先週の「ビュイック・インビテーショナル」の最終日。3年ぶりのツアー優勝を目指したジョン・ロリンズがリードを保ったまま16番を迎えたところで自滅。最終3ホールで2打差つけられていた若手ニック・ワトニーが逆転優勝で2007年の「チューリッヒ・クラシック・オブ・ニューオリンズ」以来となるPGAツアー2勝目をマークした。
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photo: pgatour.com
このロリンズという選手、周囲からは(特にSRIXON)からは期待されている選手の一人。2007年にFedEx Cupポイントが導入された初年度には、一度も優勝しなかったものの最終的にはポイントランキングで26位に入った選手。優勝も2回、2位は6回。最終日を首位で迎えた試合は全て(3度)負けている。常に上位にはいるものの、なぜか勝ちきれない。俗にいう「シルバーコレクター」として名前が売れてしまった。
ビュイック・インビテーショナルの最終日もそんな弱いロリンズの一面が見えてしまった。16番パー3、194ヤード。番手は3番目で、同組のカミロ・ビジェガスがグリーン手前のバンカーに、続いたワトニーがグリーンの奥のエッジに打った。この時点でビジェガスに1打差、ワトニーに2打差ついていたため、無理にピンを狙わずにグリーンが広いセンターを狙ってパーを拾えばいいだけだった。しかも前の2人の番手もしっかりと把握していたはず。
しかし、ロリンズはティショットを手前のバンカーに落とし、目玉になっていた2打目をグリーン奥まで運んでしまい、寄せワンのボギー。ワトニーが9メートル近いバーディパットを沈めてあっという間に追いつかれてしまった。
この時点で「あー、これはやばいなぁ」といった雰囲気だったが、駄目押しとなったのは続く17番パー4の第1打。冷静を装ったワトニーは無理にドライバーで狙わずにウッドでフェアウェイセンターに落とした。対照的に、どこかそわそわしたロリンズはドライバーで飛距離を狙ったが結果は左の深いラフにつかまった。このホールは両選手ともパーで切り上げたが、このメンタルで勝負があったかにみえた。冷静に勝ちにいったワトニー、焦って追いつかれた分を取り戻そうとしたロリンズ。最終ホールのパー5では、ワトニーは2オンに成功し、グリーン奥からのイーグルパットを絶妙なタッチを見せて楽にバーディ。この大会初めてリードを奪ったのが、最終ホールの最後の一打となった。
テレビの生中継で見ていたのだが、この両選手の心理状況が手に取って分かり、特にロリンズの冷や汗をかくような表情や落ち着かない仕草が印象的だった。
世界トップのツアーで戦う選手でさえ、最終日首位に立つと押しつぶされてしまうプレッシャー。五感の感覚だけでは説明できない何かがあるのだろう。きっとロリンズだけではないだろうが、実力のある選手が最後3ホールを前に倒れてしまうと、改めてこのPGAツアーという舞台の大きさを感じてしまう。

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