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SEATTLE — The NHRA’s unsinkable Pro Stock class has weathered all kinds of “fixing.”
And this month marks the first time it will be absent from an NHRA national event since it burst on the scene in 1970.
The NHRA cut the Pro Stock schedule from 24 races to 18 in another attempt to reduce costs and increase fan interest. The teams were just starting to adapt to the 2016 rule changes that ushered in the electronic-fuel-injection era. At steep costs, teams were forced to toss out their carburetors and distinguishing hood scoops. In an effort to achieve transparency with the fans, the sanctioning body ordered teams to back their cars into the pits and leave engines uncovered. Cars were equipped with shorter wheelie bars and an NHRA-controlled 10,500-rpm rev limiter.
Then in 2017, the NHRA ponied up $5,000 and several sets of Goodyear tires to entice the drivers at the U.S. Nationals to perform smoky burnouts to excite the crowds. Never mind that the NHRA leaned on no other class to emphasize the sport’s entertainment value.
And never mind that this wasn’t a stand-alone contest. This Battle of the Burnouts took place during qualifying for the race with the year’s biggest payout and the one that set the field for the Countdown to the Championship. So a lot was at stake for these racers, and doing long, smoky burnouts — something that was the traditional hallmark of the Funny Cars, not the Pro Stock cars — had the potential to ruin a run.
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Surely, the NHRA knew Pro Stock fans, and the sport has plenty of them, would be angry that the gesture came about 72 hours after everyone knew how eliminations unfolded. The NHRA is keenly aware fans want to know results immediately.
After all, it has live timing on its website and up-to-the-minute updates on its social media outlets. Evidently, it didn’t figure Pro Stock mattered. Moreover, the initial show followed a college basketball game —and the worst-case scenario happened. The game went into overtime and sliced into the Pro Stock broadcast by 28 minutes, spoiling the live viewing, as well as recorded viewing for those who used their DVRs to enjoy the show at their own pace.
It brought back cringe-worthy memories of the ESPN days when that happened on a regular basis, with the NHRA always playing second fiddle to just about any other sporting event.
The NHRA couldn’t help the overtime basketball game, but it could have prevented it by choosing a better time slot – preferably on Sunday, on race day.
Why not piggyback the Pro Stock show onto the one that showcases the Top Fuel and Funny Car classes? Why did it trim a three-hour show, split off the Pro Stock class coverage into its own hour-long program and then fling that off into the midweek as an afterthought? Pro Stock fans might be willing to wait a couple of hours, if the wait means the teams and sponsors get the coverage they deserve.
The content of the initial Pro Stock show, despite the considerable talents and knowledge of hosts Brian Lohnes and Bruno Massel, was a bit chaotic. It seemed the NHRA was making a genuine effort to include all the elements it thought it needed to include.
However, it seemed to be trying to cram too much information into the show, while still using insider lingo and throwing out names with which a newcomer to the sport — a targeted audience — would not be familiar.
In fairness, it’s a skinny tightrope to walk between talking down to informed viewers and educating new fans, but it had two extra days following the live broadcast to solve that problem.
Honestly, if the NHRA knew it was going to go this route with a “separate but equal” Pro Stock program, it should have laid the foundation for it as early as last December. It should have introduced viewers to the drivers and their teams, explained what Pro Stock racing is about, followed their offseason preparations, and gotten viewers in the groove.
If this Pro Stock program was presented in reality-show style, it might make the other classes envious. That’s not to suggest the producers adopt a tawdry, “Real Housewives”-type, cheap vibe to it. But watching car after car go down a race track — while it does give the sponsors more exposure — doesn’t make anyone care about the racers. The brand loyalty that once epitomized Pro Stock competition has no chance to return if the viewers don’t connect with the personalities.
Maybe the Pro Stock class itself has been an all-too-willing enabler. Maybe the competitors should start pushing back against these initiatives. Maybe they should be proactive. Privately, many were angry with the Tuesday-TV dismissal. But when offered the chance, none chose to speak publicly. Actually, Erica Enders showed leadership, rallying the class in diplomatic fashion, encouraging her colleagues to work within the system to make the situation better.
One has to wonder what would happen if the next time the NHRA tries to “help” the Pro Stock class, the drivers respond by saying, “No, thanks.”
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INDIANAPOLIS – Dreyer & Reinbold Racing has confirmed J.R. Hildebrand will return to the team to drive the No. 48 Chevrolet-powered Dallara in an attempt to qualify for the 103rd Indianapolis 500.
