O'Hern regroups to win PGA title in playoff
IN: News | Australasian PGA | Australian PGA Championship (2006) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 10 Dec 2006
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From the time both Nick O'Hern and Peter Lonard walked from the 18th green of their third rounds at the Cadbury Schweppes Australian PGA Championship, it looked like Sunday would develop into a real shootout between two of the Australasian Tour's greatest ever money earners.
Nick O'Hern Press Conference Grabs
*Audio by Bruce Young
There were times early on day four when it appeared that others may spoil the party but as the day worn on, the two players who perhaps more than others have been dominant forces at the Hyatt Regency Coolum layout over the last four years separated themselves from their nearest pursuers.
Lonard drew first blood when he birdied the second and third holes to move to 20 under and led by one over O'Hern after O'Hern had added his first birdie at the second hole. Lonard all but holed his tee shot at the 3rd and made it from 8 feet behind the hole.
O'Hern leapfrogged Lonard when he eagled the 8th after a superb second to 15 feet and, after Lonard failed to make the almost obligatory birdie, O'Hern was one ahead. O'Hern then three putted the 9th and as the pair made the turn they were tied at 20 under.
Ahead on the golf course Wade Ormsby made a huge run at the leaders to move into a share of the lead when he recorded his fifth birdie in eight holes at the 8th hole of the day and he was looking a distinct threat. He would however par the next ten holes to finish at 19 under and became a bit player in the drama that was unfolding behind. "I had chances early in the back nine but was not able to take advantage of them but I am happy with third," said Ormsby later.
At the reachable par five 12th, Lonard missed the green left with his second and only just found the green with his pitch. O'Hern on the other hand hit a brilliant second to ten feet and after Lonard had holed his putt from 16 feet to draw level O'Hern followed him in from much shorter range for his second eagle of the day and had moved ahead again.
Lonard birdied the 13th from 14 feet and was back level. Both players parred the 14th although an incident while Lonard was replacing his ball on the green caused some concern. The ball had moved after Lonard had replaced it but it was not caused by his actions. He called for a ruling and was given the logical explanation - namely that there would be no penalty and he should play it from the point from just ahead of where it originally lay. Both players made par but at the next O'Hern was much better positioned with his second and was able to attack the front right flag and converted for birdie from 4 feet. O'Hern was one ahead with three holes to play.
At the very next hole, O'Hern had a golden opportunity to seal the deal but missed a birdie from three feet and left the door open for Lonard. At the 17th Lonard's drive was left and he was a little long from a flying lie from the rough. O'Hern found the fairway from the tee and was short of the hole with his second. Lonard chipped and putted to save par and O'Hern missed and so they moved to the 18th with the drama about to unfold.
It had been seven long years since O'Hern had won an event and ironically it was here at Hyatt Regency Coolum where the victory had occurred. Since that time, there has been endless scrutiny why a player of O'Hern's calibre had not been able to win again. He had positioned himself so often to win events and had not been able to get across the line but here on the 18th tee of the 2006 Cadbury Schweppes Australian PGA Championship he had yet another great chance and after a good tee shot it became even more likely.
Lonard was right with his tee shot and coming out of the rough with his second he took the water out of play and was long and right of the hole leaving a difficult birdie attempt which looked at the time as if it would be needed.
O'Hern found the green with his approach but he was 40 feet from the hole and his putt consisted of a ridge he would need to negotiate. Lonard ran his putt from the back fringe eight feet past. O'Hern hit a beautiful putt to just over two feet and it was clear that if Lonard was to have any chance he needed to hole his putt. He appeared to pull his putt a little but it fell in and now the stage was O'Hern's. Surely now this would be the moment O'Hern and Australian golf had been waiting for. A putt of just over two feet to put the demons of last year's MasterCard Masters behind him and to give him the confidence to take him to an even higher level in the year's ahead.
O'Hern took little time over the putt and appeared to pull it. It caught the right edge and slipped past and he somehow managed to make the next in what must have been a haze of shock for him.
At the first playoff hole, the par five 18th, Lonard was first to hit and found the right hand fairway trap. O'Hern finished on the outer edge of the trap but had a stance and found the green some 40 feet from the hole. Lonard's approach was left of the flag surprisingly but finished on the green and when both players two putted for par they were on their way back to the tee. An amusing incident occurred after O'Hern had two putted as it was from the very spot that he had missed ten minutes earlier that he was able to make par. His body language told the story as his shoulders slumped in a mock gesture of relief at holing it this time.
Back they went and both players avoided the bunkers from the tee although Lonard was in a grassy lie on the edge of the trap. His approach was a little long perhaps jumping out of the grassy lie and he found the back trap. O'Hern's approach finished in the middle of the green. Lonard hit a beautiful bunker shot to five feet and holed it and after O'Hern had two putted they were on their way back to the tee once more.
This time O'Hern caught his drive well perhaps too well and found the bunker which had been out of his range with earlier tee shots. Lonard found the fairway and then both players found the green and took par.
For what would be the final time the pair headed back to the tee and O'Hern found the fairway while Lonard was in the very edge of the right hand rough. O'Hern was a little long with his second and found the back bunker and Lonard, perhaps because of his lie, was also long and found the same back bunker. O'Hern was first to play and hit the perfect bunker shot and once it got onto the green it appeared to be a great chance to go in. It ran the 25 feet or so to the hole without looking like missing and there was now only one option for Lonard. Either he holed his shot or it was over.
Despite a very good trap shot he was unable to do so. Nick O'Hern had won his first title in seven years and importantly had lifted the demons and scrutiny that have haunted him for some time. "If I had let this one get away it would have taken a long time to recover, said O'Hern later. "A lot of people have said it wouldn't happen but it has."
Lonard was valiant in defeat and that he was able to complete 72 holes without a single bogey bears testimony to a game that has improved significantly over the last two months.
This was yet another great event at Hyatt Regency Coolum and the venue that has brought many historic moments in this event in recent years let no-one down again.
Photo - Anthony Powter
