Senior Open: Jerry Kelly hails 'best fans in world' after win at Gleneagles
American overcomes injury issue to claim his third over-50s’ major - but the best one yet!
Remember when Tom Watson won in front of Scottish golf fans and let you know exactly what it meant to him? Well, we were reminded of that as another American, Jerry Kelly, followed in three-time winner Watson’s spikemarks by being crowned as the ISPS HANDA Senior Open champion.
In a dramatic final round, which was initially lit up by Stephen Gallacher charging up the leaderboard as he signed off with a best-of-the-week 62, the 59-year-old Wisconsin man got his nose in front with an opening birdie on the King’s Course at Gleneagles and never looked back.
Kelly held a three-shot lead as early as the third hole after moving to ten under for the tournament, but, after seeming to be troubled by an injury as he hit his drive at the sixth, he then had to dig in for the remainder of the round.
After compatriot Matt Gogel had set the clubhouse target of eight under after he closed with a 63, Kelly produced great long putt after great putt to stay on course for a third over-50s’ major victory after landing the Senior Players Championship twice.
South African Darren Fichardt almost holed out from a greenside bunker for an eagle at the last to move level with Kelly on nine under before Australian Cameron Percy, Kelly’s playing partner, missed a good birdie chance on the same hole to join him on that mark.
It left Kelly, who played a lovely shot out of the same bunker as Fichardt, with two putts for victory, but he only needed one. A birdie to finish capped a brilliant display by the three-time PGA Tour winner.
“I’ve always loved coming to the home of golf,” said the new champion in his speech on the 18th green. “It brings an incredible joy to my heart that I can play in Scotland. You guys mean the world to me. You are the best fans in the world, don’t you forget.
“I have my wife (Carol) here, I have my son (Cooper) here and my niece, Allie. It was her husband’s birthday today and I saw a rainbow coming down 18 - this one was for Johnny [Jon Trasamar].”
The victory was worth just under $450,000 while Kelly also secured an exemption for The 155th Open at St Andrews next year. “I have never had tears before I dropped a putt before,” he told The Scotsman. “This win meant more to me than any win I’ve had. I’m getting the chills just thinking about it now.
“To do this at Gleneagles, which means so much to me. To be able to get one of the majors that really means so much is fantastic. We love our Players’ Championship, but this is the height of what I can do in my sport above 50 years of age, right?”
He admitted that he’d felt a twinge in his back on the sixth tee. “That one got me,” he said. “I felt it for the rest of the day. I couldn’t really take a full backwing the rest of the day. I did a really good job of trying to put it out of my mind, but I felt it every time I took the club back. It gave me a little difficulty coming through, but hopefully it will be gone and I’ll be able to tee it up next week (in a new Champions Tour event in Portugal).”
Percy, Gogel and Fichardt shared second spot on eight under, with Gallacher picking up around $111,000 as he finished fifth. It was also a profitable week for compatriot Greig Hutcheon, who picked up just under $30,000 for a share of 21st spot.
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