What a difference a year makes!

Geoff Ogilvy tries on his 2005 conquistadore helmet trophy,

after winning the Chrysler Classic of Tucson in a sudden death playoff.

2005 was a breakout year for Geoff Ogilvy. While the big boys were dabbling in the mega money WGC Accenture Match Play, Geoff was slumming over at Tucson National in the Tucson Open. He grinded out his first PGA Tour victory in a playoff and the volunteers all wished him well. They all told him, “We hope we don’t see you here next year.” Not the normal thing you tell the champion of your event, but the Tucson was the “other event” the last week of February. There were “no worries” on seeing the Aussie back in Tucson this year. Geoff had top tens in both the British Open and the PGA last year in route to his #53 ranking going into this year’s WGC Match Play Championship.

Ogilvy was four down with four to play against Mike Weir, before winning four straight to force extra holes. He went 19 holes against Michael Campbell, 21 holes against Nick O'Hern, 21 holes against Mike Weir and 19 holes against David Howell, all of them looking like losses but Ogilvy found ways to survive and advance in each match. There was no overtime on the weekend as he disposed of Tom Lehman 4&3 and beat Davis Love (the III) 3&2 in the final with an eagle birdie flurry to claim the $1,300,000 top prize.

There was also a grand slam of players disposed by Ogilvy on his way to victory. Campbell (U.S. Open), Wier (Masters), Lehman (British Open), and Love (PGA). Ogilvy’s who was a 2000 Q-School graduate has slowly been coming into his own over the last five plus years. It is safe to say he has arrived on the big stage. He is anxious to get his first look at Augusta.

Ogilvy said the decision to play in the match play instead of defending his Tucson title wasn’t a tough choice, but he was afraid he might be knocked out in the first round and feel frustrated by not playing anywhere while the Tucson was being played. Tucson will host the WGC Match Play Championship in 2007 as part of the revamped schedule. Ogilvy will be defending champion of a new event in the city he never got the opportunity to defend his first title. Tucson is also home to Jackson Julson, who has signed on as a contributing “Goffshots” editor. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Look for additional contributing editors to sign on as we get some more folks (and opinions) in the fray.

While we eagerly await additional amateur journalism, we congratulate Ogilvy and old man Kirk Triplett on their victories this week. Triplett shot a final round 63 (-22 total) for the win in Tuscon and first since the prestigious 2003 Reno-Tahoe Open. Triplett shines in the big ones, but we are proud of the “bucket hat bandit” nonetheless and have always wanted to see him in the crazy conquistadore helmet trophy. I guess that is the one down side to losing the Tuscon, but maybe they can give the helmet to next year's match play champion.

What a difference a year makes. Going from funny metal hats to check's that are $1,200,000.00 phat.