OWN CORRESPONDENT , Sun City | Friday 6.30pm.
ZIMBABWEAN Nick Price snatched the million dollar first prize from American Tiger Woods in a dramatic sudden-death playoff at the Million Dollar Challenge at Sun City on Sunday.
The duel was all square over the first four extra holes, but Price’s better approach shot on the pair’s third visit to the par-four 17th left him with an easier putt.
Woods’ putt from the edge of the green swung agonisingly close to the cup, but Price, the 41-year-old defending champion, had done the work with the approach shot and coolly knocked in a 10-foot putt for his third Million Dollar prize.
The 22-year-old American, playing in South Africa for the first time, set up the playoff with a stunning 18th-hole birdie to tie Price at 15-under.
Earlier on Sunday, American Justin Leonard reeled in Lee Westwood’s overnight lead to set up a thrilling final-round duel early Sunday.
The Englishman’s two-shot advantage evaporated over the early holes as he bogeyed two of the first four holes, while Leonard, second overnight, birdied and led briefly at 12-under par.
The American dropped a shot on the par-four fifth hole to slip back to 11-under, joined by Price who led over the first two rounds.
Woods moved to within two shots of the lead with a birdie on the fifth hole, joining his in-form friend Mark O’Meara on 10-under as the big-hitters closed in on the first prize. –AFP
Final scoreboard:
273 – Nick Price (Zim) 67-68-72-66 – Winner at 5th hole of sudden-death play-off
273 – Tiger Woods (USA) 72-68-67-66
274 – Justin Leonard (USA) 69-68-68-69
276 – Mark O’Meara (USA) 69-67-72-68
276 – Lee Westwood (Gbr) 72-65-66-73
280 – Ernie Els (Rsa) 70-69-70-71
280 – Bernhard Langer (Ger) 69-70-74-67
281 – Jesper Parnevik (Swe) 74-70-71-66
282 – Jim Furyk (USA) 75-71-72-64
284 – David Duval (USA) 72-73-71-68
284 – Colin Montgomerie (Gbr) 71-74-70-69
285 – Tom Watson (USA) 72-70-73-70