By Paul Myers
Coming back from an injury as serious as a torn labrum is a major challenge for anyone, let alone for a golfer who has recently turned 40. It would have been easy to write off Perez as a player who was passed his prime, and just about ready to hang up the sticks after a long and successful professional golf career. Obviously, however, Perez was not ready to write that story. Instead, he wrote a completely different story, coming back from injury to win the OHL Classic at Mayakoba with an incredible total of 21-under-par for the week.
A Late-Career Charge?
Although Perez turned professional way back in 1997, he only had three pro wins to his name prior to this latest victory. Of course, there is nothing wrong with having three professional wins, but many people would have likely predicted more for Perez based on his immense talent. With just one top ten finish in 18 major championship starts, the career of Pat Perez has been successful without being spectacular. That just may change in the coming years, however, as Perez is now healthy and poised to perhaps produce some of the best golf of his life.
Plenty of Birdies
During a normal week on the PGA Tour, a score of 10-under-par for four rounds would put you in pretty good standing. That isn’t a score that will win most weeks, but it is usually a pretty nice effort. However, at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba, shooting -10 was only good for a tie for 28th place. The scores were impressively low all week, capped off by Perez shooting 62-67 on the weekend to win by two. The runner-up in the event was Gary Woodland, who had to settle for second place despite a 19-under-par total.
Fall Season Winding Down
Although it can seem like the professional golf season never really ends, it does take a bit of a break over the holidays – and that break is right around the corner. The last event with FedEx Cup points on the line for the 2016 calendar year is The RSM Classic in Sea Island, GA, which is being contested from November 17-20. Once that event is in the books, the TOUR will take a break until the first week of January when things will get started again out in Hawaii. Of course, there are notable competitions between now and then – such as the Hero World Challenge and the likely return of Tiger Woods – but the official PGA Tour season will be on hold for a few weeks.