The Roar
The Roar

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Amateur Lee McCoy steals the show at the USPGA Valspar Championship

13th March, 2016
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Jordan Spieth. (Photo: AP)
Expert
13th March, 2016
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“This kid can really play,” was Jordan Spieth’s comment as playing partner Lee McCoy birdied the first two holes on the final day of the Valspar Championship in Florida.

The “kid” is 22 years old, the same age as the world number one, and in the wash-up McCoy beat Spieth off the stick by four shots – 69 to 73.

In the process, McCoy was often within two shots of the eventual winner Charl Schwartzel.

No one tournament is career-defining, but the way McCoy dealt with a strong gale was exceptional as he fearlessly attacked the flags.

By comparison, Spieth was edgy and frustrated as his normal pin-point drives found the rough, his accurate wedges were 30-40 feet adrift or in the sand, and his superb putting was all over the shop.

I have never seen Spieth slam his club into the ground, but he did today with feeling while baby-faced McCoy was so calm and connected.

“I had to pinch myself that I was drawn in the final round with the number one golfer in the world, it was surreal,” a beaming McCoy understandably gushed.

“But Jordan made it so easy for me, he was full of praise, and clapped my best shots, he was terrific.”

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Bill Haas, who also had plenty of problems off the tee, was seeking his seventh victory on tour, while the fast-finishing South African clinched his second on the PGA tour.

Ryan Moore, Steve Stricker, Charles Howell III, Graham DeLaet, and McCoy all had their chances to knock Haas and Schwartzel off the top of the leaderboard.

Canadian DeLaet had the best chance after starting the final round at the tail of the field with Haas, just a shot adrift. But 20 putts on the front nine killed his bid stone dead, making it 137 PGA starts without a win.

Schwartzel then became the strongest threat. The South African’s overall game was under control, but Haas managed to keep his nose in front by sheer determination, until the 16th.

With Schwartzel in the big house at seven-under, Haas found the greenside bunker, leading by a shot.

The American missed his eight-foot putt and he had a genuine birdie chance at the 17th, but was inexcusably short on line – still square with Schwartzel at seven-under with one to play in the rain.

Haas missed another birdie attempt on 18, and having lost a three-shot lead it was play-off time, where Haas had a perfect record in two, while it was Schwartzel’s first on the USPGA tour, with a 1-1 record in Europe.

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Haas went from right rough to greenside bunker and two putts, Schwartzel on in regulation had two putts for victory, having made up a record five shots to force the playoff.

But the story is Lee McCoy.

Tonight he has an eight-hour drive to play in a collegiate 36-hole tournament tomorrow.

Is he concerned? Not bleeding likely, as the thunderous applause from a record gallery will be ringing in his ears, making his golf garden full of roses as he counts down to turning pro in June.

Watch out for him – to pinch Jordan Spieth’s salute, he can really play.

The Valspar leaderboard
-7: Charl Schwartzel 71 70 69 6, Bill Haas 71 67 67 72
-5: Ryan Moore 70 69 69 71
-4: Lee McCoy (a) 74 71 66 69
-3: Charles Howell 111 67 72 70 7, Graham DeLaet 72 66 68 75
-2: Louis Oosthuizen 72 70 70 70, Scott Brown 70 69 72 71, Steve Stricker 71 66 72 73, Patrick Reed 71 70 68 73

Even: Jordan Spieth 76 68 67 73

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Australians
+4: Cameron Smith 70 71 73 74

Missed cut
John Senden 72 74
Sruart Appleby 73 74
Robert Allenby 73 76
Geoff Ogilvy 78 72
Steve Bowditch 81 76

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