Tim Herron sank a 10-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to defeat Sweden’s Richard Johnson and give the American his fourth career PGA title on Sunday at the Colonial tournament.
”I wanted to go out and win this one,” Herron said. ”I was getting close for many years and, you know, I felt like if I just hang in there, but I think you really have to go out and get it.”
Herron, who had not won a US event since the 1999 Bay Hill Invitational, nearly squandered a lead with three back-nine bogeys in the final round, the last at the 16th hole.
But Herron sank tension-packed par putts of 12 feet at 17 and nine feet at the 18th to force the playoff, matching Johnson after 72 holes at 12-under par 268, two strokes ahead of Rod Pampling after the Australian ended with a bogey.
Johnson and Herron each parred the first playoff hole in a replay of the 18th hole. Herron put his tee shot on the last playoff hole, 17, in the fairway and dropped a sand wedge 10 feet from the cup to set up the winning putt.
”This winning thing isn’t that easy,” Herron said.
While Herron struggled to the finish and Pampling blew up with a double bogey at 15 and a concluding tap-in par miss, Johnson recovered his form after a three-putt bogey at the 16th with birdies at 17 and 18.
”When I three-putted 16 I was out of it,” Johnson said. ”When I walked onto the green at 18 I had no idea what was going on behind me. I’m very pleased.”
Pampling, who was tied for the lead with Herron until he double-bogeyed the 15th, shot an even-par 70 to finish at 10-under.
”It was trouble on 15. It was the only green I missed today,” Pampling said. ”It was a difficult third shot that led to the double. On the whole, I hit the ball great, I just didn’t make the putts.” – AFP
