The Hindu : Sport / Golf : Weir breaks a long title drought

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Oct 23, 2007
ePaper

Sport

Sport - Golf

Weir breaks a long title drought

SCOTTSDALE (U.S.A.): Canadian Mike Weir won for the first time since early in the 2004 season, shooting a two under 68 on Sunday for a one-stroke victory over Australia’s Mark Hensby in the Fry’s Electronics Open.

Weir secured the win with a six-foot par putt after hitting his approach on the par-4 18th into a greenside bunker.

“It was gusting across there,” he said. “It’s pretty open on that green, and my pant legs were whipping pretty good there when I hit that putt. I just told myself to keep my head nice and steady and just try to hit it nice and solid.”

The 2003 Masters champion took the lead with a birdie on the par-4 15th, rolling a chip shot to a foot, then held off Hensby over the final three holes on a warm, blustery day at Grayhawk Golf Club.

Weir finished at 14-under 266 for his eighth PGA Tour victory, and first since the 2004 Nissan Open, a span of 87 starts.

“It’s definitely been tough not winning,” said Weir, who earned $900,000 to jump from 84th to 33rd on the money list at $1,986,053. “You know, that’s what we’re all out here to do, and three (years) has been quite a long time.”

Mayfair finishes third

Hensby closed with a 69, while Billy Mayfair shot a 68 to finish third at 10-under.

Carl Pettersson, who led at the end of the third round, and Sean O’Hair tied for fourth at nine-under.

Pettersson shot a 74, and O’Hair had a 69.

O’Hair briefly shared the lead after birdieing the 16th. But with a double bogey on the 17th and another bogey on the 18th he dropped out of contention.

Play crawled along as players coped with 25mph gusts, which kicked up dust in the desert bordering Grayhawk’s 7,125-yard Raptor Course.

Pettersson opened the day with a one-stroke lead over Hensby and Weir. By the second hole, they were all tied for the lead. ut Pettersson dropped another stroke on the par-3 fifth hole, and fell behind by bogeying the 10th, 11th and 12th.

Tough fight

Hensby and Weir fought the rest of the way, with no more than a shot separating them over the entire round.

That’s where Weir’s confidence, inspired by his Presidents Cup victory over Tiger Woods, came to the forefront.

“All of those matches were pressure-packed during the Presidents Cup, and everything about my golf swing felt great,” he said.

“So I think maybe it did solidify it a little bit, but I’ve always believed in what I’m doing, that’s for sure.”

Hensby missed a chance to pull even on the par-4 17th. Weir hit his second shot on a slope to the left of the green, but Hensby’s second shot also sailed past the green. Both players chipped within a few feet to save par.

On 18, Weir hit his second shot into the greenside bunker but chipped to about six feet. Hensby’s second shot landed on an embankment and came to a stop a few feet above a water hazard. He chipped to a foot and tapped in for par.

Improved show

Weir has been playing better in the last month or so. After missing the cut in the PGA championship, he improved from 41st to 30th to 10th in his next three PGA Tour events. And he beat Tiger Woods in the Presidents Cup three weeks ago.

Hensby, who lives in nearby Mesa, missed the cut in seven of the first 24 events he played this year and withdrew from two others.

He didn’t have a lot of momentum coming into the tournament, having missed the cut and withdrawing in his previous two starts.

Hensby’s previous best finish this year was a 12th-place tie at the Crowne Plaza Invitational in May. His lone career victory came in the 2004 John Deere Classic. — AP

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail