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February 4, 2008 - 12:26AM
Holmes earns spot in Masters
Comments | RecommendJeff Simon, For the Tribune
This was so much more than winning just one golf tournament. J.B. Holmes’ second FBR Open title in three years has him thinking big, although it doesn’t get much bigger than beating the world’s No. 2 ranked player, Phil Mickelson, on the first playoff hole.
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Holmes now has a spot reserved for him at The Masters in April. He’s also thinking of the Ryder Cup that will be played later this year at the Valhalla Country Club in his home state of Kentucky.
He also proved to himself and others that he is not a one-hit wonder. Mickelson, for one, is a fan.
“I think he’s a credit and a talent for American golf,” Mickelson said. “I think he’s going to hopefully make the Ryder Cup team and the Presidents Cup team.”
Then there are the invitational tournaments and the World Golf Championships Holmes will now get into thanks to improving his world ranking.
It wasn’t a pretty round of golf that Holmes played on Sunday as he had an even-par score of 71. This wasn’t nearly as easy as the seven-shot victory he had in 2006. The determined looks on his face late in the round told that story. Of course he earned more for the win, getting a check for $1,080,000.
When he bogeyed the 15th hole after hitting his second shot into the water, Holmes found himself trailing Mickelson by one shot. With Mickelson watching from the TPC Scottsdale clubhouse, Holmes missed birdie putts on the 16th and 17th holes.
With one more chance to catch Mickelson, Holmes converted a birdie putt on No. 18 to match Mickelson’s 72-hole total of 14-under par.
“I’ve always tended to do well under pressure, in junior golf and college and everything,’’ Holmes said. “I didn’t have my best stuff today, but I fought and I hung in there and I made it when I needed to.”
After six holes on Sunday, Holmes owned a four-shot lead. He bogeyed three of his next four holes, letting Mickelson and Charles Warren back into the tournament. Things weren’t going well and choking crept into Holmes’ mind.
“It always pops into your mind, but I fought through it,’’ Holmes said. “I hit some bad shots.”
Now Holmes has won multiple times and the future seems to have so much more to it. Especially that golf course in Augusta, Ga.
“Always wanted to play in The Masters,” Holmes said.
Now he’s got his chance.
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