Sometimes you need to hit a great shot at a key time to win a golf tournament, and other times, the break you need comes when your opponent makes a critical mistake. The latter was the case for Charlie Coe in the first major event held at Oak Hill.
Coe played almost flawless golf on the final two days, rolling to an 8-and-7 victory over Bill Campbell in the semifinals, and then eviscerating Rufus King 11-and-10 in the 36-hole championship match, still the second-largest margin of victory in the 117-year history of the tournament.
However, Coe wouldn’t have even reached that point if not for two blunders by his quarterfinal opponent, Dawson, his friend and former Walker Cup teammate. After rallying from a 2-down deficit to tie the match, Dawson had a chance to win at the 18th hole, but he three-putted from 60 feet for bogey to spare Coe.
And then on the third extra hole, the 201-yard par-3 third, both players missed the green and hit poor second shots onto the green. Coe lagged to within inches and was conceded a bogey, and then Dawson left his par attempt two feet short, but there was no concession from Coe. He made Dawson putt, and Dawson’s ball hit the lip of the cup and stayed out, giving the match to Coe.
“That’s what kind of started the tournament for me,” Coe said, recalling that match, plus his morning round of 16 match when he rallied from 3-down with five to play to defeat Harvie Ward. “I don’t remember the first two or three matches, but I remember that day.”
..
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Golfweek…