Johnson and Laird secure 2008 PGA Tour spots
Richard Johnson became the first Brit to win the Nationwide Tour Championship while Glaswegian Martin Laird also secured his card on next season's PGA Tour.
Richard Johnson became the first Briton in history to win the Nationwide Tour Championship, finishing at 20-under par to break the tournament record for lowest score to qualify for a 2008 PGA Tour card.
The 35-year-old Welshman shot a 4-under 67 on the tournament?s final day at Barona Creek to emerge victorious by one stroke over American Michael Letzig. Johnson finishes the 2007 Nationwide Tour season first on the Order of Merit with a total of $ 445,421 for the year.
?It?s nice to be going back (to the PGA Tour),? Johnson told the Associated Press, ? I didn?t come in here expecting to get the number one spot, but it was a fun week.?
Another Brit earning a PGA Tour card for 2008 was 24-year-old Glaswegian Martin Laird, who finished the event tied for fourth at 18-under-par. Laird played in his first major in 2007 at the US Open and will now have his inaugural PGA Tour card in 2008, a mere four years after turning pro.
The Nationwide Tour is the American equivalent of the European Challenge Tour, with the top 25 finishers on the Order of Merit qualifying for PGA Tour cards for the following season.
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.