Stuart Appleby Close To A Stunning Success Close To The Big Apple.

Australia’s Stuart Appleby came within two strokes of pulling off one of the biggest upsets on the PGA Tour this season on the last day of the Barclays Championship in Paramus, New Jersey.

Appleby came from 98th on the FedEx Cup points list teeing up on Thursday on the Ridgewood Country Club course to post  a sizzling final round six under par 65 to storm into the clubhouse lead on 12-under par before eventually sharing second place and two behind American Hunter Mahan.

Also in second place was fellow Australian Jason Day (68) and American Cameron Triangle (66) while four-time Major winner Ernie Els also returned to form with a 66 to share third place on 11-under par.

Stuart Appleby comes within two shots of ending a four-year winless drought with a blistering final round in the Barclays Championship.

Stuart Appleby comes within two shots of ending a four-year winless drought with a blistering final round in the Barclays Championship.

And while Appleby went so close to capturing a 10th PGA Tour win, his prize cheque of $US 597,333 has seen him jump to 19th on the FedEx Cup Play-Off standings and a tee time in Friday’s commencing Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston in Massachusetts.

Appleby overcame an Ridgwood Country Club opening score of 73 before adding scores of 66 and 68 ahead of his blistering last round that included seven birdies, among those three in succession from the 10th hole, and only the one dropped shot at the ninth.

“If I had seven birdies every round, I would be talking to the media a lot more but it doesn’t turn out like that often,” he said.

“Today that’s what I was thinking.  I got to the back nine and thought, well, six might not be enough.  Then you get back to this is the FedEx Cup and this is the Play-Offs.

“I thought if I could time my performances more like this, it would be nice.”

Appleby’s charge rekindled memories of his last PGA Tour success four years ago when he became one of only a handful of players in the history of the game to shoot a 59 in capturing the 2010 Greenbrier Classic.

His efforts this week in Paramus, New Jersey is his best finish since then and six shots better than a share of eighth place in this year’s Honda Classic.

“It’s been a long time since I got myself into contention,” he said.

“I’ve won tournaments but they feel so long ago and sometimes the experience can wear thin and sort of doesn’t show for all the hard work you put in.

“Today I just thought, go out there, don’t fight, don’t wrestle the golf course.  If you get a opportunity, give it a roll, see what happens”.



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