Byrd wins PGA opener in playoff

Jan. 12, 2011 - PRLog -- Jonathan Byrd won another playoff Mizuno JPX E600 irons in fading sunlight, minus the heroics.

Byrd opened the PGA Tour season Sunday by closing with a 6-under 67 and winning a sudden-death playoff in the Tournament of Champions when Robert Garrigus missed a three-foot par putt on the second extra hole at Kapalua, Hawaii.

Byrd qualified for Kapalua by making a hole-in-one in near darkness to win a three-man playoff Mizuno JPX E600 Forged Irons in Las Vegas, as dramatic a finish as there was on tour last year. He won this playoff under far more different circumstances.

He nearly holed a 50-foot birdie putt on the opening hole on the Plantation Course, leaving him a tap-in par. Byrd stood off to the side of the green, waiting to go to the next hole, when Garrigus three-putted by missing a three-foot par Mizuno JPX E600 Driver .

It gave Byrd his fifth career victory, and this came with a few perks. Byrd earned an automatic invitation to the Masters, and with his second win in the last two months, is exempt for the U.S. Open.

Graeme McDowell nearly joined them in the playoff Callaway Diablo Forged Irons= http://www.enjoymygolf.com/goods-84-Callaway+Diablo+Forge.... The U.S. Open champion, coming off a dream season, matched the Plantation Course record with an 11-under 62 and finished one shot behind. McDowell had a 10-foot birdie putt on the last hole that just missed.

Byrd and Garrigus, who missed a 12-foot eagle putt on the 18th in regulation, finished at 24-under 268.

Both had their Mizuno JPX E600 Drivers .

Garrigus was always behind after a bogey on the opening hole, was never out of the hunt. He always had the 688-yard, downhill 18th waiting for him, and he again took advantage. Garrigus ripped a five-wood that caught the grain and the slope perfectly, some 12 feet short of the hole. His eagle putt didn't have enough speed, however, and caught the lower side of the cup.

Byrd, playing Mizuno JPX E600 Driver  in the final group, couldn't reach the green because of the Kona wind into his face. His wedge came up well short, and his 18-foot birdie putt for the win didn't have a chance.

# # #

Ping, taylormade, Callaway and Mizuno are all in enjoymygolf.com welcome to our www.enjoymygolf.com.