Third-year pro holds off field
Associated Press
AVONDALE, La. — Third-year PGA Tour pro Nick Watney was in New Orleans, with all of its renowned restaurants, and ate a fast food restaurant for dinner.
On a Saturday night.
Maybe now that he’s taking home nearly $1.1 million in prize money for winning the Zurich Classic, the lanky, clean-cut 25-year-old will treat himself to fancier fare. Or maybe not.
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"I think I’ll be the same person, but I get to play The Masters and go to Kapalua (Hawaii) to start the year, so I’m very excited," Watney said Sunday evening, shortly after his 3-under 69 on a tough TPC Louisiana course gave him a three-stroke victory over Ken Duke. Watney had never tasted victory on the tour before he arrived here.
He had never even led an event after three rounds, which might explain why he didn’t have the appetite for a refined, multi-course meal the night before the final round, or why he didn’t sleep as well as usually does.
Watney woke at 5:30 a.m., earlier than usual, he said, for a noon tee time.
And when he finally began play, he wasn’t at his best through his opening four holes, two of which he bogeyed to quickly squander the two-shot lead he had taken during the third round.
