PGA Results: 2011 FedEx St. Jude Classic

Sure, this past week's FedEx St. Jude Classic tournament isn't the biggest event on tour.  It falls in a tough spot, the week before the U.S. Open.  But there are huge career opportunities and millions of bucks at stake regardless.  It is a PGA Tour event after all. Two Man Race By Sunday's final round at the FedEx St. Jude, two players had separated themselves from the pack, Sweden's Robert Karlsson and American Harrison Frazar.  The back nine saw these two dueling it out, and TV coverage hardly left them to cover any other players in the field.  The field was roughly five shots back. Despite having a wealth of experience and wins on the European Tour, Karlsson's nerves caused some errant tee shots which were typically blocks right.  Nerves caused a few missed putts for both players as well.  Neither player could separate from the other. On the tough 17th hole though, that block right shot caused Karlsson to make bogey, giving Frazar a one shot lead on the 72nd tee.  All Frazar had to do essentially was make par for his first win.  Pars don't come easy with water left, and a player who desperately wants to win for the first time though.  The nerves caused Frazar to pull his shot left of the green where it trickled into the water hazard. The PGA Tour then entered its 11th playoff of the year. Not sure what the record is for playoffs in one year, but this year must be close already. During the playoff neither player shined.  Both milked pars out of nervous play for the first two playoff holes.  On the 3rd playoff hole Karlsson's block once again hurt him as he missed the 12th (par-4) green to the right.   Unable to get up and down for par, Karlsson opened the door for Frazar to two-putt and seal the victory. Inspirational Dallas resident Harrison Frazar was a relative no-name on tour.  In fact, I bet that until yesterday not many people realized he'd been on tour for 13 years.  Frazar defined the term "journeyman."  Frazar was playing in his 355th event on tour and had no victories up to that point, which is quite amazing.  Lasting that long on tour with no wins seems unlikely. Ironically Frazar's victory wasn't the only one for the Dallas area Sunday.  The Dallas Mavericks won the NBA Championship later that evening.