Jerry Kelly wins Zurich Classic of New Orleans

Jerry Kelly won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans by a single shot from Charles Howell III, Rory Sabbatini and Charlie Wi. It was Kelly’s first PGA Tour victory for seven years.

Jerry Kelly
Fergus Bisset
By
published

Jerry Kelly won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans by a single shot from Charles Howell III, Rory Sabbatini and Charlie Wi. It was Kelly’s first PGA Tour victory for seven years.

Kelly took a two-stroke lead into the final round but bogeys at the 8th and 10th saw him slip out of the lead. But the 42-year-old rallied, made birdies on the 11th and 14th and held on to record a one under par 71 and claim victory by a single shot.

“It’s been a long time,” said Kelly. “I sometimes doubted if it was ever going to happen.”

For a period on Sunday it looked as though it wasn’t going to happen this time. When Charles Howell III made his sixth birdie of the day on the 11th, he moved into a two shot lead. But Howell stumbled with bogeys at the 15th and 17th and allowed Kelly back into the competition.

“It's frustrating,” said Howell. “I got up to 15, and had every chance to do it. I just couldn't finish it off.”

Kelly picked up a cheque for $1,134,000 (his biggest ever payday), 500 FedEx Cup points and a two-year exemption on tour. The man from Wisconsin has climbed to 17th on the FedEx Cup standings.

England’s Ian Poulter finished in a tie for 13th.

Zurich Classic of New Orleans TPC Louisiana, Avondale, Louisiana Apr 23-26, purse $6,200,000, par 72

1    Jerry Kelly (USA)        68    66    69    71    274    $1,134,000 T2    Charles Howell III (USA) 68    69    70    68    275    $470,400 T2    Rory Sabbatini (RSA)    70    67    71    67    275    $470,400 T2    Charlie Wi (Kor)        66    70    71    68    275    $470,400 T5    Steve Marino (USA)    70    68    68    70    276    $239,400 T5    David Toms (USA)    68    68    72    68    276    $239,400 T7    Steve Stricker (USA)    68    73    69    67    277    $203,175 T7    Aaron Watkins (USA)    70    68    69    70    277    $203,175 T9    Jason Dufner (USA)    68    73    69    68    278    $203,175 T9    Roland Thatcher (USA)    68    70    70    70    278    $203,175

Note: Players in bold signifies Titleist ball usage only

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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