Having a good year. Enjoyed an emotional high when he won the tournament named after his great friend Byron Nelson to claim his seventh US Tour title and his first victory since the 2001 Bell Canadian Open. Verplank was a standard bearer at the Nelson tournament when he was a boy. This year was seventh in the Crowne Plaza Invitational and eighth the following week at the Stanford St. Jude Championship for a fourth top-ten of the season.

Provided bright moment for USA by becoming the first American to record a Ryder Cup hole-in-one at the K Club’s 14th. Europe had already won though. Competent experienced player who tied for seventh at Oakmont on 10 over. Another dark horse and each way potential.