Chopra wins Mercedes-Benz playoff
IN: News | US PGA | Mercedes-Benz Championship (2008) | Round Four | by Bruce Young | 07 Jan 2008
Daniel Chopra continued his impressive run of form in recent months by winning the Mercedes-Benz Championship at Kapalua Resort on his first visit to the season opening event.
Chopra, won the Ginn Sur Mer Classic in Florida in late October, a month after finishing third at the Texas Open, then went on to finish 7th at the Hong Kong Open before a playoff loss to Aaron Baddeley at the MasterCard Masters in Melbourne.
The Swede also played in New Zealand and is perhaps being rewarded for his support of the game internationally. He has proven himself to be a highly successful player wherever he has played and the last few months have seen him develop into a truly world class player despite a world ranking of 120th prior to this week.
Chopra’s playoff victory over another who has turned his game around in recent times, Steve Stricker, was achieved at the fourth extra hole, Chopra’s two putt birdie enough to edge out Stricker, who had missed the green with his second and was left with an 18 foot put to tie after Chopra had all but holed a 25 foot eagle attempt.
Chopra (66) and Stricker (64) had produced exceptional final rounds to force the playoff and edge ahead of Stephen Ames and third round leader, Mike Weir, the latter of who recovered from a shaky start to his final round but not enough to challenge those ahead.
Chopra raced to the turn in 32 and when he added three more birdies early in his back nine he appeared the winner but after turning in three under, Stricker began a run over the back nine which saw him add four birdies and an eagle in his last eight holes to catch Chopra.
Chopra who played twenty minutes behind Stricker had his chance to win the event outright at the 72nd hole but pushed his second into the right hand rough and pitched to 12 feet. He missed the winning putt but his second PGA Tour victory would come four holes later.
Chopra earns a start at the Masters as a result of his victory something he was clearly excited about afterwards.
“When I went back to Bay Hill (where he now resides) after my win in Florida, Arnold Palmer said how good it was that I would now play the Masters. I had to tell him that it was still not the case. Now I am in the field.”
Chopra’s win at the Ginn Sur Mer Classic event in October strangely did not gain him a start despite most winners of PGA Tour events now earning a place in the field for the first major of the year. The event he won last year did not carry points towards the Tour Championship which was played a few weeks earlier and so did not qualify but all that is no longer an issue.
“What a great round I played today, but Steve seemed to match everything I was doing.” said an obviously delighted Chopra immediately after being confirmed the winner.
Stricker, who has been named the Comeback Player of the Year in the last two seasons, is again on track for another great year. One of the game’s most promising players in his early years on the PGA Tour, he lost his way for several years for a range of reasons but is now well and truly back and having contended in several majors in 2007, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that he could do so again in 2008 and possibly win at the highest level.
“I’m disappointed not to have won but pleased with the way I played this week,” said the man from Wisconsin soon after the event was decided. “Still I’m building blocks and heading in the right direction.”
That could be considered somewhat of an understatement give the huge move he has made in the game and the world rankings. This week’s effort should take him to number four in the world.
Stephen Ames, who is also in a rich vein of form, birdied the last to finish one back of the playoff while Mike Weir recovered from a slow start to finish alone in fourth place.
Aaron Baddeley was the only Australian in the field and produced a great last round of 67 to finish 12th and has made a good start to what promises to be another good year on tour.
The PGA Tour stays in Hawaii but moves to Honolulu for this week’s Sony Open where there will be much interest in the arrival to the USPGA Tour of several new recruits, some of whom are Australians.
Discuss this article in our forums
