Appleby continues love affair with Hawaii
IN: News | US PGA | Mercedes Championships (2006) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 09 Jan 2006
In what was perhaps his gutsiest win in professional golf, Stuart Appleby responded to a brilliant last round challenge by Vijay Singh to become only the second person to win the Mercedes Championship (previously the Tournament of Champions) on three consecutive occasions. His playoff win at the first extra hole further highlighted something about Appleby and his comfort zone with golf courses in Hawaii and Florida.
Five of his seven US PGA Tour victories, including today, have been on Bermuda greens and his two Australian successes the same. It might just be coincidence but it is an interesting fact for one who was raised on bent greens and in the generally cooler climes of Victoria. To be fair though his two Nike Tour victories came in California.
Appleby looked the likely winner of this event for much of the first sixty three holes but when Vijay Singh threw down the gauntlet with a closing round of 66 he was forced to muster all of his inner strength, not to mention his immense golfing skills, to keep the Fijian at bay. Singh's last round was by far the best of the tournament and his round was only the second sub 70 of the tournament. The other had been recorded by the first round leader Olin Browne.
When Appleby entered the final round two ahead of Michael Campbell and made a solid par save from just off the back edge of the first green he looked solid. He made an even more important and crucial putt at the par four second when again he was a little long and strong and holed from twelve feet for par. He missed a great opportunity at the fourth to establish an important break when he missed a birdie from five feet but at the next he would make amends. He drove well at the par five but pulled his second slightly on the dogleg right hole. From more than 60 feet however he holed for an eagle and he jumped to a two shot lead over his playing partner Campbell who had birdied the fourth and fifth to stay in touch.
Ahead Singh was starting to make his bid. He eagled the fifth after a simply brilliant approach from 215 yards which was nearly holed and then birdied the sixth and eighth to get to five under. At that point he was within three of Appleby and just one of Campbell and was closing fast. When Singh birdied the 12th he had moved to six under and within one after Appleby's bogey at the 7th and when Appleby bogeyed the 11th all of a sudden they were sharing the lead and the momentum was very much with Singh.
When Appleby three putted the 13th for bogey as Singh was making birdie at the par five 15th, the Australian had lost the lead for the first time since midway through round two and when Singh hit a lovely little pitch to three feet at the 16th he had moved two ahead.
On a golf course on which he must feel he has ownership rights, Appleby was not about to go away however. He hit a massive drive at the 15th and although he missed the reachable par five with his approach he was close enough to set up an easy birdie. The difference was again just one. Playing over five hundred yards, the par four seventeenth has been one of the more difficult holes all week and it claimed another victim when Singh bogeyed after not reaching the green with his second. Now the Fijian and the Australian were once again tied. Singh played the last hole perfectly with a fine drive and smart approach right of the flag. From just off the green edge he ran his third close to the hole and the birdie had him back in front again.
Playing the 17th as this was happening, Appleby faced the prospect of the difficult par four. He hit a huge drive at the 500 yards plus hole and when his approach came to rest just fifteen feet from the hole, perhaps here was the chance to draw level and the possibility of a birdie at the reachable last for the win. He missed and so like Singh he desperately needed a birdie at the par five last. Again, perhaps pumped by the occasion, he was long with his tee shot but it found the very edge of the left rough. His second came to rest just off the front right of the green and when he pitched to four feet he had the chance to join Singh in a playoff. He did just that and it was back to the 18th tee to decide title with a difference of US$450,000 between first and second place.
Both players drove it well at the first playoff hole but both would miss the green Appleby long left and Singh short. Singh pitched to ten feet and missed while Appleby hit a superb explosion to less than a metre and when Singh missed the title was the 34 year old Australian's.
This is an historic moment for Australians on the USPGA Tour. While several golfers have won events in three consecutive years it appears no Australian has done so and Appleby has therefore created another milestone in his career. Appleby earned US$1.08 million for the win and gets another chance in Hawaii next week where he is entered at this stage.
Jim Furyk plugged away to finish third in his first event with new equipment while Vaughn Taylor and Michael Campbell shared fourth. Campbell had his chances throughout the week and even today. He was still very much in the mix until a double bogey at the 12th after a wayward first tee shot would cost him dearly. Unsettled, it would seem, by that mishap he spent some serious cash over the closing holes before a birdie at the last at least salvaged something from what had been a harrowing last ninety minutes. He earns US$287,000 but he will be heading back home wondering just what might have been.
Peter Lonard was the next best of the four Australasians in the field finishing tenth and pocketing US$165,000. Geoff Ogilvy had a somewhat roller coaster last day when he turned in 40 and then birdied his last two holes to at least break 80 which is more than could be said for several over this windswept and demanding layout.
The PGA Tour now heads to Honolulu for the Sony Open in Hawaii at the Waialae Country Club.
Photo - Anthony Powter
