Notes from the FedEx

Len Mattiace came into the season with zero wins on the PGA Tour. He is now the only man with two victories in 2002 not named Tiger or Phil.

What a wild final round in Memphis! Seven shots is a lot to make up in one day, especially at the TPC at Southwind. Len was 11-under par heading to the fourth round and didn’t think he had a chance to win on a course that yields so many birdies. His bogey-free 64 was impressive but without some help from above (the leaders, not THAT above) Len would not have been able to charge to the front.

You have to feel badly for Glen Hnatiuk. It is so difficult to win on the PGA Tour for the first time. Glen had three 65’s to give him a four-shot cushion Sunday morning, but a 77 on the final 18 dropped him out of the top 10. Mattiace said afterwards he felt horribly for Glen and hoped he would play well. The two have been good friends for a long time and Len was rooting for Glen to earn his first victory on Tour.

On a completely different note, The FedEx St. Jude Classic is a strong event - despite missing a strong field. The schedule change next year should help this wonderful tournament. The weather, brutal this time of year in Memphis, won’t be as hot. But the real reason it would be nice to see more of the big names come here is because of the way Tournament Director Phil Cannon and his staff run this tournament. It’s first-class all the way, and a lot of sick children at St. Jude are the beneficiaries of some much-needed money for that special hospital.

From Phil Mickelson’s win in Hartford to Len Mattiace’s victory in Memphis, it’s been a fun two weeks on the road.