Wins for Lawrie and Kim
Monday 5th May 2008
By Fergus Bisset
PGA Tour
Wachovia Championship
Quail Hollow GC, North Carolina
May 1-4, purse $6,400,000, par 72
22-year-old Anthony Kim cruised to his first PGA Tour victory at the Wachovia Championship. The American fired a final round of 69 to finish five shots clear of his nearest challenger, 2003 Open Champion Ben Curtis.
Kim began the day just one ahead of Heath Slocum but a birdie on the first hole set the tone for the day and the youngster raced to the turn in four under par 32. After two more birdies at the 14th and 15th Kim was home and dry. He even had the luxury of being able to bogey the 16th and 17th and still take a five shot lead down the final hole.
That walk up 18 was the best feeling in my entire life, and I'll never forget it," he said. "I had chills going up and down my spine. I want to recreate that as many times as possible now, so I'm going to really work hard."
Kim has had a reputation for being something of a wildcard on the PGA Tour and last year his practice was, at best, sporadic. But the former Oklahoma student has been putting in the hours in 2008 and the effort has paid off. "It's done wonders for me this year, and I'm just looking forward to the future now."
Kim has a good deal to look forward to. With the win he's exempt on tour to the end of 2010, he's earned an invitation to next year's Masters and has moved to sixth on the money list. He's got a lot of talent. Said Robert Allenby. "That's the great thing, when you're that young, you've got to make the most of it because once you get a little bit older that's when the brain starts thinking too much. The Australian fired a superb final round of 66 to lift himself into fourth place.
Round of the day was by Ben Curtis he recorded seven birdies and an eagle en-route to a seven under par 65. He climbed from a tie for 13th at the start of the day into sole second place. Another American, Jason Bohn, finished alone in third.
1 Anthony Kim (USA) 70 67 66 69 272 $1,152,000
2 Ben Curtis (USA) 69 71 72 65 277 $691,200
3 Jason Bohn (USA) 68 67 72 71 278 $435,200
4 Robert Allenby (Aus) 70 70 73 66 279 $307,200
T5 Dudley Hart (USA) 71 67 70 72 280 $243,200
T5 Heath Slocum (USA) 71 68 68 73 280 $243,200
7 Jim Furyk (USA) 71 67 71 72 281 $214,400
T8 Stewart Cink (USA) 73 70 65 74 282 $179,200
T8 Fred Couples (USA) 72 69 69 72 282 $179,200
T8 Rod Pampling (Aus) 71 70 75 66 282 $179,200
T8 Adam Scott (Aus) 72 73 66 71 282 $179,200
Key Moment: Kim fires a great approach to the first hole, makes birdie and sets the tone for his final round.
Note: Player in bold signifies Titleist ball usage.
European Tour
Open de Espana
Real Club de Golf de Sevilla, Spain
May 1-4, purse 2,011,982, par 72
Peter Lawrie made it three Irish victories in as many weeks on the European Tour. The Dubliner followed Damien McGrane and Darren Clarke into the winner's enclosure by capturing the Open de Espana title after a playoff against Ignacio Garrido.
Lawrie was five shots behind Garrido going into the last round but, in sweltering conditions, the 34-year-old mounted a late charge with four birdies in the last six holes. He posted a total of -15 and it appeared that would be good enough to win the event in normal time as Garrido was struggling.
Having made five bogeys on the front nine, the Spaniard came to the final hole needing a birdie to force a playoff. When Garrido's approach came to rest some 30 feet from the hole Lawrie thought the title was his, but Garrido rolled in the putt so extra holes were required.
The pair went back to the 18th tee and both found the fairway. Lawrie fired his approach in to around 30 feet of the pin then Garrido played a superb iron in to six feet. Incredibly Lawrie sunk his long putt for birdie and Garrido holed his also: back to the 18th tee once more.
This time Lawrie's tee-shot found a fairway bunker but he played a fabulous eight iron from there to the heart of the green. Then it was Garrido's turn to play from the fairway. He looked on in agony as his slightly pulled sand wedge spun back into the lake. He pitched on but it left Lawrie with two putts to take his maiden Tour title.
The Dubliner picked up a winner's cheque for 333,330 and climbed from 88th to 12th place on the Order of Merit. It feels unbelievable I'm lost for words. I thought I'd already won the tournament once, because I didn't think Ignacio would hole that putt on the 18th. He said.
So I had to regroup for the play-off, and ended up hitting one of the best putts of my life to keep myself in contention. It was a one in a hundred chance, and luckily it dropped in. I guess you have to get the rub of the green if you're going to win a golf tournament these days.
Lawrie was delighted to keep the run of Irish victories going. It was nice to add another trophy for the Irish contingent. He said. Damien, my room-mate on Tour, started the ball rolling in China, then Darren picked up the baton last week. I'm glad to keep the run going, after the French guys had a run of their own recently. Hopefully this sets up the rest of the season nicely for me, and I can kick on now. I'm not really a party person, but I'll certainly enjoy this moment.
1 Peter Lawrie (Ire) 68 70 68 67 273 333,330
2 Ignacio Garrido (Esp) 66 63 72 72 273 222,220
3 Soren Hansen (Den) 68 70 67 69 274 125,200
T4 Alfredo Garcia-Heredia (Esp) 69 69 69 68 275 84,933
T4 Miguel Angel Jimenez (Esp) 70 67 67 71 275 84,933
T4 David Lynn (Eng) 70 66 73 66 275 84,933
7 Richard Finch (Eng) 72 69 67 68 276 60,000
T8 Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 65 68 73 71 277 47,400
T8 Peter Hanson (Swe) 74 67 69 67 277 47,400
Key Moment: Lawrie holes a magnificent putt on the first playoff hole to stay in the hunt.
Note: Player in bold signifies Titleist ball usage.
