Edgewater Golf Club - Play Best Golf Courses in Charlotte, NC

Earlier putting stroke guided Sean O’Hairto third career victory.kind of catapulted my career ever sinceI won.”With his 2009 victory, the 26-yearoldO’Hair became one of only threeplayers on the PGA TOUR under the ageof 30 with at least three wins, joiningSergio Garcia and Adam Scott.During the Wednesday Pro-Am,O’Hair may have seen a glimpse ofthings to come by week’s end. He shot a64 and announced to his coach that hisgame was ready. A first-round 69 placedO’Hair among the top 20 on the leaderboard. He followed with a 72 on Fridaybut remained within striking distanceheading into the weekend.“I felt like when I came here and Isaw the rough the way it was on my firstpractice round, it was just a sigh of reliefbecause this place always plays like amajor, and you just don't want that kindof stress before THE PLAYERS,”O’Hair said. “I think they did a fantasticjob setting up the golf course. It made itmore fun for us. I think it made it moreplayable.”On Saturday, O’Hair moved backinto the lead pack with a 67 that left himtied for fifth and three strokes behind 54-hole leader Zach Johnson. His 67matched the low round of the day and theWest Chester, Pennsylvania residencewas in perfect position as the stage wasset for a Sunday shootout at Quail HollowClub.At one point Sunday, six players hadat least a share of the lead but it wasO’Hair who was the only player in thefinal six pairings to break 70. O’Hairwas four strokes back after a bogey onthe fourth hole. However, he played thenext 12 holes in 6-under. The key stretchstarted at the 12th, where a birdie tiedhim at 11-under with Bubba Watson andLucas Glover. O’Hair two-putted forbirdie at the par-5, 15th and then he hit abrilliant 8-iron to 8 feet to birdie the 16thand take a two-stroke lead.Said O’Hair: “I didn't look at ascoreboard. The only time I asked wason 18 tee. I just was so into me out there,which I think I did a good job with today,and how I was doing. And then once Ibogeyed 17, I just was wanting to knowwhere I stood going into 18. So I askedmy caddie Paul, "Where do I stand," andhe said, "You're a shot ahead," and I said,"Over who," and he said, "Glover." Wejust left it at that.”Down the stretch, Watson bogeyed16 and Glover bogeyed 17 to givea little cushion for O’Hair.Meanwhile, Woodsrecorded ten consecutivepars to finish at9-under. But asmany championsbefore him havedone, O’Hair bogeyedthe finaltwo holes for a69 and had towait for Glover’sbirdie attempt on18 for the tie.Glover failed tomake the putt andO’Hair became the secondconsecutive playerunder 30 to win the QuailHollow Championship.The victory in Charlotte markedredemption of sorts for O’Hair, given hisperformance a few Sunday’s beforein Orlando.“Unfortunately that's part of competingat a high level, said O’Hair.“These guys are the best players in theworld, and me losing a five-shot leaddoesn't mean I'm a failure, it just meansI got beat. I wasn't good enough to winthat day. And that's how you've got tolook at it.”Many patrons had hopes for Gloveron Sunday. The Greenville, SC nativehas always called this a home tournament.And, although he came up short,he found positives--ideas that perhapsplayed a role when he won the U.S.Open a little over a month later.“With the exception of the majors,World Golf Championships and with theexception of maybe next week’s TourPlayers Championship, this might be thebest field we have all year, and I finishedsecond, “ Glover said Sunday afternoon.“I was one shot out of a playoff. Youknow, I'm pretty excited about the way Iplayed, not excited about the way itended up. But believe it or not, I'm usuallypretty nervous in the last couplegroups on a Sunday, and I didn't give toomuch away today So, I'm proud of that.”Sean O'Hair with Quail HollowChampionship trophy.______________________________________________________________________________CAROLINA GOLF JOURNAL - SPRING 2010 – 13