by Ryan Rogers
LSUsports.net
Two weeks ago, the PGA Tour made its annual stop in New Orleans for the Compaq Classic of New Orleans at English Turn. It has always been the biggest event for Louisiana golf. This year, it was even bigger thanks to one former Tiger.
Louisiana had one of its own take home the crown at the Compaq. Shreveport native and LSU alum David Toms made an impressive come-from-behind to up-end tournament favorite Phil Mickleson.
Toms shot an 8-under par 64 in his final round and finished 22-under for the weekend, two strokes ahead of Mickleson who shot even-par on Sunday.
“Every year going into that tournament I wish I could do well in front of the home crowd,” said Toms. “However, I’ve never played well there before this year.”
Toms is very familiar with English Turn. Although he didn’t exactly “grow up” on the course, he has played the course several dozen times since he began playing golf.
Toms’ performance in New Orleans got the crowd — that forgot its polite golf etiquette on Sunday — riled into a frenzy. When Tom’s approached the 18th, the toughest hole on the PGA Tour — leading by one stroke, chants of “LSU, LSU…!!!” filled the air.
“I was just thinking about the fact that I had to two-putt in order to win,” said Toms. “It wasn’t like I had a big lead so I was just trying to focus. But it was awesome, I now know what a quarterback feels like in Tiger Stadium.”
Tom’s had a difficult double-breaking putt from about 25 feet on the 18th green.
“I looked at my caddy and I told him, if I make this shot, they’re gonna go nuts, and they did.”
Over the past few years, Toms has elevated his game and become one of the premier golfers on the PGA Tour.
A two-time All-American and two-time Southeastern Conference Player of the Year at LSU, Toms has moved into the Top 10 on the money list since 1999. He has won five events on the tour including the Compaq Classic, the Buick Challenge, the Michelob Championship, the Sprint International and the Quad Cities Classic.
In 1999, Toms gave a stellar performance on arguably golf’s biggest stage. At the Masters’ in Augusta, he set a course records with seven birdies and a 29 on the back nine to finish sixth in the event.
Tom’s has taken what he attained from LSU and brought his game to the PGA Tour and shined.
“I had some of the best times of my life at LSU. I still keep in touch with my teammates and am great friends with them. I made some great memories at LSU.”
A four-year letterwinner from 1986-89, Toms holds the LSU men’s golf records for single-season scoring average (71.27), career Top 10 finishes (29) and career tournament victories (six). His 7-under par 65 on the way to medalist honors at the SEC Championships in 1987 stands as the third-lowest score in LSU history.
Toms led LSU to back-to-back SEC Team Championships in 1986 and ’87 — the Tigers’ last SEC Championships — and second-place finishes in 1988 and ’89.