Garth

Mulroy

Time have changed for the South African. He had four results of T21 or better in ten starts at Leopard Creek including T3 in 2012 and victory the year before, but he’s not been inside the top 35 in his last four visits. That 2011 success came at the height of his powers. He completed a second Web.com Tour success the same year and had three Sunshine Tour wins at that stage, but it all went wrong. This year the results have improved on the home circuit and he claimed victory, a first in seven years, at the Vodacom Origins – Parys, but it is lowly stuff compared to what he has achieved in the past. He shot 70-80 in the Mauritius Open and 71-73 in the South African Open, both times to miss the cut; arguably they are more accurate assessments of his current form.

Mulroy shared 29th place at the no-cut WGC-Cadillac Championship on Sunday, but he’ll have this week off despite qualifying for last week’s exclusive field. Scores of other notables that failed to qualify are as follows: 68 -- Brian Harman, Stephen Gangluff, Mathew Goggin, Daniel Chopra, Leif Olson, Matthew Borchert; 69 -- Mark Anderson, Robert Castro, Troy Kelly, Alexandre Rocha, Lee Janzen, Robert Gamez, Jonathan Randolph; 70 -- Jonas Blixt, Duffy Waldorf, Will Strickler; 71 -- Gavin Coles, Richard S. Johnson, Bob Heintz, David Branshaw, Bubba Dickerson; 72 -- Miguel Carballo, Russell Knox, Matt McQuillan, Scot Langley; 73 -- Joe Durant, Chris Smith, Mathias Gronberg; 74 -- Will MacKenzie, Ted Purdy.

Further, the native South African held on for a T69 finish in his only other start at Quail Hollow in 2010. The stats don’t paint a pretty picture, as he ranks 175th in scrambling, 136th in ball-striking and 153rd in all-around ranking.

The WGC event reserves spots for the top two in earnings on the Sunshine Tour while the British invites only the leader. Mulroy made just six starts on his home circuit but posted one win, one second and one third en route to 3.464 million rand. He’ll be making his second appearance at Doral but the South African has never competed in a major. For a guy that will start 2012 in the reshuffle category on the PGA TOUR, the 33-year-old has some serious fantasy value.

This event was co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour as well since it was held at Leopard Creek Country Club in Malelane, South Africa. Mulroy is the fourth native of the country to win the tournament. He took the lead this week with a bogey-free 64 in the third round and completed 72 holes in 19-under 269. Scotland’s George Murray finished alone in second place two strokes adrift. Mulroy has enjoyed quite a year. Although he failed to save status on the PGA TOUR via a medical extension, his second child was born in April and he finished 21st on the Nationwide Tour money list to earn his 2012 PGA TOUR card. Today’s triumph boosts what was already rising fantasy value for the 33-year-old.

Mulroy had to call it quits after only nine holes in Memphis two weeks ago due to a back injury. In 27 previous rounds on the PGA TOUR this year, he’s signed for just two rounds in the 60s, both of which 69s, so today’s effort is relatively impressive. He hit 12 greens and buried four birdies, the longest of which from 20'4" at the 12th hole. He started his round with a four-yard hole-out for par from off the green at the 10th.

Kyle Veazey of The Commercial Appeal reported the information on Twitter. Mulroy went out in birdie-free, 7-over-par 42 with five bogeys and a double before calling it quits. He’s now 4-for-10 on what continues to be a disappointing season after a career year in 2011.

The South African hit 12 greens and poured in a field-tying-high eight birdies, four on each side of The Old White TPC. The notables disappeared from 11'2" and 11'11" at the 13th and sixth holes, respectively, but his longest conversion was a par save of 13'5" at 15. He entered the week 5-for-11 on the season with no top 25s and ranked 181st in the FedExCup standings.

A back injury bumped the South African from last week’s St. Jude after just nine holes. He’s currently 197th in FedExCup points thanks to four cuts made in just 10 starts. He’s 0-for-1 at the Travelers (2010).

Mulroy sits 173rd on the PGA TOUR money list, so he won’t retain status in 2013 unless he graduates from Q School. He’s 71st on the European Tour’s Race to Dubai, so he’s chosen to compete in this week’s Barclays Singapore Open instead.