Pettersson wins, Lee 20th at Wyndham

BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2008 Wyndham Championship | Round Four | 18 Aug 2008

Carl Pettersson has won his third PGA Tour title and his first since his fine win at the Memorial two years ago by taking out the Wyndham Championship at the Sedgefield Country Club.

The day started with a two shot difference between leader Pettersson and Scott McCarron and essentially it would remain as a battle between the two for much of the day.

McCarron actually took the lead outright when Pettersson faltered early on the back nine but the Swede responded with three birdies in four holes and established a four shot lead playing the last.

A bogey by Pettersson and a birdie by McCarron at the final hole reduced the margin to two but Pettersson’s victory in front of a home crowd was well deserved.

Pettersson, Swedish born but effectively a local having lived in the Greensboro area for more than ten years, must now enter Nick Faldo’s calculations as a potential bolter for the European Ryder Cup team.

Pettersson said as much after his round.

“I have not thought about it much this week but Nick, if you are interested, I am keen to play.”

In outright third place was Rich Beem, who produced a brilliant round of 63 on both Saturday and Sunday to record his best finish on the PGA Tour since posting a third at the Funai Classic in late 2005.

J.J. Henry and Scotland’s Martin Laird, finished in a share of 4th place with Laird continuing his rollercoaster week by adding a final round of 63 to his earlier rounds of 63, 74 and 64.

The best of the Australians was John Senden, who finished in a share of 6th while New Zealand amateur Danny Lee fought well above his weight in his first PGA Tour event to finish 20th.

The 18-year-old Lee, who won the recent Western Amateur Championship, will no doubt be the target of management and equipment companies but at this stage he will play the Eisenhower Trophy in Australia as a recently confirmed New Zealand citizen.

The current number one amateur in the world is clearly on track for an outstanding career in the professional ranks when he makes that decision.

David Lutterus was 30th, Nick Flanagan 50th, Mark Hensby 66th and Peter Lonard 75th.

The PGA Tour now moves to Ridgewood Country Club in New Jersey for this week’s opening FedEx Cup playoff, The Barclays.