Round four of Tiger Woods’ Quicken Loans National was one of those good
news, bad news deals for Andrew Landry.
On a day when the Port Neches-Groves ex didn’t have his best stuff, and
struggled with the putter, Landry still managed to grind his way to a
one-over-par 71. That enabled him to finish tied for eighth with a 72-hole total
of 271, marking his fifth top 10 of a banner 2017-18 season.
Also on the positive side, Landry collected a check for $198,000 that
boosted his season earnings to $2,468,417. In addition, he jumped from 22nd to
18th in Fed Ex Cup points and will likely move up from 76th in the Official
World Golf Ratings.
The bad news wasn’t that Landry didn’t win, because nobody could have caught
Francesco Molinari on a sizzling Sunday over the TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm.
The first Italian to win a PGA Tour event since 1947 closed with a 62 for a
record 259 total that was eight shots clear of runner-up Ryan Armour.
The real downer for Landry was that an even-par round -— one shot less
— would have earned him a spot in the upcoming British Open. Exemptions went
to the top four players on the leaderboard who weren’t already qualified.
Molinari and Tiger Woods, who finished T4 after a 66, were already in the
field at Carnoustie.
“I didn’t play very well,” said Landry. “Plus the course played totally
different. It was firmer and way faster and they had pins in some crazy spots.
The round Molinari shot was unbelievable. Like I said the other day, he is a
great player.
“Nothing really felt comfortable for me with my swing, but I did hit some
good putts that just didn’t go in. The British Open thing is disappointing
because I was so close, but I am pretty sure I will still get in based on my
world ranking.”
Landry managed to bag only two birdies — from 6 feet on the par 4, third and
20 feet on the par 5, 10th. On the way to taking 33 putts, he missed birdies
from 6 feet on the par 4, seventh, from 7 feet on the par 4, 13th, from 9 feet on
the par 4, 14th and from 12 feet on the par 4, 18th.
After rounds of 63, 72 and 65, he was never under par Sunday. Both of his
birdies came when he was one over, with bogeys coming on the par 5, second,
the par 4, eighth and the par 4, 15th. Among the revealing stats was hitting
only seven of 14 fairways and 12 of 18 greens.
Despite the latter, Landry still tied for second in greens hit in regulation
with 55 of 72 for the week. The most telling stat was ranking 45th in putts
per greens in regulation.
While Landry had his struggles, fellow Port Neches-Groves ex Chris Stroud
enjoyed his best round of the tournament, closing with a 67 for a 277 and a
tie for 32nd. Stroud earned $36,841.
On the Web.com Tour, West Orange-Stark ex Michael Arnaud fell from 17th to
40th in the Lincoln Land Charity Championship with a closing 72.