Matteson on a high for Viking Classic
floridian just loves playing in the autumn
Published:
FLORIDA’S Troy Matteson might have been trying to hold on to his PGA Tour card in this week’s Viking Classic in Madison, Mississippi, but instead goes in on the two-year exemption he earned by winning the Frys.com Open after a play-off on Sunday.
“It’s just an unbelievable feeling,” said Matteson after winning on the second extra hole against Rickie Fowler and Jamie Lovemark, who were playing college golf earlier this year.
After three solid seasons on the PGA Tour, Matteson found himself on the bubble to retain his playing privileges for next season at 131st on the moneylist heading to last week’s tournament in Arizona.
“I haven’t played good all year,” said Matteson, who for the first time in four seasons on the PGA Tour did not have a single finish in the top 10 in 29 tournaments this year.
“But there are obviously a lot of guys in my situation. I have not played very well up to this point, but that’s golf and you don’t know when you’re going to play good.”
Matteson opened with a two-over-par 72 last week on the Raptor course at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale.
He was outside the projected cut line when he started his second round on the Friday afternoon.
climbed
“If you would have told me I could get into a play-off to try to win this tournament, I would have said you’re absolutely out of your mind,” added Matteson.
However, he put up scores of 61, 61 and 68 and eventually earned his first victory since winning what is now the Shriners Open in Las Vegas in 2006 and climbed to 55th on the moneylist.
In 2006, Matteson reeled off five consecutive top-10 finishes in October, including his victory in Las Vegas by one stroke over Ben Crane and Daniel Chopra.
In winning the Frys.com Open, he earned his ninth top-10 in September, October and November over his four seasons on the PGA Tour.
“I don’t know, I just kind of like it in the autumn,” said Matteson, who was the leading money winner on the Nationwide Tour in 2005.
“I’ve always liked it, maybe because it coincides with the start of school every year for me when I was in college. I wasn’t much of a summer golfer. I didn’t play good in the summer.”
The problem, as it has been for most of the season, was his putter: “I haven’t putted well all year,” said Matteson, who ranks 134th on the circuit with an average of 29.42 putts per round. “I’ve putted terrible. I have had a day or two where I putted well. I made a few changes recently and just holed some putts. You see that first one go in from 15 feet. The next one is easier and the next one is easier.”
