Tim Herron wishes he would have made it easier on himself. But after waiting seven years for another win on the PGA Tour, what was two more holes?
“I guess I made it more fun for the viewers, and kept them tuned in,” Herron said.
Herron didn’t really enjoy the ending Sunday at the Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas, until making a 9 1/2-foot birdie putt on the 382-yard No. 17, the second playoff hole, to beat Richard Johnson.
The player affectionately known as “Lumpy” led throughout the final round before scrambling at the end. He needed clutch, par-saving putts on the last two holes of regulation after a bogey at the 188-yard No. 16, then two more holes to get his first victory since Bay Hill in 1999.
“It went right in the middle. I couldn’t believe it,” Herron said. “It’s been a long time. I didn’t know if it would ever come.”
Johnson birdied the final two holes of regulation after he three-putted for bogey at No. 16, when he was three strokes behind Herron, who closed with a 2-under 68 to match Johnson (67) at 12-under 268.
Both had long drives before settling for two-putt pars on the first playoff hole, the 433-yard No. 18. They then went to No. 17, where Johnson’s approach was 25 feet short of the hole.
It was the first time since 1994 extra holes were needed at Hogan’s Alley. Herron got the winner’s plaid jacket and $1.08 million – more than what he made for his three previous victories combined.
Rod Pampling, who won at Bay Hill in March and was in the final group with Herron, had his second straight even-par round since his career-best 63 on Friday. He finished alone in third, two strokes back.
Stephen Ames (63), hurt by a horrible third round, and Ben Crane (64) tied for fourth at 271 with Brett Quigley (66), Arron Oberholser (67), Stewart Cink (68), Peter Lonard (70) and Nathan Green (70).
LPGA: Lorena Ochoa extended her impressive run with a two-stroke victory in the Sybase Classic in New Rochelle, N.Y., the sixth straight tournament in which she has won or been the runner-up.
The 24-year-old Mexican star closed with 5-under 66 for a 5-under 208 total in the rain-shortened event. She earned $195,000 to retake the money lead with $1,114,888.
Ochoa, who won the Takefuji Classic in April and has four seconds and a fourth this season, started the final round four strokes off the lead.
The lead was hers for good when she made about a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-5 15th. She made par-saving putts on the next two holes and closed her fifth career win with a birdie on the par-5 18th just as rain began to fall.
Hee-Won Han shot a 69 to tie for second with rookie Kyeong Bae (66). Annika Sorenstam, coming off her first missed cut since 2002, shot a 74 to tie for sixth at even-par 213.
European PGA: Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke was 2-under for eight holes to take a two-stroke lead in the suspended final round of the Irish Open.
Play was scheduled to resume today at Carton House in in Maynooth, Ireland.
Asian Tour: Australian rookie and former CU All-American Kane Webber fired a 1-under 70 in the final round at the Macau Open for his first Asian Tour win.
The 25-year-old Aussie, playing in only his second event on the Asian Tour, finished with a four-day total of 9-under 275.
“It has not sunk it yet. Maybe later today when I speak to my family. Right now I’m out of words,” Webber said. “There were lots of up and down that got me out of trouble today, which was the key for me.”
