TAYLOR, KUCHAR WILL PLAY AN EXTRA DAY by John Craig

VERONA – There was “edge of your toes” type stuff from four of the final five groups at Atunyote Golf Club at the Turning Stone Resort Championship, with more golf to be played.

“It was just a little too dark,” said Kuchar. “Reading the green on 12, on the second playoff hole, was really difficult.”
           
“I’m tired right now,” said Taylor. “I want some food and a bed.”
           
Gates open at 7:30 AM at the Tom Fazio designed course and it’s free admission to see what will be the fourth Monday finish on Tour this year.

The two players were tied at -17 after 72 holes. Even 74 holes couldn’t decide it so they will return and face “Goldeneye Duck,” the name of the par-4, 416-yard 13th hole.   Last year, the hole ranked as the 24th most difficult hole all year, averaging 4.369. The course ranked as the 16th most difficult on the PGA Tour.
Taylor parred the 13th all four rounds.

“Just try to go out and hit one down the middle,” Taylor said of his Monday morning approach. Kuchar had three pars and bogeyed it on Sunday.

“It’s an awfully tough opening hole,” Kuchar said. “I think 13 is probably the toughest hole out here, tough one to start on.” If they are still tied, it’s on to the par-5 18th. The sequence of 18-12-13-18 will be repeated until there is a champion.
 
 
TAYLOR’S DA

“I was on the edge of my toes just kind of going, oh, this is really fun,” said Ann Spencer, tournament director. “I don’t think it gets much better than this.”             Four of the final five groups gave fans a lot to focus on at the 18th.
           
Taylor, playing with Mathias Gronberg (-8) posted his 66 (-6 on the round) to go to -17. On his front nine, he had three birdies – at 4, 5 & 8 – plus one bogey (2). On his back nine, Taylor birdied 10 and then the shot of the day on 12: he one-hopped a lob wedge from 66-yards right into the hole on the par-5 for eagle to get him to -16.

“I just a great wedge shot and fortunate enough for it to bounce in the hole,” Taylor said. He gave one back on the 15th but then birdies at 16 (8 foot putt) & 17 (18 foot putt) gave him the lead.

“Big putts on 16 and 17 that got me a chance to win,” Taylor said. Taylor, 33, had the lead a the 36-hole mark, started the final round in sixth place and had the clubhouse lead around 4:45pm.
 
 
PETROVIC & JACOBSON
 
Tim Petrovic, who had the first round co-lead, came to the 18th tee one shot back. He had a 15-foot birdie putt and just slid it by as the crowd’s groan went up and then down.
           
Petrovic started tied with Taylor in sixth place. He had five birdies to move him into a tie for third at -16.
           
“All guys can look back at some shots that they threw away, but I’m happy,” said Petrovic. “I put myself in contention and gave myself an opportunity.”
           
Fredrik Jacobson (-12) started the day tied for sixth as well but wound up tied for 15th even though he shot one-under.
 
THOMPSON & BYRD
 
           
Nicholas Thompson started his afternoon in fifth place but had a tough final round, 76, and finished tied for 35th at -8. Neither he nor his playing partner, Jonathan Byrd did much to get the crowd excited around 18. Byrd’s final round 73 dropped him from that sixth place tie after three rounds to tied at 23 at -10.
 
PAMPLING & OLSON
 
           
 Both Rod Pampling and Leif Olson, the first round co-leader, gave the crowd a thrill around the 18th. They each had chip shots near the green.
           
Pampling’s settled about four feet from the hole and he made a birdie to go to -14, tied for seventh. He had started the round tied for third.
           
Olson did his playing partner one better. His chip shot from about 30-feet got up and rolled and smacked off the flagstick. He dropped his head and the crowd, building to a crescendo, let out an “awww” as it caromed off. If it had gone in, it would have been an eagle and Olson would have moved to -17. Instead, he finished tied for third at -16.
           
“After I hit it, I just knew in the air I had a chance,” Olson said. “And it’s one of those things, you just have to get lucky because it’s coming in hot.” 
 
PIERCY & KUCHAR
 
           
The final group of Scott Piercy and Kuchar was all about Kuchar. Piercy, a rookie, shot 73 in round four and fell from the 54-hole co-lead to a tie for 12th.
       
Kuchar, who had six biridies and three bogeys on the day, trailed Taylor after the bogey at 13. He tied him back up with an 18-foot birdie at the par-3 177-yard 16th.
   
He was safe for six more shots, until 65 yards out from his 72nd hole. Kuchar took a look at the green, walked back and tried to softly land the ball on the green. He hit it too softly. He chunked it into the bunker in front of the green. The crowd “awwwed” and then a murmur moved around the stands that he would need to get up and down.
   
With his wife and two children under two watching, sort of, the 31-year old stepped into the sand and flew out a shot that landed softly and almost ended any talk of a playoff.

“I was looking forward to testing myself,” Kuchar said. “That’s the way I look at it: here’s another test.” He signed his card and they went to the playoff: holes 18-12-13-18 if necessary. Two down, more to play.
 
PLAYOFF BEGINS
 
Taylor and Kuchar had good approach shots. Taylor knocked his from 124-yards to three-feet. Kuchar went from 107-yards to nine-feet. He made his birdie, Taylor tapped his in and as the sun set quickly and the clouds made it very dark, they moved to the 12th tee.
   
There, both had poor second shots that put them near a TV tower to the left of the green. They each had birdie tries, however. Kuchar at 24-feet and Taylor at 21-feet would make par and shake hands. The only winner on Sunday would be darkness.
   
Taylor’s two wins on the PGA Tour are both at the Reno-Tahoe Open incuding a four-way playoff in ’04. Kuchar’s lone win is at the 2002 Honda Classic. Taylor has earned himself a job next year by securing a spot inside the Top-125 on the money list. Kuchar wants to get into the top-30.

They are both 1-0 in playoffs. Taylor at Reno and Kuchar won a playoff at the 2006 Henrico County Open in Virginia on the Nationwide Tour.
    
A victory on the PGA Tour gets a two year exemption and no more number crunching.

“We’ve both a chance to win the tournament so that’s enough to come back (Monday),” Taylor said.

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