Hildebrand, an eight-time Indy 500 starter, was the 2011 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year and has recorded four top-10 finishes in the Indianapolis 500. Last year, Hildebrand drove the DRR Chevrolet from the 27th starting position to 11th.
The 31-year-old driver joins Dreyer & Reinbold Racing for a second consecutive year at the world’s biggest auto racing event and will drive the No. 48 car, a longtime racing number campaigned by legendary racer/car builder/team owner Dan Gurney. DRR will also field Sage Karam in the No. 24 WIX Filters Chevy the month of Many at IMS.
Hildebrand, a California native now residing in Boulder, Colo., was the 2009 Indy Lights champion and also captured racing titles in the USF2000 (2006) and SCCA Formula Russell (2004) series. He made his IndyCar Series debut with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing in 2010 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. He also drove the DRR IndyCar at Sonoma Raceway that year.
“Last year, we had a great relationship with Dennis Reinbold’s DRR team in our initial Indy 500 effort,” said Hildebrand. “I started my IndyCar career with Dennis back in 2010 when he brought me up to the big leagues in IndyCar Racing. We have always had a great rapport over the years. I have always been impressed with the speed in the race of the DRR team.
“I’m thrilled to have Salesforce back on our race car, and also honoring the great Dan Gurney with the No. 48 this year. Dan was one of my racing heroes, by saluting him in this year’s Indy 500 and campaigning his famed No. 48. Dan’s No. 48 won the 1975 Indy 500 with Bobby Unser driving. Now, we’ll celebrate Dan’s great racing achievements with the No. 48 car.”
Another longtime Indy 500 legacy comes with the Dreyer & Reinbold families at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, dating back to 1927 with DRR team owner Dennis Reinbold’s grandfather, Floyd Dreyer, serving as a mechanic in the 1927 Indy 500. Dreyer, a famed motorcycle racer before building and owning racing cars, built a variety of Indy 500 entries, sprint cars and midgets from the 1930s to 1950s.
“I’m very pleased to bring back J.R. to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway again this year,” said Reinbold. “Last year, we expanded to two cars with J.R. and Sage and the combination worked very well. J.R.’s experience at Indy brings our team a lot of background to develop the cars quickly in practice and prepare for qualifying. With J.R. and Sage, we have two very talented young drivers who can compete for the win on May 26. Plus, running the No. 48 in honor of Dan Gurney is exciting for me and our team. Dan was one of my heroes as a kid and it will be great to have the No. 48 back at IMS.”
The Gurney legacy, with many Eagle cars competing at the Indy 500, is well-known at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with race wins and record qualifying performances.
“We are very much looking forward to another exciting Indy 500 in 2019,” said Alex Gurney, Dan Gurney’s son. “The number 48 is special to our family as my dad took that number to second place in both ’68 and ’69 as well as a win for AAR as a team and manufacturer in 1975. This is a great tribute to my dad. JR Hildebrand is a special person as well as a fantastic driver and he seems always to be in contention for the win at Indy. I hope he can put the 48 up front in the big race.”
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Washington Capitals winger T.J. Oshie broke his collarbone when Carolina Hurricanes forward Warren Foegele pushed him into the boards on Thursday, and has undergone surgery for the injury, the team announced Sunday.
The Caps said Oshie is out indefinitely, but The Washington Post reported on Saturday that he is "almost certain" to be out for the playoffs.
Oshie was injured in the third period of Game 4 of the team's first-round playoff series and lay on the ice for several minutes following the hit. He went directly to the locker room, clutching his right arm.
Washington captain Alex Ovechkin called the incident a "dirty play" on the part of Foegele, who received a minor penalty, but the rookie will not face supplemental discipline from the league.
"I was trying to lift his stick, trying to give him a little nudge," Foegele said Thursday. "It was a little unfortunate play there. I wasn't trying to hurt him or anything. I hope he's OK."
Oshie missed Game 5 on Saturday, which Washington won 6-0 to take a 3-2 series lead.
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The Philadelphia Flyers have officially removed the statue of Kate Smith from its location outside their arena and will no longer play Smith's rendition of "God Bless America" at games, the team announced in a statement on Sunday.
This follows the New York Yankees' decision to suspend the use of Smith's rendition of "God Bless America" during the seventh-inning stretch while they investigate an allegation of racism against the late singer.
The New York Daily News reported Thursday there are conflicting claims about Smith's 1939 song "That's Why Darkies Were Born." The song originated in the 1931 Broadway revue "George White's Scandals" and was considered satire, but it includes racist language. It was recorded by Smith and also by Paul Robeson, who was black.
