Joey Sindelar, one of the most popular players on the PGA TOUR, enjoyed a rebirth of his career at the 2004 Wells Fargo Championship.
He arrived at Quail Hollow Club with 370 starts since his last victory at the 1990 Hardee’s Golf Classic. Moreover, the 22-year veteran was ranked 222nd at the start of the tournament and jumped to 74th by week’s end. Add a winner’s check of $1,008,000 and the week made Sindelar’s victory one of the most well received among TOUR players during the 2004 season.
When Sindelar, at the age of 45, beat the likes of hard-charging Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson and then defeated 29-year-New Arron Oberholser in a playoff, he became the Newest winner on the PGA TOUR in 2004. Earlier that season, he tied an all-time record when he recorded four eagles in one round at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic to prove he remains a fierce competitor.
“I never did give up hope. I’ve understood my swing for 12 or 14 years now, so when the lug nuts get loose, I am able to tighten them up pretty quickly,” said Sindelar. “The problem is the competition out here has gotten so good. It’s different than when I was in my hey-day. They come out here so good, so well rehearsed. So, the competition thing gets scary, and that’s why I badly wanted to win. I don’t have any other skills. I have to keep plugging.”
Sindelar won 10 collegiate titles at Ohio State University, including a win at the 1981 Big Ten Championship by 12 strokes. He is a member of the Ohio State University Athletic Hall of Fame.
Looking back on the 2004 Wells Fargo Championship
On Sunday, Sindelar birdied holes 15, 16, and 17 to vault up the leader board with a closing 69. Previous scores of 69-69-70 gave him the clubhouse lead at 11-under-par. Memorable shots during the final stretch were his 4-iron on 17 which landed three feet from the hole and his trusty 1-iron off the tee at 18 to put him in position to make par.
In the playoff, Sindelar made pars on 18 and 16 for the victory. Oberholser went par-bogey.
Sindelar entered Championship Sunday three shots behind the 54-hole leader Arron Oberholser.