Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell missed out on a play-off after matching a course record as Jonathan Byrd won the first PGA Tour event of the year.
Byrd defeated fellow American Robert Garrigus at the second play-off hole to win the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii after finishing 24 under par.
But McDowell almost joined them in the play-off after a final-round 62 that included 11 birdies.
"I'm very happy with the day's work," the 2010 US Open champion said.
McDowell, who has changed club manufacturers since last season, was six shots behind the leaders at the start of the day, and had a chance to join them in the play-off only to miss a nine-foot birdie putt at the last.
606: DEBATE
What more can we expect from McDowell this season?
Alistair M - BBC Sport
"Obviously when you go into a final round that far back and you know the scoring is going to be good, there's nothing you can do really but just put the head down and try to have a great day yourself," he added after finishing 23 under par for the tournament.
"When I birdied 13 through 16, I kind of started to think that maybe I had an outside shot.
"I really look back at the first three rounds as the problem for me. I didn't finish the golf course very well at all here during the week."
The 31-year-old, ranked fifth in the world, hit earlier rounds of 71, 68 and 68, but his superb last round at the Kapalua Resort included six birdies before the turn and five on the back nine.
"It's great to come out and answer all of the questions this week," he said.
"I realised it was going to be a difficult way to start the season, with new equipment in the bag coming off the back of last year."
Jonathan Byrd
Byrd won the Justin Timberlake Open in October last year
Byrd and Garrigus were among the leaders going into a final round that also included Steve Stricker. The pair both shot rounds of 67, with Garrigus clinching his play-off place courtesy of a birdie the 18th.
After a short break the duo played the last again but both could only par the hole.
Byrd sealed a par at the first hole when a long putt lipped out and Garrigus then missed from just over four feet to hand the title to his compatriot, who won the Justin Timberlake Open in October last year.
"I played solid all day, I felt good out there, but I was a little anxious, a little nervous," Byrd said. "It's a great feeling."
Elsewhere, England's Ian Poulter tied for sixth place with America's Matt Kuchar on 18 under par after hitting a final-round seven-under-par 66.
The season opening tournament is for those who won on the PGA Tour during the 2010 calendar.
0 comments:
Post a Comment