I sat on the 17th tee at Pebble Beach all Sunday for the final round of the US open. When Brooks koepka almost holed his wedge on the 3rd hole, I felt anxiety for Gary woodland. It was as if the Terminator was coming after him. That same type of dread and helplessness was felt throughout the crowd. Then I saw Gary woodland walking down the fairway with his hands in his pockets. When he calmly played his wedge to a five feet and answered with a birdie of his own, it seemed that he was on his way.
He’s clearly done some great work in his golf swing with Pete Cowen and drastically improved his putting with Phil Kenyon but he is a different player in terms of confidence and perspective. His pitch from on the green on 17 underscored how complete a player he has become.