The Flyers released the following statement on Sunday:
"The Flyers have enjoyed a long and popular relationship with 'God Bless America,' as performed by the late Kate Smith, a woman who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Honor for her patriotic contributions to our nation.
"But in recent days, we learned that several of the songs Kate Smith performed in the 1930s include lyrics and sentiments that are incompatible with the values of our organization, and evoke painful and unacceptable themes."
The Flyers quoted team president Paul Holmgren as saying: "The NHL principle 'Hockey is for Everyone' is at the heart of everything the Flyers stand for. As a result, we cannot stand idle while material from another era gets in the way of who we are today."
The Flyers considered Smith's live performance of "God Bless America" before Game 6 of the 1974 Stanley Cup Final to be good luck. Philadelphia beat Boston in that game to win its first of back-to-back Cups.
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Hockey players are conditioned to think that winning the Stanley Cup means going through the best teams to be the best team.
That doesn't mean they are blind to some of the inequalities of the NHL's current divisional playoff format. An Associated Press/Canadian Press survey of NHLPA representatives from all 31 teams shows that almost half favor changing the format -- and most support going back to seeding the Eastern and Western Conferences 1 through 8, the structure that was used from 1994-2013.
This is the sixth playoffs where each division's top three teams and a wild card are bracketed together with no reseeding by round. A year ago, Nashville and Winnipeg finished first and second in the league in points and had to meet in the second round. The same thing happened with Washington and Pittsburgh in 2017.
"It's kind of tough the fact that a lot of good teams are going out first or second rounds," Columbus defenseman David Savard said. "I think maybe we need to look back at maybe 1 against 8 and play that format."
Savard was among 15 players (48.4%) who said the divisional format should be changed. Seven (22.6%) said it should stay the same and the other nine (29%) were noncommittal. The players were surveyed March 7-April 4, before the playoff matchups for this year were fully set.
The NHL went to back to a divisional structure similar to what it used from 1982-93 in large part to create or revive rivalries. Toronto and Boston are meeting in the first round for the second consecutive year, while the Capitals and Penguins met in the playoffs three times in a row.
There is little doubt those teams dislike each other a lot more now than they did before this playoff format.
"I think it's good for the rivalries," said New Jersey goaltender Cory Schneider, who supports the current format. "I think it's good for the teams seeing each other year after year. You can cry what's fair or not fair, the two best teams meeting in the second round, but it's going to be great hockey one way or another. I think that's the best part about the playoffs is that it's a two-month gladiator event where everyone just beats the crap out of each other."
Presidents' Trophy winner Tampa Bay losing in the first round to eighth-seeded Columbus is more of a Lightning problem than a format problem. If the Lightning had gotten past the Blue Jackets, a potential second-round series against the Bruins would have guaranteed to knock out one of the top three teams in the league before the conference finals.
Travel is the biggest concern among players when it comes to a playoff format, and it's much more of an issue in the spread-out West. Grouping by divisions is designed to limit those issues, but the wild-card system means a team like Nashville could have to face a team from California, Vancouver, Edmonton or Calgary in the first round if it lines up that way.
"The biggest issue is probably the travel for the Western Conference," said Predators defenseman Yannick Weber, who did not indicate a preference either way for changing the format. "If we have to go to California for each round and Eastern teams have a little bit of an easier schedule, I think that's the only downside from it."
The most equitable format is seeding playoff teams 1 through 16, which the NHL tried in 1981 and 1982. The potential for cross-continent travel in each round is the biggest impediment to making that leap.
The Southern Professional Hockey League has tested a "challenge round" format where the top three seeds in each conference get to pick their first-round opponent from seeds 5-8. Florida Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle suggested that for the NHL in a recent interview with Sportsnet in Canada.
A pick-your-opponent format would create plenty of bulletin-board material for lower-seeded teams. But in a sport where matchup advantages, injuries and momentum matter more than the results of an 82-game regular season, it could silence complaints that the current format devalues everything from October through March.
"It almost gets to a point that the regular season doesn't really mean anything because you see those divisions, there's such a big difference between them," Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang said. "If you have to cross over and now you're facing an easier division because you're a wild card, doesn't seem to be fair for me. The whole regular season needs to have a bigger effect on the playoffs."
