PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – A week later, the two main characters and the roles they play remain the same.
Only the scenario – and the stakes – have changed.
Lee Westwood went from surprise to delight when his T-shirt shot on the green island at par-3 17a stayed on the top ridge, and then threw himself with a 25-foot putt that took him up to a minor under 68 on Saturday at the Players Championship.
Bryson DeChambeau pumped his powerful arms twice when he made a 15-foot putt in hole 18, giving him a 67 and leaving him 2 shots behind and in the final group with Westwood.
That was the case last week in Bay Hill, when DeChambeau came out of a shot from behind and beat Westwood with a pair in the last hole of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
“It’s like the second round, the rematch,” Westwood said.
Westwood, who will turn 48 next month, no longer has to climb a few classes to face DeChambeau, the dreaded heavyweight of golf. Unlike Bay Hill, TPC Sawgrass has to do with position, not power.
Again, DeChambeau is playing well enough for any style of golf course.
“I guess if you sat down with Bryson here and asked him which golf course would suit him best, he’d probably say Bay Hill,” Westwood said. “You can open your shoulders a little more around Bay Hill than you can. Out there. This place is a little more strategic. But credit to Bryson. You wouldn’t relate this golf course to his style of play and he’s up there Show that you can adapt your game “.
It is the first time the same two players have been part of the final group in consecutive PGA Tour trials in over 14 years, by a big margin. This is separated by seven days. Vijay Singh and Adam Scott faced off nine weeks apart: the 2006 season-ending Tour Championship and the opening season Mercedes Championship in Kapalua.
Westwood finished his round with a 5-foot putt pair, widening his streak to 44 holes without a bogey, and has only dropped 2 shots this week on a stadium field where a swing can lead to a large number.
Westwood was under 203 years old.
“He’s also doing a lot of amazing putts,” DeChambeau said. “That’s what it takes to win golf tournaments.”
Westwood has 41 wins worldwide (at least one on every major tour of the International Federation of PGA Tours) and knows better than to keep in touch with DeChambeau, especially here.
He had a 54-hole lead over the players in 2010, when 14 players were separated by 5 shots in the final round, and Tim Clark joined from 3 behind to win.
Among the three shots that went in on Sunday is Justin Thomas, who started with four straight birds and closed out his 64 with a 5-yard line that stopped inches from par-5 16 hole for an eagle of closure.
Doug Ghim, who is making his debut for the players, is also three shots away. He was one of seven players who took at least part of the lead at one point on Saturday and was powered up to an expensive swing in the easiest hole, the par-5 16th. He came out very short in a bunker under a tree, tried to explode under his limbs and grabbed the dirt and ended up with his lone bogey.
Paul Casey had six birdies and an eagle to make up for his mistakes in a 67, leaving him 4 shots behind with Jon Rahm (67). There are also four shots behind Brian Harman, who started his day by drilling a wedge for the eagle and fired 69.
Sergio Garcia has 5 shots from behind and still can’t stand the short posts, including a 4-footer for birdie who missed badly on the low side in the 17th. He had to settle for a 72.
DeChambeau cannot explode on Sawgrass due to the bending of tree-lined streets and the dangers of water. But its power is still useful. With his tee shot buried right on 18th Street, about 210 yards away, he ripped an 8-foot iron a short distance from the green and set his chance on par.
He acted more enthusiastic with this couple than his six little birds.
“You have to win tournaments,” he said, “I didn’t want to leave a bitter taste in my mouth.”
Westwood said this would be the biggest win of his career and while there were times when he chose not to play as a member of the European Tour, there is no denying the strength of the field (48 of the top 50). players) and the nature of a Sawgrass field where fortune can change with a single swing.
The first prize is worth $ 2.7 million.
For DeChambeau, it’s the opportunity to stamp out as the favorite as the Masters approaches, if not yet. This season he already has two wins. He also knows from recent experience, seven days ago, that Westwood’s way of playing might not be easy.
“Mr. Consistency,” DeChambeau called out to him. “I mean, his driving is flawless, his iron play is flawless and he puts putts on when he needs it. Luckily for me last week I was able to get the job done and I think tomorrow will be an amazing battle.”