Immelman ends winless spell, seeks consistency

Of all the tales of glory that might come up during the exclusive Champions Dinner, the Web.com Finals opener in Fort Wayne, Ind., would have to qualify as the least-likely conversation starter.

But 2008 Masters Tournament winner Trevor Immelman won’t hesitate to talk up his victory at the Hotel Fitness Championship – his most significant accomplishment since donning the green jacket six years ago.

“It might not have been the biggest tournament in the world but it sure was big for me,” Immelman said of the win that secured his PGA Tour card. “I’m fighting for my job and anybody who’s been in that situation, whether it’s business or sport, it’s a big deal. So there was a lot of pressure for me and it felt comfortable and it felt great. I love it. I loved every minute of it.”

It’s been a rough run for Immelman since his breakthrough victory by three shots over Tiger Woods at Augusta National when he was a fresh 28. A wrist injury derailed him the next season and the subsequent loss in form led to a loss in confidence. Before he knew it, the five-year major championship exemption was set to expire.

It’s a humbling experience.

“There’s two ways to look at it,” Immelman said. “From that standpoint (of winning Masters), yes it is (humbling). But this game owes nobody anything. Secondly, I’ve just got to play better. I can’t really blame anybody other than myself for the situation that I’m in. I take full responsibility and I’m working my butt off to fix it.”

The circumstances put Immelman in the 125-player pool gunning for 25 available spots in the inaugural four-event Web.com Finals. In the final round at Sycamore Hills Golf Club, he drained a 16-foot birdie putt to cap a round of 66 for a one-shot victory over Patrick Cantlay.

“It felt great and it felt natural, to be honest,” he said of his first opportunity to win since the Masters. “I was wondering how I was going to react the Sunday. You could see with the strong finish I had and birdieing the last hole to win it – if you’re timid or self-conscious or un-confident at that moment, you’re probably not going to birdie that last hole. So it would be a testament for me feeling comfortable at that moment. But I’ve got to bring it out here now for an extended period of time, you know?”

It’s a challenging exemption category on the PGA Tour that doesn’t allow Immelman to set his usual schedule. And his success remains sporadic. It’s been feast or famine.

He missed the cut in the three remaining Web.com Finals events, then tied for 21st in the PGA Tour wrap-around season opener in California. Another missed cut was followed by a tie for 20th at Sea Island. His tie for 10th at Torrey Pines was braced on each side by a pair of missed cuts.

“It seems like I put a good one together like once a month,” Immelman said. “Then I miss a bunch of cuts, and I just don’t feel like the best players in the world do that. At this point the challenge for me is to maintain it and keep it going. If you look at the best players in the world they have a consistent body of work that keeps them up there.

“A lot of that is self-belief if I’m going to be very honest with you. It’s been a long, hard road and you get kicked in the gut enough times it’s hard to keep fighting. But I see some light at the end of the tunnel and I’m happy with where everything is. Just going to keep fighting. I’m not going to retire at age 34. I really don’t have another option.”

For all his struggles, the Masters remains a safe haven for Immelman. He hasn’t missed a cut at Augusta National since 2006 and posted three consecutive top-20 finishes after his 2008 triumph.

He shows up again feeling like he can still contend.

“Absolutely,” he said. “It’s always been the course that I’ve felt the most comfortable on. And I’ve always felt if I pitch up there with some form, then I’ve got a shot. Just because I know the course so well and have got a lot of great memories.”