2013 Golf: D. A. Points Wins Shell Houston Open

All of the people had already went home during the Texas style flash flood that halted play at the Shell Houston Open on Sunday evening. The huge galleries that were on hand earlier to cheer the leaders on had already went home to escape the deluge that swept through the Redstone Golf Course. Only a few die-hards who weathered the storm in the bar, saw D. A. Points sink a clutch 13 foot putt to save par at the 18th hole, and preserve a one-shot victory over Billy Horschel, who just finished just ahead of him at -15 under par, and Henrik Stenson, who got in the clubhouse before the storm blew up at -15 under par.

Points made four solid pars after the rain delay, where the conditions throughout the golf course had completely changed. The fairways had lost their roll, the greens became soft, and slower, and there was almost no hint of wind. He hit his tee shot at 18 down the middle with a three wood, not taking any chances with the lake on the left, and hit his approach shot to the right, catching the area between the greenside bunker, and the green itself.

Earlier, the shot would have probably kicked onto the green, and rolled down the hill toward the flag. Not in these conditions. He would have a long chip shot that because the greens were soggy, came up short. No problem. Armed with his mother’s old Anser putter, he took two deep breaths, and knocked it squarely in the hole. There was never a doubt about the putt going in. D. A. Points spent 5 minutes thanking the folks that had stuck around to watch him secure the second win of his career.

"“I never count myself out,” said Points, now 19th in the FedExCup standings. “I never just chalk it up like, `Oh, this year is over with.’ I’ve never felt like that. I was just grinding, just trying to wait and try to find that one thing that like, `Boom! There it is.’ And there I go. Fortunately, it was this week and I capitalized on it.”“I’ve been having a really tough year,” Points said. “To have a putt to win, you want that starting out every week. I would have liked for it to have been closer.”"

I love it when someone new wins on the PGA Tour. All of a sudden, a career is born. He immediately has status, he get’s 500 FedEx Cup points, a two-year exemption where he doesn’t have to attend Monday Qualifiers, and the win get’s him an invitation to Augusta for a chance to win a Green Jacket, and a trip to Hawaii next spring for the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.

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