GolfPlus - Nov 19 Digital Edition (Nov 19) | Page 26

ON THE PGA TO UR
GRIFFIN’S INCREDIBLE JOURNEY
LEADS TO AN EMOTIONAL WIN
JUSTIN THOMAS WINS FOR
SECOND TIME AT THE CJ CUP
t was the second win on JeJu Island in
three years for Thomas as he held off
a plucky crowd favorite in Danny Lee
by two shots. The 26-year-old former
FedExCup winner has now converted
eight of 11 54-hole lead/co leads into victory.
He fi nds a way. And while those watching him
are very impressed with such resolve Thomas
isn’t ready to adopt the closer title just yet.
“I don’t think you can ever necessarily call
yourself the best closer. I’ve only won 11
times. I feel like once I get to 40 or 50 times
and I’ve closed a lot of those, then I think
that’s kind of different,” Thomas says.
Yes, this Kentucky product already has 40
or 50 wins on his mind. And why not, he’s well
and truly on his way. But truly, he’s modest.
Because on Sunday, Lee was playing spoiler
for sure. Like a pesky terrier the Korean born
contender was making the clutch putts when
it mattered. He wasn’t backing down and was
riding a wave of emotion.
hen the decisive 6-foot par putt
fell Sunday at the Houston Open,
Lanto Griffi n raised both arms in
celebration while a look of rapturous disbelief
crossed his face. Then he started sobbing, the
long, unique and heartbreaking journey to
becoming a PGA TOUR winner fueling his
emotions. Some 1,200 miles away in Roanoke,
Virginia, Steve Prater was jumping for joy, his
head nearly reaching the ceiling. It had been
the same reaction the day before when Griffi n
holed a bunker shot for a much-needed birdie.
“I’ve jumped so much this week that I’ve got
a headache,” Prater said. Prater is the Director
of Instruction at Roanoke Country Club, but
several years ago he worked at Blacksburg
Country Club. That’s where he met Griffi n,
who back then was a boy with self-described
“hippies” for parents -- including his dad,
Michael, who managed a health food store
and knew a little about baseball and soccer,
but not as much about golf.
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30 G o l f P l u s
NOVEMBER
2019