That's where the argument comes in that the NHL should move to a play-in system like baseball, perhaps where the Nos. 7 and 10 seeds and Nos. 8 and 9 seeds in each conference play once to see who gets in. That would theoretically give more of a boost to the top two teams in the East and West.
Colorado's Ian Cole, who played twice in the recent Penguins-Capitals playoff trilogy, supports the division rivalry format because it's doing what it intended: generate interest.
"We were actually talking about it the other day in the locker room: As much as you'd like to see one through eight or one through 16, then you're having Calgary playing Florida, for instance, in the first round," Cole said. "Does that move the needle, as opposed to Boston versus Montreal, which certainly does move the needle?"
This format is locked in through at least next season.
"I think there was some good thought behind it and yeah, sure, there are going to be some divisions stronger than others," he said. "Some teams are going to get left out because of that or get in because of that," Cole said. "It's one of those things that this is the current format and we work with it the best we can."
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Stanley Cup Playoffs Daily: Sharks, Bruins survive to force Game 7s
Published in
Hockey
Monday, 22 April 2019 04:13
The first round is shaping up to be a beauty; besides the early upsets of the No. 1-seeded Tampa Bay Lightning and Calgary Flames, we're already locked in for at least two Game 7s after the Boston Bruins and San Jose Sharks staved off elimination Sunday.
Here's a recap of Sunday night's action (check out replays of every playoff game on ESPN+) and what to watch for on Monday night in today's edition of ESPN Stanley Cup Playoffs Daily:
Jump ahead: Last night's games | Three Stars
Play of the night | Today's games | Social post of the day
About last night ...
Game 6: Boston Bruins 4, Toronto Maple Leafs 2 (series tied 3-3) Boston versus Toronto in a Game 7? Yeah, this one felt inevitable. The Maple Leafs haven't made it past the first round in 15 years, and it would have been sweet to get over the hump in front of a jacked-up home crowd on Sunday afternoon. But after scoring the opening goal, the Leafs were outworked by Boston, especially in a 16-shot second period. The Bruins' power play (two more goals on Sunday) looks especially dangerous lately. Though the Bruins ousted the Maple Leafs last year in Game 7 on home ice, the players insist they have no mental advantage. And perhaps no home-ice advantage, either: After all, Toronto has played well in Boston, taking two games in this series.
Game 6: San Jose Sharks 2, Vegas Golden Knights 1 (2OT) (series tied 3-3). Tomas Hertl guaranteed a Game 7 back at the Shark Tank, and his goal in double overtime ended what so far has been the longest game of the playoffs. Just call him Tomas Messier. How on Earth did the Sharks win this game? They were outshot 59-29. Vegas had home ice and momentum. And yet Martin Jones showed up when it mattered, setting a franchise record for saves with 58. A bright spot for Vegas? Jonathan Marchessault's goal, his line's first even-strength tally of the series. The Golden Knights dominated for a lot of the night and should have been able to score more.
Three Stars
1. Martin Jones, G, San Jose Sharks: It was starting to look like the Sharks wouldn't be able to go far in these playoffs because they had a huge weakness in net. On Sunday, Jones proved he still has the capacity to steal a game, and he definitely stole this one.
2. Tomas Hertl, C, San Jose Sharks: Not only did he make good on his word, but Hertl became the first player in NHL history to score a short-handed winner in a game that required multiple overtimes.
Tomas Hertl on "guaranteeing" a Game 7 vs. the Vegas Golden Knights and then delivering on it with a short-handed double OT goal in Game 6.
3. Brad Marchand, LW, Boston Bruins: His power-play goal was an important pivot point for the Bruins in this game. His empty-netter was a distillation of pure will and sealed it. The top-line winger had three points total in a do-or-die game.
Play of the night
0:24
Hertl's 2OT goal forces Game 7
Tomas Hertl nets the game-winning goal in double overtime to lift the Sharks to a 2-1 win, forcing a Game 7 against the Golden Knights.
The goal that kept the Sharks alive.
Dud of the night
Canadian teams. Toronto is Canada's last hope, and it blew a chance to clinch a series at home, with a passionate fan base swarming the streets to cheer it on. If the Maple Leafs don't win Game 7, Canada will officially extend its Stanley Cup drought to 26 years.
On the schedule
Washington Capitals at Carolina Hurricanes, Game 6, 7 p.m. ET (Capitals lead series 3-2)
The Capitals won one for T.J. Oshie (who is likely out for the rest of the playoffs after undergoing surgery on his collarbone) and, more importantly, reverted back to their old selves after a brief identity crisis in Raleigh. Nicklas Backstrom has been a goal-scoring machine; can he keep it up as the series moves back to Raleigh? For the Canes, Andrei Svechnikov (concussion protocol after his fight with Alex Ovechkin in Game 3) says he's aiming to be back for Game 6. We'll see. The Canes looked frazzled in Game 5 and could use some home cooking.
