Phoenix Open Round Four: Last Man Standing

By Scott Behmer,
Senior Writer

Tom Lehman

Scottsdale, Az - On a day which saw 17 players start within five strokes of the lead, it was Scottsdale's newly adopted native son, Tom Lehman, who was propelled by boisterous cheering and stellar shotmaking into becoming the Phoenix Open's first champion of the new millennium.

Scottsdale's favorite Golden Gopher: Tom Lehman's play in the final round sums up the way Lehman always plays: workmanlike. No player on Tour is known more for his blue collar attitude than this former University of Minnesota golf star.

Now residing in Scottsdale, Tom has won the hearts of the local faithful and both of this years' winner's checks, counting his win in the January Williams World Challenge. The fans' true love showed straight from the beginning with shouts of "Go get 'em Tom," and they didn't end until his par-saving putt dropped on #18.

Nose to the grindstone: At the Williams, Tom remarked that he'd been practicing hard during the offseason at Scottsdale's DC Ranch and that "I'm really motivated to do well this year." Well he started off the week right with a tournament-low 63, followed by a 67, for a two-day score of -12. After a disappointing 73 on Saturday, Tom hit the putting green hard wanting to convert on more birdie opportunities.

Sure enough, with a clutch 67 he finished in a tie for the lead at -14. Then as the pressure pushed player after player by the wayside, and Robert Allenby missed the four-footer that would have forced a playoff, Tom was still working on the range. It just goes to show that all of the hard work really does pay off.

• Third-round Open coverage • Tournament Chair Steve Matteucci • GolfArizona.com coverage of the Phoenix Open • Past articles by Scott Behmer

Robert Allenby: Consistent play helped take him to the lead on #14, however, then the pressure got to him. On the final four holes Allenby hit four of his worst shots of the week. On #15 he drove into the lake eliminating any chance for eagle or the probable birdie.

On #16 he whiffed his 75-foot approach putt leaving him 15-feet short of the hole. Then, on #17 he had a 30-yard eagle chip to the back left pin. He chunked it, leaving him with no chance for birdie. Finally, on #18 his mistakes cost him the lead. A chunked chip from behind the green left a six-footer that he slid by the hole and into a tie for second.

Phil Mickelson

The only thing that could bring a smile was after #17, when his wife ran under the ropes with six-month old Amanda and gave the fallen star a consoling hug and kiss.

Parting Shot: With a win earlier at the Williams and now one at the Phoenix Open, Tom's year is certainly off on the right foot. Maybe Tom can follow in Ryder Cup teammate Mark O'Meara's 1998 path and be the forty-something player who can give Tiger a run for his money each week.