By the time I realized I hadn’t played a 72 hole event in nearly 10 months it was too late: my swing was gone, my putter might as well have been a weed whacker, I could barely do basic altitude adjustment math, and I was playing slowly. I was out of gas early in the back nine of the final round. The clubhouse felt so far away.
I hoped for a final surge of energy and a late round-saving epiphany. I hoped to find a go-to shot or swing-thought to salvage the tournament. But nothing came. I was utterly lost. I closed with two bogeys in the final six holes, and the four pars I made were shaky at best. There’s no sense in dwelling on today’s struggles. The tournament ended as it started: with a disappointing round of 1 over par. I finished the event at 10 under and T-20. For the effort I made $1375…with about $2700 in expenses.
Ping engineer and former PGA Tour player, Jim Knous, however, had a very good day. The 2024 Colorado Open runner-up got revenge on Sunday after losing in a playoff last year to Davis Bryant. Knous caught fire making 10 birdies in the final round, including one at the last, to shoot a 9 under 62 and post 22 under for the tournament. He took a brief one-shot clubhouse lead over third round leader, Sam Saunders, who hit a brilliant second shot on the par-5 closing hole and narrowly missed his eagle putt for the win. Saunders, the University of New Mexico’s assistant golf coach, took a two-shot lead into the final round and shot 6 under to get to 22 under; a score that most days, would have won running away. But today, Saunders and Knous were headed to a playoff. The winner would take home $50,000 and the runner-up would receive $20,000. High stakes for anyone - especially a couple guys with real jobs.
Four holes into the playoff, the two men were back on the 18th and the wind was howling. Knous hit two solid shots 60 yards short of the green, while Saunders laid farther back. Saunders played his third onto the firm 18th green. The pin was just over a slope in the back left corner of the green, and with the wind howling off the left, Knous’ 60-yarder was awkward at best.
Knous made a sawed-off swing and moments later, the crowd went wild. Knous’ view was obstructed by a bunker and the slope in front of the hole, but the crowd’s reaction told him what he needed to know: he holed out to win the Colorado Open. Knous raised his arms in disbelief. Sweet, stylish redemption after last year. Knous hugged his college golf coach and caddie, Tyler Kimble. Another triumph for the duo; Kimball looped for Knous in his final PGA Tour event at the Waste Management Open last year. Saunders was first to congratulate Knous with a handshake and hug. Knous practically floated up the fairway with his smiling son, soaking in the sensational walk-off moment. Then the congratulatory hugs from family and friends came rushing in. What a moment. What a day.
After the tournament, a handful of players who competed in Colorado, including Knous and I, headed to Phoenix for the opening round of the Arizona Open, which starts on Monday at Papago Golf Course. No time to rest. The opening round forecast for the Arizona Open calls for sunny skies and 111 degrees.
Knous likely savored his victory on a late flight to the desert. On Monday, we’ll start again.
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