Nashville Predators at Dallas Stars, Game 6, 8:30 p.m. ET (Stars lead series 3-2)
Maybe all you need to win in the playoffs is a strong goalie, one red-hot line and some confidence. That's the recipe the Stars used in Game 5 to put the Predators on the brink of elimination. Dallas' D has been solid, limiting Nashville to 11 goals in five games. And though Tyler Seguin, Alexander Radulov and Jamie Benn were stars in Game 5, there's plenty of offense to go around for Dallas, which is something we didn't see in the regular season. Nashville feels stale. Their special teams need to improve (especially the power play, which has been dreadful all season), but the Preds need help getting the puck out of their own zone, and just scoring goals, plain and simple.
Social post of the day
Vegas playoff games are still very much a scene.
Is...is that @LilJon watching the game with @GordonRamsay??
��YYYYEEEEEAAAAAHHHH!!! pic.twitter.com/A9vuZXuhAS
- x-Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) April 21, 2019
Quotable
"The ice has been terrible there, so we might as well play with a tennis ball, skate around and see who can bounce one in the net." -- Brad Marchand has not been shy about his displeasure of the ice conditions this spring at Boston's TD Garden. Maybe home-ice advantage isn't an advantage at all.
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McCarron goes wire-to-wire to win Champions event at TPC Sugarloaf
Published in
Golf
Sunday, 21 April 2019 11:34
DULUTH, Ga. - Scott McCarron completed a wire-to-wire victory in the Mitsubishi Electric Classic on Sunday for his third victory at TPC Sugarloaf.
The winner of the PGA Tour defunct BellSouth Classic at the course in 1997 and 2001, McCarron closed with a 1-under 72 for a two-stroke victory over Jerry Kelly, Joe Durant, Kirk Triplett and Kent Jones in the PGA Tour Champions event.
The 53-year-old McCarron finished at 7-under 209 for his ninth victory on the 50-and-over tour. He won three times on the PGA Tour.
McCarron lost the lead with a slow start, playing the first four holes in 1 over with two birdies, a bogey and double bogey on the par-5 third. He birdied the par-4 13th to break a tie with Durant and opened a two-stroke lead with an 18-foot birdie putt on the par-4 15th.
Full-field scores from Mitsubishi Electric Classic
McCarron earned $270,000 and took the lead in the Charles Schwab Cup points race.
Kelly birdied the final two holes for a 67. Durant, Triplett and Jones shot 69.
Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz tied for 61st among the 77 finishers at 11 over, shooting 80-74-73. The former Atlanta Braves star got into the field on a sponsor exemption. He tied for 53rd in Tucson, Arizona, in March his tour debut.
Fellow former big league pitcher Shigetoshi Hasegawa had a 74 to tie for 72nd at 15 over. He also got a sponsor exemption.
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Pushed by wife, Pan surges to first win on Sunday at RBC Heritage
Published in
Golf
Sunday, 21 April 2019 11:49
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. - C.T. Pan watched the Masters last week with his wife, and sometimes caddie, Yingchun Lin, thrilled by Tiger Woods' stirring victory at Augusta National.
His wife, Pan recalled, told him point blank, ''Hey, I'm not patient, so you better get me (to Augusta) as soon as possible.''
Pan complied quickly, taking advantage of top-ranked Dustin Johnson's back-nine meltdown Sunday to win the RBC Heritage for his first PGA Tour victory.
Along with $1.242 million, the win opens a world of opportunities for the 27-year-old Taiwanese player: He's exempt on tour through 2020-21, in line to make the Presidents Cup International team this year and will have an opportunity he's dreamed about since taking up the game in the mid-1990s by playing at Augusta National.
''It's a good problem to have,'' Pan said.
Pan shot a 4-under 67 to finish at 12-under 272, a stroke ahead of Matt Kuchar and two in front of Patrick Cantlay, Scott Piercy and Shane Lowry. Kuchar had a 67, Cantlay and Piercy had 69s and Lowry a 70.
The top-ranked Johnson, the third-round leader in his home-state event, had a 77 to tie for 28th at 4 under. He played a five-hole stretch in 7 over, making bogeys on Nos. 11-13 and double bogeys on Nos. 14-15.
