Glad to see my aim is still good after all these years ......
John Deere update -- sounds like it was a pretty dramatic finish. Wonder what kind of riding lawnmowers they use on the fairways ....
dailynews.yahoo.com
Monday July 31 2:02 PM ET
Clark Wins John Deere on Fourth Playoff Hole
SILVIS, Ill. (Reuters) - Overcoming near disaster on the 18th hole of regulation, Michael Clark II more than made up for it on the same hole in sudden death for his first PGA Tour victory.
Clark sank an eight-foot birdie putt on the fourth playoff hole to defeat Kirk Triplett and capture Monday's rain-plagued John Deere Classic.
A playoff was needed only after Clark squandered a two-stroke lead with a bogey on the final hole of regulation.
Both players finished their final round this morning after rain on Sunday forced an extra day of play and entered the playoff tied at 19-under 265.
Clark and Triplett both parred the par-4 18th on the first extra hole before extending the playoff to a third hole with birdies on the 158-yard 16th.
After reaching the green in two on the 557-yard 17th, Clark left his eagle attempt short before tapping in for birdie. Triplett managed to force a fourth hole by draining an 18-footer for birdie.
The two went back to No. 18, with Clark reaching the green in two for the second straight hole while Triplett left his second shot just short of the green. Triplett chipped to five feet, but watched Clark deny him his second victory of the season as Clark made his winning putt and pumped his fist in celebration.
Competing in his first full season on the PGA Tour, the 31-year-old Clark also picked up his first career PGA Tour top-10 finish. A four-year Buy.Com Tour veteran, Clark received a first prize of $468,000, more than 3 1/2 times what he had earned the entire season.
Clark, who shot a final-round 67, had endured a horrendous season leading up to this event. He missed the cut in 11 of 17 events, including three of his last four outings.
Triplett carded a final-round 70 as he posted his ninth top-10 finish of the year. He claimed his first PGA Tour win at the Nissan Open in February, also in a playoff.
Competing in only his third PGA Tour event, Charles Howell fired a 66 to finish third at 18-under 266. Earlier this year, he led Oklahoma State to the NCAA golf championship.
Chris Riley finished two shots off the pace after posting a 67, his fourth straight round in the 60s. Steve Lowery and Shaun Micheel tied for fifth at 16-under 268.
The brand-new TPC at Deere Run, designed by three-time champion D.A. Weibring, is a par-71 layout that spans 7,105 yards. |
