunday until he double-bogeyed his last hole, the tough ninth. He finished the tournament 4 over.
“I was kind of mentally unprepared to play,” said Beck, a four-time winner on the PGA Tour and former standout at Georgia. “I haven’t played a whole lot. Good tournament for me and I’m encouraged by it. I’m looking forward to getting on to some better things.”
Easiest hole: No. 18 was the easiest hole during the tournament. The 544-yard par- 5 had a 4.748 stroke average.
Hardest hole: No. 9 was the hardest hole during the tournament. The 453-yard par-4 had a 4.40 stroke average. It surrendered nine birdies. It is the hardest hole year-to-date on the Champions Tour.
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