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Aussie Steven Bowditch has made Texas his adopted American home, and the Lone Star State has been site of three of the greatest days in his life.*
In 2011, he was married to wife Amanda at TPC Four Seasons. Last year, he won the Valero Texas Open to earn a berth into the Masters. On Sunday, again at TPC Four Seasons, Bowditch became a two-time PGA Tour winner.
After opening with an 8-under 62 to start a rainy week at the AT&T Byron Nelson, Bowditch, who had missed three of his last six cuts, shot 5-under 64 (yes, that's right) to win by four shots over Charley Hoffman, Jimmy Walker and Scott Pinckney on 18-under 259.
With much of Texas covered with rain, the TPC Four Seasons ground crew had to put in a lot of hours just so golf could be played. However, the fairway at the par-4 14th had become so wet that, by Friday, the hole had been shortened to right about 100 yards. At first, the PGA Tour had intended to keep it as a par 4, so as to keep the scorecard the same. Then realizing that a 100-yard albatross would be bogus, the 14th played as a par 3 for the final three rounds.
Bowditch made a par 3 on Sunday at the 14th, leading into a tricky closing stretch, where the Aussie made consecutive birdies on the par-5 16th and water-guarded, par-3 17th to set up a relaxing finish. However, Bowditch took an aggressive line, even if accidentally, off the tee and left himself a flip wedge into the final green. Two putts later, Bowditch locked up an unlikely win.
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
Follow @RyanBallengee
In 2011, he was married to wife Amanda at TPC Four Seasons. Last year, he won the Valero Texas Open to earn a berth into the Masters. On Sunday, again at TPC Four Seasons, Bowditch became a two-time PGA Tour winner.
After opening with an 8-under 62 to start a rainy week at the AT&T Byron Nelson, Bowditch, who had missed three of his last six cuts, shot 5-under 64 (yes, that's right) to win by four shots over Charley Hoffman, Jimmy Walker and Scott Pinckney on 18-under 259.
With much of Texas covered with rain, the TPC Four Seasons ground crew had to put in a lot of hours just so golf could be played. However, the fairway at the par-4 14th had become so wet that, by Friday, the hole had been shortened to right about 100 yards. At first, the PGA Tour had intended to keep it as a par 4, so as to keep the scorecard the same. Then realizing that a 100-yard albatross would be bogus, the 14th played as a par 3 for the final three rounds.
Bowditch made a par 3 on Sunday at the 14th, leading into a tricky closing stretch, where the Aussie made consecutive birdies on the par-5 16th and water-guarded, par-3 17th to set up a relaxing finish. However, Bowditch took an aggressive line, even if accidentally, off the tee and left himself a flip wedge into the final green. Two putts later, Bowditch locked up an unlikely win.
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
Follow @RyanBallengee