Ted Potter Pebble Beach Champion 2018

AT&T Pebble Beach 2018 - Ted Potter Jr the New Champion.

Patience, perseverance and a quiet, steady determination were evident in Ted Potter's shots throughout the final round at Pebble Beach. He was fending off world No. 1 Dustin Johnson, as well as World Golf Hall of Famer Phil Mickelson, a revitalised Jason Day who had proven unstoppable at Torrey Pines, and Chez Reavie who had led the way through much of this year's Phoenix Open.

Those four formidable golfers ended the tournament tying for second place on 14-under while 34 year old Potter, three strokes ahead of them, is the 2018 Pebble Beach Champion.

Potter's previous PGA Tour victory was back in 2012 at the Greenbrier Classic. Then, at the Canadian Open in 2014, he suffered a serious injury to his ankle. This required further surgery over the years. There were times when he had wondered if he would ever again be able to have a career in golf. He gradually returned to the PGA Tour but along the way he was cut 46 times. He did not allow this to deter him. He just persevered. His world ranking was 246.

Potter began the final round at Pebble Beach in a tie for the lead with Johnson. The world No.1 had won at Pebble Beach twice, and the power of Johnson's drive is unquestionable. Potter was not intimidated and nor did he let his own opening bogey undermine his resolve. He made four birdies over the next six holes, a chip-in at the 7th hole where Johnson had missed, and then 11 steady, consistent pars.

“I’m sure everybody knew probably going into this tournament Dustin’s probably going to win the golf tournament,” Potter said. “So I knew I’m the underdog there. What do I got to lose, really? Just go out there and try to play the best golf I could today and see what happens. Why put more pressure on myself to say I’m playing against the world No. 1?”