Chris Gregor

Let’s assess;  a) The 1^st place check was for $1,008,000 - This going to a guy who had missed six cuts in nine previous starts this year and was ranked 193rd on the money list.  b) He guaranteed himself a spot in the big show for at least two more years courtesy of the two-year exemption that went to the winner.  c) As for the big, red cherry to top his wonderful Sunday, he gets to tee it at Augusta this week.  Oh, by the way, the guy was born in Amarillo and is the 7^th Texan to win this event on their home turf.  A pretty good day in the life I’d say.

Nicely done Johnson

A late bogey left Chad hanging

Wagner matched defending champion Adam Scott's course-record 63 in the first round, and held the 36- and 54-hole leads at an event for the first time in 44 career starts.  Wagner controlled his nerves and held off several late challenges Sunday.  The 28-year-old shot a 1-under 71 to finish at 16 under, two shots ahead of Chad Campbell (72) and Geoff Ogilvy (68).  Billy Mayfair and Fred Couples shot 66s and finished three shots back at 13 under. Couples - the champion in 2003 when the tournament was contested at the members' course across the street - was one of several players who mounted charges on the back nine.  Bob Estes and Charley Hoffman, three behind Wagner at the start of the round, both shot 72s and finished four behind.

Way to go Freddie!  Our own Seattle native played great on the weekend – 67, 66 – and if he can keep the putter going, a top 5 finish at the Masters is not out of the question.  Dontcha’ love to watch Freddie swing the club?  I’d give my right nad to have tempo like his!  Smooth and rhythmic yet he still just beats it deep.  A thing of beauty for sure, apparently not great for the back…  Anyway, play good Fred; you’d have the Evergreen State entranced should you end up in contention come the back-9 on Sunday!

Freddie could be a factor in Georgia

On a side note, since Bob Estes was in the hunt for a while on Sunday, we got to see him play a bit on television.  If you recall a recent GolfWashington article – Golf Has Its Confrontations – Estes was the guy who pissed off Fulton Allem during a tournament in which they were paired.  Allem accused Estes of playing too slowly and pointed out to Bob that “etiquette is not a small town in France”.  Awesome line by the way, I’ll certainly steal it on occasion.  Anyway, after watching Estes on Sunday, I hear you loud and clear Fullty!  I mean geeezus Bob, you shot even par on a day that you needed minus 5, can’t ya’ play mediocre golf any faster?  If Allem is the only guy to ever bitch about your pace of play, consider yourself charmed.

Davis Love III will miss a Major for the first time since 1990.  Love had to win to qualify for next week's Masters, but he finished 5 under, ending the longest active streak of Major appearances at 70.  Phil Mickelson now holds the longest run of Major starts, with 55.  Mickelson shot a second straight 71 on Sunday and finished at 6 under in his final tune-up before Augusta National.

This day however, belonged to Wagner.  He is the 13th player to earn his first PGA Tour victory in the Shell Houston Open.  His emotions showed all day, as sweat soaked through his green shirt and he nervously wiped his hands with a white towel before most of his shots.  But Wagner held it together, pumping his fist after sinking a 6-foot par putt on the 72nd hole as his parents and several family members cheered from behind the green.  Next week, they'll be applauding him at Augusta National.

Partial content for this article contributed by the (AP)