Winners and losers from Greenbrier Classic week

This past weekend saw a lot of great storylines and we are here to give you the good and the bad of it. Here are our winners and losers from the past week in golf.

Winners

George McNeill — If you haven’t read the piece about McNeill’s heartbreaking Sunday from Jason Sobel, make sure to do that at some point this Monday. McNeill, a 38-year-old journeyman with two career PGA Tour wins, found out before his round on Sunday that his oldest sister was most likely going to pass away from a battle with cancer at some point during his final round. McNeill went out with a heavy heart and posted a 9-under 61, nearly winning the Greenbrier with plenty on his mind. He finished in second place alone, and while the round of golf was incredible, it was a tough, tough day for McNeill, who plans to take a few weeks off to spend time with his family.

Angel Cabrera — It was a ball-striker’s dream round by Cabrera, who was throwing darts all day long at the Greenbrier on his way to a 6-under 64 and a two-shot win. It also marked the first time that Cabrera won a PGA Tour event that wasn’t a major championship, and it came just as we prepare for the final two majors of the 2014 season, a good time to get that swing clicking for a man that always seems to step up at the big tournaments.

Graeme McDowell — He was eight shots back heading into the final round of Open de France, but he played a brilliant final round in some tough conditions to post a 4-under 67 and defend his title at Le Golf National. McDowell needed a big week to help with his chances at a Ryder Cup spot, and he got it thanks to that final round that saw him pass a ton of players on his way to the trophy.

Brendon Todd — Another week, another top-10 finish for the most consistent golfer on the planet right now. Todd’s T-4 at the Greenbrier is his fifth top-10 in his last six starts and fourth top-10 in that same stretch. If you’re looking for a sleeper at the Open Championship, Todd might just be your guy.

Losers

Billy Hurley III — A tough Sunday for the 54-hole leader, who was one of only two players that finished in the top-25 to fire a final round over par. Hurley made a lengthy birdie putt on his opening hole to get things going, but that was just about the end of the good stuff, as his 3-over 73 left him seven shots back of Cabrera’s ending total.

Kevin Stadler — The Waste Management Open champion had a four-shot lead in France after three rounds, but played miserably over his first nine holes on Sunday to turn in 41. Stadler pulled it together on the back with some clutch birdies on the 14th and 16th and just needed a two-foot par putt on the 18th hole to force a playoff with McDowell, but the putt missed badly, putting the finishing touches on a miserable day on the golf course for Stadler.

Martin Kaymer — Our U.S. Open champion looked nothing but steady over the weekend at Pinehurst, but that was a totally different story on Sunday at the Open de France. Kaymer was 3-under heading into the final round, and had a chance at this title considering the conditions, but his front nine 41 included a triple-bogey and a double-bogey, and his 6-over 77 dropped him eight spots to a T-12.

Devil Ball Golf – Golf – Yahoo Sports