Courtesy Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Kelly gets an ending he likes: Madison golfer earns his highest finish in a major
By Gary D'Amato
Augusta, Ga. - Jerry Kelly would be the first to admit that his record in the major championships was abysmal for a player of his stature.
He had won nearly $14.7 million in his career, had finished among the top 40 money winners five times in 11 years on the PGA Tour and he had even won twice. But in the majors, he had exactly two top-25 finishes in 27 starts.
Finally, in the 71st Masters Tournament, he got to see what his name looked like on the leader board.
Kelly, 40, of Madison, Wis., shot a final-round 70 on Sunday and finished in a tie for fifth place with Justin Rose at 4-over-par 292, three strokes behind winner Zach Johnson.
"It's huge," Kelly said. "I just still can't believe I've been out here this long and that's my first top-10 in a major. I mean, it's a long time coming."
It's the best result for a Wisconsin golfer in a major since Steve Stricker finished second to Vijay Singh at the 1998 PGA Championship.
Kelly eagled the 13th hole and had another eagle chance on No. 15 after hitting the green in two. He missed the putt but made a birdie, then followed with a great up-and-down to save par on No. 16. He barely missed a 12-foot birdie on No. 17.
On the final hole, he hit his drive into the trees, chipped out, then hit a beautiful 9-iron just above the hole and made the putt to save par.
"I felt great," he said. "I really did feel good. I felt like I belonged. I was solid. I was solid mentally over every shot."
Kelly's previous best result in a major was a tie for 20th in both the 2002 and 2005 Masters. He has never had a top-25 finish in the U.S. Open, PGA Championship or British Open.
He expects that to change now that he is working with Lanny Bassham, a mental coach based in Dallas. Kelly spent two days last week with Bassham, who won a gold medal in pistol shooting at the 1976 Olympics and teaches a system of mental management to athletes, Navy SEALS and U.S. Army marksmen.
"Lanny has just put me in a different league mentally," Kelly said. "He absolutely has put me in a different league, and immediately. Have you ever seen me able to let loose under that kind of pressure and have fun?
"It's just really cool."
He shot a third-round 78 in brutal conditions at the Augusta National Golf Club and was 1 over par through 10 holes Sunday. It appeared he was headed for another disappointment in a major.
But he turned it around with the eagle on 13 and the birdie on 15.
"On 13, I had a perfect number for my utility club, 228 (yards) into the wind, and I hit it to 18 feet," Kelly said. "I had it in there even shorter on 15, about 12 feet. I had a good 3-wood, 238 into the wind, the perfect number for me to hit a cut to that pin. It came off just the way I wanted."
He hit his tee shot over the green on No. 16 but got up and down, then hit his approach on No. 17 just 12 feet below the hole. He miss-read the putt, however, played too much break and had to settle for a par.
Kelly is confident he's turned the corner when it comes to major championships. But he still wouldn't reveal what Bassham told him in two eight-hour sessions last week.
"You're going to have to pay the money and find out what it is," he said.
He was laughing, after the final round of a major.
It felt good.