Pan took the lead for good with a 9-foot birdie putt on the par-4 16th.
Pan headed to the practice range after the round to keep ready in case of a playoff, then raised his arms in triumph when told he'd won.
''It's still really hard for me to believe,'' he said. ''I'm processing. My phone has been vibrating the last 10 minutes. I'm so happy I finally got it done.''
Pan won twice on the PGA Tour Canada in 2015 when he turned professional. He's finished second twice in PGA Tour events, once at the Farmers Insurance Open in 2017 and last year at the Wyndham Championship.
Full-field scores from the RBC Heritage
RBC Heritage: Articles, photos and videos
Johnson, the 20-time PGA Tour champ, carried a one-shot lead into the final round and the South Carolina native seemed a strong bet to add the Palmetto State's only tour stop to his trophy case. But Johnson never found a rhythm early and lost all hope with his uncharacteristic drop off.
He had a birdie on the fifth to stay on top but then his collapse started mildly with a bogey on the par-3 seventh hole. It took full flight on the back nine.
Johnson's frustrations were on full display on the par-4 13th when his approach went into the bunker, a foot or so from the wooden-board facing. He barely got it out, shook his head and tossed his wedge down against his bag.
He flew his tee shot into the water on the par-3 14th to drop two more shots. Johnson added a second double bogey on the par-5 15th, a hole he had birdied the first three rounds.
Johnson waved to the stands on the 18th when he closed with a birdie.
Lowry, who had three bogeys over his final six holes Saturday to lose a lead he held much of the week, appeared to regain his earlier form with birdies on the second, fifth and sixth holes to take a two-shot lead. But a bogey on the straightforward, par-4 ninth - Lowry had birdied it two of the first three rounds - dropped him back. He stubbed a pair of chips on the 12th hole en route to a double bogey.
Lowry scratched back within a shot of Pan with a birdie on the 14th, but could come no closer.
He said he'll take positives from the week. ''Look, after coming so close, it's hard to describe what it's like,'' Lowry said ''But I'm sure I'll get over it and move on to next week.''
Kuchar, the 2014 winner at Harbour Town, put together a charge of five birdies to tie Pan at the top. But a bogey on the par-3 17th following a tee shot into the bunker ruined his chances of a second tartan jacket.
''It was so much fun,'' Kuchar said. ''Getting in the mix on the back nine here on Sunday. That back nine, I was really, really enjoying myself.''
Cantlay looked good for a second straight weekend - he went 64-68 his final two rounds at the Masters to tie for ninth - but his chip from just off the green on the 18th for a tying birdie did not come close and he settled for a final-round 69.
''I hit a lot of solid shots and (it) just wasn't enough,'' he said.
Pan's wife was key to his playing here this week. He had planned to attend a junior event in Houston he helped organize. But Yingchun Lin told him to get back to work and let her handle things down there.
''Just listen to your wife,'' Pan said. ''And you will have a good life. She's right, always.''
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World No. 1 Johnson crumbles down stretch at RBC Heritage
Published in
Golf
Sunday, 21 April 2019 12:42
It was an afternoon to forget for world No. 1 Dustin Johnson at the RBC Heritage.
After knocking in nearly 160 feet worth of putts in the third round, Johnson entered the finale at Harbour Town with a one-shot lead as he sought his third worldwide win of the year. Even after a slow start, he made the turn in even par to retain a share of the lead amid a crowd of contenders.
But things went south very quickly for Johnson, whose title chances crumbled in a five-hole stretch from Nos. 11-15. A wayward drive on 11 led to a bogey, and he dropped another shot on the par-4 12th. He made his third bogey in a row on No. 13, where he missed the green from 117 yards away in the fairway.
Things got worse on the par-3 14th, where he dropped two shots after hitting his tee shot into the water, and he made another double bogey on No. 15. It added up to a five-hole stretch in which Johnson was 7 over, and even after a birdie on the final hole he fell from the lead into a tie for 28th. His final-round 77, which included a 6-over 41 on the back nine, beat only defending champion Satoshi Kodaira (82) among players who made the cut.
Despite his 54-hole position, this snaps a run of five straight stroke-play starts in which Johnson cracked the top 10, a stretch that started at the Genesis Open in February and included his win at last month's WGC-Mexico Championship. This is actually the third time that Johnson has shot 77 or higher in the final round when starting with the lead, two more than any other player in the last 15 years. The other instances came at the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach and the 2017 WGC-HSBC Champions.
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