by Jeff Skinner
You have to think that any Sunday at Pebble Beach is special. Whether you’re dropping a putt on the links or tossing a Frisbee to your dog on the beach that piece of real estate makes everything seem a bit more special. For D.A. Points it was a special day indeed. Points played clutch golf coming down the stretch to claim his first PGA Tour win in 128 tries. His first victory comes at one of the most iconic courses in the world. “It’s a dream come true,” Points said. “To win on the PGA Tour, and especially at Pebble Beach, and especially with Bill Murray, I don’t think I could dream this up.” Sure, it’s a Cinderella story but Points earned his victory with steady golf and a good sense of humor.
Bill Murray has become a bit of a lightning rod for his antics at The A.T. & T. Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Murray has a history of entertaining the crowd whenever he’s on the course, some say he carries things a bit too far. Remember the scene with Murray flinging an elderly woman to the bottom of a bunker a few years ago? Those distractions can weigh on a professional golfer trying to earn his living by hitting fairways and sinking putts. Some pros have asked not to be paired with Murray for just that reason.
That wasn’t going to bother Points. “Everybody all week kept saying, ‘You got the short end of the stick I never, ever felt that way. I tried to embrace it. He just seemed to have fun, and he taught me to go ahead and have a little more fun. And in turn, it distracted me from trying so hard. It kept me loose and having a good time with Bill.” After Points eagled the fourteenth with his wedge from 100 yards and sunk a thirty foot putt for birdie on the next hole he looked pretty darn loose coming down the last three holes with pars.
Steve Marino once again failed to hold on to a lead in the final round. Marino has turned into a hard luck golfer with another missed chance at his first win. He has three career second places and last year his best finishes were 4th, 5th and 9th. His triple bogey on eighteen dropped him into a tie for fourth, the same place he finished here last year.
Points showed plenty of class at the eighteenth green, where he shouted to the crowd, “Everyone, thank you for coming.” D. A. Points not only survived a week on the links with Bill Murray, he thrived with him. The two also won the Pro-Am title so you can bet Murray will be looking to play with Points again next year. Somehow I don’t think Points will mind at all.
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