Robert Garrigus played a superb final round of 64 to win the Children's Miracle Network Classic at Walt Disney World by three shots from Roland Thatcher.
Garrigus who blew a three-shot lead with one to play earlier this year in Memphis, maintained his composure to close the deal this time in the final tournament of the regular PGA Tour season.
"It feels great to be able to close this one off and figuratively shut everybody up about Memphis," he said.
Roland Thatcher took a four-shot lead into the final round and was under huge pressure to perform as he needed to finish no worse than second on his own to climb into the top 125 on the money list and retain his card for 2011.
That pressure started to tell on the back nine as Thatcher made three bogeys to drop back into a tie for second place with Spencer Levin. But, when Levin made a bogey at the final hole, the door was opened again for Thatcher. He needed to make a par to secure his card.
Inevitably, he left himself a five-foot putt that had to drop if he was to be guaranteed employment in 2011.
"I couldn't imagine having a more stressful moment in my life," Thatcher said.
But, under the most intense pressure, he managed to put a good stroke on the putt and roll the ball home. "You'll never see a happier guy who just lost a tournament," he said.
Ricke Fowler closed with an excellent 66 to finish in a tie for third with Spencer Levin and Johnson Wagner. The young Ryder Cup star will almost certainly be named as rookie of the year.
Children's Miracle Network Classic Disney's Magnolia and Palm courses, Lake Buena Vista, Florida Nov 11-14, purse $4,700,000, par 72 1 Robert Garrigus (USA) 68 65 70 64 267 $846,000 2 Roland Thatcher (USA) 65 63 70 72 270 $507,600 T3 Rickie Fowler (USA) 66 70 69 66 271 $244,400 T3 Spencer Levin (USA) 68 68 67 68 271 $244,400 T3 Johnson Wagner (USA) 70 65 69 67 271 $244,400 6 Mark Wilson (USA) 69 66 69 68 272 $169,200 T7 Michael Connell (USA) 71 68 67 67 273 $151,575 T7 Chris Stroud (USA) 62 70 70 71 273 $151,575 T9 Charles Howell III (USA) 68 69 69 68 274 $126,900 T9 Steve Marino (USA) 72 68 65 69 274 $126,900 T9 Charles Warren (USA) 67 70 69 68 274 $126,900
Note: Player in bold signifies Titleist ball usage only
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