2016 DSGO: Paul Goydos, Mr. Jack-in-the-Box, Wins the 2016 Dick’s Sporting Goods Open!

Paul Goydos was the consummate journeyman on the PGA TOUR winning only 2 times in 507 starts in a regular tour career that spanned 23 years including an event last year. Even shooting a 59 six years ago at the 2010 John Deere Classic did not guarantee a victory, only the last of his six runner-up finishes in his PGA TOUR career. But on the PGA TOUR Champions Tour he has claimed three victories in his first 46 starts. "Yeah, my MO (Method of Operation) this year has been 12 holes as a Tour player and six holes as a 12 handicap.  That's how I played all year...  Golf's one of those things.  You know, my game's kind of like a Jack-in-the-Box, kind of keep spinning it and it pops up every once in a while. Jack-in-the Box? I am thinking more like "Mr. Steady Eddie," as Goydos now has a win in each of his first three seasons on the Champions Tour. The Grinder from Long Beach State joins Bernhard Langer and Miguel Angel Jimenez as the only players with at least one PGA TOUR Champions win in each of the last three seasons. He also becomes the first player in tournament history to win the DICK’S Sporting Goods Open one year after finishing runner-up in the event. True to his comments, the likeable golfer did sandwich a spectacular 3-bogey 66 between a bogey free 3-birdie 69 first round and a bogey free 5-birdie 57 for his 14-under par winning total at the beautiful, well maintained, municipal En-Joie Golf Club. The key to his victory was his strong finish on Saturday going 4-under par for the last four holes with a birdie on the difficult par-4 15th, an eagle on the short par-4 16th, a deuce on the par-3 17th and a par on the tricky finishing hole. His solid steady Sunday play earned him a two stroke win over Wes Short Jr. (69-66-69). John Daly played in the Dick's Sporting Goods Open for the first time in his Champions Tour now seven start career. He faltered on Sunday with a 73 after a pair of 68s to start. Those 68s came around a Saturday midnight performance of Bob Dylan's Knockin' On Heaven's Door during the rowdy UUU after-party that followed a brilliant Florida Georgia Line concert. No report of what JD did on Saturday night. Vijay Singh, the 53-year old non-Olympic Golfer by choice, finished T36 (69-75-71) after coming to Endicott for the first time when the PGA TOUR Greenbrier Classic was washed out this week. It was only his 9th Champions Tour start. Bernard Langer, the Charles Schwab Cup leader and 2014 Dick's Sporting Goods Champion did not play this week. Billy Andrade, No. 2 man, was quiet, consistent and effective posting scores of 70-71-69 to finish T14 and narrow the gap with Mr. Langer. The golf course was in excellent condition. John Karedes and his tournament team, staff and volunteers, once again improved on perfection. What a great week for Paul Goydos and everyone involved in the 2016 Dick's Sporting Goods Open at En Joie Golf Club in Endicott, New York! "There was no inkling that I was going to play well other than the law of averages," Goydos explained his win, "things hadn't gone well, I hadn't played well, my attitude was bad, so naturally I won.” That's golf and that's life in the Greater Binghamton Area as the 10th DSGO hit the books! Thanks to a 3-year extension Dick's we all look forward to next year and the next and the next...