Today’s PGA TOUR pros frequently gauge their own value based on their drives and putts, birdies and bogeys, misses and makes. It’s a binary existence, where the chances of success get smaller as skill levels at the highest levels of the sport increase.
Usually, only one player is completely satisfied with their performance at the end of the week.
That player at the Shriners Children’s Open was J.T. Poston. Poston defeated Doug Ghim by a single stroke to win his third PGA TOUR championship. He avoided a playoff by sinking a 4-foot par putt on the last hole. At TPC Summerlin, Poston established a 3-stroke lead going into the final round and held off a determined Ghim (65), finishing with a 4-under 67.
Poston, 31, arrived in Las Vegas without having competed on the Tour since the August BMW Championship. Throughout his previous five competitions, Poston, who has a great putting history, averaged -1.134 Strokes Gained: Putting, which included three missed cuts. Since the RBC Heritage in April, he had not recorded a top-10 finish.
For the 9-year veteran from North Carolina, what changed? What gave a golfer the courage to record his first victory in over 2 years despite only managing 3 double bogeys during the entire week ?
In March of this year, Poston welcomed his daughter Katherine Scott “Scottie” Poston into the world. Following a demanding sequence of five competitions in six weeks, which culminated with the BMW Championship, Poston took a break to spend time with his family.
“We’ve had an amazing run at home in the weeks following the Playoffs. Since she was born in March, the season was not yet over. It’s been great to spend so much time at home. My wife has been amazing; I simply get to go witness that and be there for her. She transforms every day, every week.” Poston said.
For Poston, this victory represents a brand-new outlook on both his life and his career.
In order to succeed out here, perspective is crucial, in my opinion. I believe that there were moments when I took things a bit too seriously or was a bit too harsh with myself. I feel like there’s been a bit of a 180 since Scottie was born, just realising that life is more than golf. To be honest, that’s it.
Poston started the day in the same spot as the 2022 John Deere Classic, his last victory on the TOUR. That Sunday in Silvis, Illinois, Poston awoke to a three-shot lead and made history at the John Deere by being the first player from the group known as the “Trophy House” to win. He held on for the victory with a final-round score of 69.
Two years earlier, before that round, Poston said, “It’s just tough to play with the lead.”
The leader on Sunday started the round with a birdie, indicating that it would be difficult but that he was a worthy winner. A few miles down the road, on the same day that the 2024 team bull riding champion was announced, Poston navigated the TPC Summerlin’s desert hazards while riding the ups and downs of Sunday’s round.
Poston did not light up his scorecard at this event like many others had done in the past. Though he was crucially able to go up and down 4 times, he missed 5 greens. Poston was back on the green this week, ranking 12th in the field despite a nervous miss on the 17th. He gained 2.225 strokes on the green.
The crucial moment of the day occurred at the turn when Ghim eagled the 9th hole to get within 1 stroke of the lead, aside from the final putt that sealed the victory. To maintain his lead, Poston would demonstrate his mettle by making the cup on par putts of 4 and 5 feet on Nos. 9 and 10, respectively.
That was significant. Doug was clearly hitting some birdies; he was exerting pressure and made a fantastic 3 there on nine. I convinced myself that I was simply trying to stay in my own lane and that I was playing and putting well. Nevertheless, it was significant that the putts on 9 and 10 maintained the lead and never quite gave it up.
Poston’s skill at staying out of trouble—he only marked down 3 bogeys during the week—was what ultimately won him the victory. During Friday’s weather-delayed 2nd round, when wind gusts over 50 miles per hour tore through the corridors of TPC Summerlin, 2 of those flaws occurred. In response, he shot a 65, carding 6 birdies and an eagle.
After earning his debut win on the Tour at the 2019 Wyndham Championship, Poston already enjoys the distinction of being the only player since 1974 to win a tournament without making any bogeys.
Poston’s victory will take him a spot back to Augusta National for his 4th Masters tournament in the spring. Poston may be starting to figure things out at the storied event because he finished T34 and T30 the last 2 years, the latter being his best major finish to date. He missed a cut on his 1st trip.
The next natural step for the recently minted three-time winner is to play at the majors. Poston will enter his 2025 campaign with the mentality of someone who wants to win but the security of someone who doesn’t have to after gaining new insight.
“I feel like I have a little more freedom on the golf course knowing that I can still go home, get her, give her a hug, and spend time with her no matter how I play. In my opinion, that’s a major victory.” he said of his daughter.
